Toledo bend in late May early June

quote:

---

Living the dream is my go to

---

Great guide.

As far as Toledo or bass fishing in general in May- early June it’s my least favorite months. More of that has to with not going much after spawn because I’m all Saltwater to hunting season.

Bass fishing May post spawn can be very tough but you can still catch numbers but not quite as many toads.

My favorite post spawn/ May bait is a Fluke and it’s not even close. I’m far from being a big stick or pro but I fish with a couple I’ve known for a while from time to time and bust their asses with Fluke in May. Use Houdini or Watermelon Magic Texas rigged, no weight but the trick is not going into the nose to deep or to the cavity then pulling it through. Take a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG hook and just barely go into the nose 1/8”, pull it through and Texas rig with the hook going through back and just barely skin it so the point isn’t exposed so you can fish grass. Fishing it this way makes the nose of the fluke fall, gives it better action and will keep off the surface.

If you go all the way into the nose and into the hollow cavity The bait will want to stay on the surface which is a way I will fish it in mornings walking the dog for top water strikes.

You can also fish it wacky style like a banjo minnow.

A fluke is an incredible bait. If for some reason I can’t catch anything I can always put a fluke on and at least catch some dinks. I’ve caught big fish too on a fluke fishing it through heavy submerged grass. I like to use 12# fluro or if I’m fishing braid as mainline I’ll tie a 2 1/2” fluoro leader with a fg knot. Some people like using a 5-8” leader using a size 7 barrel swivel tied to their braid mainline and leader mono or fluoro. That swivel will make the nose of that bait dive as well, which is what you want. In open water the swivel is fine but in grass where I like to fish that swivel catches too much grass.

If you find a spot with good flat lily pads, sling that fluke on top of those and drag it across slow, as you get the edge where the open water is ease that fluke off the top of pads and let fall all the way to the bottom. The majority of the time once that bait is eased off the top it’ll get hit with in 2 seconds of falling in the water. Love doing this at Rayburn and have some incredible spots.

I haven’t fished Toledo much the last few years. Rayburn is just a superior fishery at the moment but they go through stages and Toledo will have a run of better years. Losing the grass in Toledo last year hurt. I know there is some and it’s coming back. Texas just does such a better job regarding caring for their lakes. Actually Texas does a better job of caring for everything than our state. If it wasn’t for Texas Toledo would be grassless for 5 years. Toledo will always have a special place in my heart but with Rayburn being less than an hour further, I’m fishing Rayburn the majority of time. I’ll still fish Toledo a couple times a year though and it’s still one of the best

quote:

---

What guide service would you use on Rayburn ?

---

Roy Sanford, but good luck if you want a weekend. Usually stays booked up a ways out

Little beetle spin? What color you use?

quote:

---

Any other guides services y’all would recommend for Toledo bend ?

---

Jeane Tackle guys are damn good.

May and early June is some of the best fishing on the lake. We catch tons of sacalait that time of year and it’s the best time to catch large numbers of bass on Toledo and Rayburn as they are stacked up offshore and haven’t been beat to death yet from all the fishing pressure. Check us out. Bent Rods Guide Service

quote:

---

Fishing is good. Living the dream is my go to

---

Very little else needs to be said. Peak time to go, better get a guide booked now. We book a year in advance to get weekend dates at that time.

May is consistent for 50-100 fish days, but size is hit or miss. Some days we catch a lot of fish with some big ones mixed in and some days it’ll be 70 2lbers. That time of year we are usually deep cranking, Carolina rig, football jig, and a spoon for numbers and a big worm around piles for size.