Toledo Bend Guide

Change Your Fishing For 2012

OK, it’s a new year and time to make lots of changes. Last year you bought a new $50,000 bass boat, added a brand new towing vehicle (that gets a whopping 6 mpg), spent a small fortune on fishing tackle, and you still finished dead last in your local bass club. BUMMER!

So what are you planning to do about it during 2012? If your answer is “nothing”, then go back to your Twinkies and reality show re-runs on TV. If you are serious about improving your fishing skills and don’t want this years results looking like some of those horrible charts we see on the stock market channel then this article should be very helpful.

2012 is the time to get back to the basics. Why are you carrying around those 40 rod and reels when 25 will do just as well? If you have a bunch of low-gear ratio reels throw them away because that’s another reason that you aren’t catching as many fish. If you use the high-ratio reels (fast retrieve) they will get the fish in quicker and the bass has less time to jump off … DUH!

And forget about all that fluorocarbon vs. monofilament vs. braid line nonsense. That stuff is just a bunch of marketing gimmicks for manufacturers. All of those pros that tell you to re-spool new line on your reels after each trip get their line free. The easiest way to solve this problem is to buy a 25,000 yard spool of 80# test monofilament and you are good to go for the next 20 years. Sure it’s a bit harder to cast, but when you get a birds-nest it is much easier to untangle.

The root cause of most anglers fishing problems is TV fishing shows. Everyone on these shows is catching a bass on every cast and after watching a few of these you are like a buck in rut. You hit the water with HUGE expectations and after a couple of miserable hours of no fish you get VERY DEPRESSED. The key to improving your fishing attitude is to not watch shows that will give you an ulcer and make you grumpier than you already are. Stick with the wholesome shows that have quality and meaning such as Rap-N-Clap, Judge Judy and the Si-Fi channel.

If you are a topwater fisherman get smart. All of the bellies of the baits are white and that is what the fish sees. The secret is to flip the bait over, re-drill the hook holes and then place the hooks on the top of the lure. Fishing the bait “upside down” will give the bass a good look at the many wonderful and flashy colors available that made you buy that bait in the first place.

And forget about having all of those clever colors for crankbaits because all the fish sees is a blur as the bait speeds past its nose. Black and white colors will do just fine. Another tip for crankbaits is to place them in boiling water for about 45 seconds. They will swell up like a pregnant guppy and look just like a miniature Big O. The bass just go crazy over them.

Plastics are another issue that needs to be addressed. Does a watermelon/red really catch more fish that a watermelon/candy, watermelon/seed or a watermelon/pumpkin? I think not. If you are really that concerned with slight color changes just buy watermelon worms in bulk and then let them set for a couple of hours in a mixture of tuna fish oil, buttermilk and a couple drops of Easter egg dye. The dye will change the bait to the hue you want and the tuna fish oil and buttermilk will be absorbed into the bait making it irritable to the bass. You probably didn’t know it but tuna fish oil and buttermilk is recognized to be one of the best fish attractants known to man.

Believe it or not many people in past years caught bass from the shore, small boats and even inner tubes. However, there is not much image building doing this so I realize that you are probably going to do most of your fishing from a flashy bass boat. The majority of today’s anglers spend so much time worrying about the pitch of their prop, how fast their trolling motor can push the boat and whether or not the blip they see on their side-scan is a fish or a tin can that they lose their concentration for fishing. Down-sizing is the key. Replace that 300 hp gas guzzler with a 7 ½ hp and use oars rather than worrying about all of those trolling motor and battery problems. It’s cheaper, you get more exercise and your use of high priced fuel decreases drastically.

And for you jig fishermen I have two tips that will add many pounds of bass to your bag. The first is one that recently won a few major tournaments so I am sure that the pros will be disappointed that I am revealing their secret. Use mayonnaise on your jigs and they will slip and slide easily through the heavy matted grass. The second is the use of Velcro instead of plastic for your trailer. The bass bite the Velcro and their teeth stick and you just reel um’ in.

I haven’t forgotten you guys that like specialty fishing rods. Instead of worrying about regular guides, mini-guides or micro guides, simply drill a small hole in the rod immediately above the reel. Insert the line through the shaft of the rod and out the tip. Presto – no more rod guide problems.

We have been secretly working a proto-type device call the “Scan-All” that has had outstanding results. Simply buy two swimming face masks (those that are round) and then pop out the lens. Now epoxy the lens to both ends of a section of four-inch PVC. I like to use about a six foot section but have had success with those that are 12 feet in length. Simply insert the tube into the water and you can easily check out the spot before you cast a lure. Duct tape a small magnifying glass to the viewing end and you can vary the display from 2X to 10X enlargement.

We have also been working on a new lure called the “Jaw Jerker” that is basically a soft bodied swimbait that has two chambers. The front chamber is used to insert a special capsule that is composed of NASA grade Alka Seltzer-Plus chemicals. When the bait hits the water the capsule activates and the bait goes crazy – running to and froe, up and down in the water. The capsule will last for about two hours before you need to change it. The rear chamber is designed to accept two capsules. The first provides a blood trail as the bait is moving and the second lets out a tuna fish oil and buttermilk scent. The bait also has a transmitter in the nose that emits a high-pitch squeak like a fine-tuned buzzbait. Look for the “Jaw Jerker” soon on your local info-commercials.

We have been doing quite a bit of experimenting and here are a couple of quick tips. Keep a small shop vacuum in your boat and when you flip a bass in just stick the suction end to the side of the bass and it will keep him from flouncing around while you measure, weigh, etc. If you have battery terminal problems such as corrosion just have someone weld the terminal connections to the battery and the corrosion problems will disappear. Also if you have prop damage, such as a piece knocked out, just mold the area with aluminum foil and once you get it the way you want it just apply epoxy over the area, slap some paint on it and it is almost as good as new.

I also recommend that you revisit all of the way-points you used during 2011 and delete those where you didn’t catch fish. Why fish them again if they were worthless the first time? Same philosophy with the lures. If the lure didn’t catch bass throw it away. Why waste space in your tacklebox on unproductive baits? That nonsense.

Last but certainly not least let’s discuss this recent rage – the “Alabama Rig”. The rig is ok, but we have been testing what we call the “Brazil Rig”. This is so neat. It is designed like umbrella arms but titanium Z3o2 heavy duty wire is used. There are 18 arms so you can attach and fish 18 baits on one cast. Just think how your partner will feel when you make one cast and get a two-day limit. This rig should be at your local tackle dealer by the end of February and expect long lines because the Brazil Rig will help anglers win lots of tournaments.

Well I think that is about enough tips to improve your fishing during 2012. I sure don’t want to give your brain “over-load” with all this technical information. I feel very comfortable that these tips will get you out of the gutter and back into that elite winners circle. Be sure to send me a picture of that big stringer you get on your next outing, especially if it comes on the Brazil Rig. Good Fishing -- JB

Many of you may not realize it but SRA - Louisiana is in the process of putting together a Water Sales Agreement with a private company by the name of Toledo Bend Partners that would allow the company to transfer and sell water from Toledo Bend Lake to Texas. The following is a letter I sent to Mr. Jim Pratt - Executive Director Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana asking for clarification on a number of issues related to this contract.

Jim -
I would like to respond to your comments request regarding the proposed Water Sales Agreement with Toledo Bend Partners. Last week I had also submitted a letter to SRA-Texas referencing certain information that was posted in the Shreveport Times newspaper (Dec 1st) – but at this time I have had no response from SRA-Texas.

I will try not to “ramble” but allow me to just present a few comments:

(1) The first thing that comes to mind is the timing of the agreement. The lake is lower than we have seen it since it was created, businesses are doing their best to not go bankrupt and the rainfall projections for 2012 are bleak at best. I understand “long-range planning”, but I cannot believe that public opinion will be in favor of any plan that suggests pulling water from a reservoir that is 11-plus feet low - and one that may not even get back to the 165’ msl mark in 2012. The upcoming year will probably see a number of our businesses shut their doors, the value of peoples homes continue to slide downward and the overall economy of the nation continues to see more and more folks out of work.

(2) For years property owners around the lake, and our many visitors, suffered through what seemed to be a total lack of concern by SRA in generating as much as they could during the least inflow of water months of the year. And in time this is what caused the almost “tea party” type meetings and people stating that they had had enough. The perception (whether it is real or not) was that SRA was a part of the problem – not part of a solution. I assure you that SRA’s reputation has not improved significantly since the 168’ meetings were completed and the talk of a plan to sell water (without a good story behind it of why we should) would push most folks over the edge.

(3) I understand the logistics of Water Sales vs. Hydropower and support a plan that would use the 600,000 acre-feet per year of water sold (one acre-foot is lots of water – 325,848 gallons) rather than continuing a generating process that uses huge amounts of this precious resource for minimal monetary gain and produces even larger disruption to our areas economics. A recent document showed that 6-months of power generation uses one million acre feet of water annually versus a water sales agreement that would use 600,000 acre feet over the same period of time. The problem I have is supporting a water selling plan if the generating of power also continues. What assurance do we have that this will not take place?

(4) It would seem that SRA-Texas would eventually be a partner in this plan since transfer of water outside of its base or origin is prohibited by Texas law (this could probably be quickly amended if the $$$ were there), It is also my understanding that Texas can only charge a rate that equals their expenses. But a joint venture might have a good side – Perhaps both SRA’s could operate in a more cooperative manner - which would be a refreshing change from the past.

(5) I looked through the 82 pages of the Water Sales Agreement (I used up a full print cartridge on my printer) and appreciate the fact that much of the information contained is legal protection and rules for both sides to follow. I do however think that we have had enough contracts that have very long-term conditions. . such as this one that has a termination date of fifty years with the right to extend the contract for another 49 years. That is a long time to have a contract in effect under the changing economic conditions we are seeing in both our domestic and international business.

(6) I think the Drought Contingency Plan needs to be much more aggressive in protecting the volume of water that can be taken under these conditions. Why would you be selling large amounts of water if people are being told to prohibit outdoor use, minimize indoor usage and “lake front” property is a block or more from the water?

(7) The contract states that we will be maintaining a minimum flow downstream of 144 cfs. If that is sufficient to maintain the needs then why do we continue running 501 cfs?

(8) What happens down the road if we have the water contract in place and have effectively agreed to not generate electricity... and then the request comes to SRA for “emergency generating” to “assist” needs on the power grid?

(9) In the “Recitals” section of the contract it states in item E that “The economic and social and environmental benefits to SRA resulting from this agreement are projected to exceed the value of the obligations of SRA undertaken herein, this agreement has a public purpose and is in the public interest of SRA”. I would like to see some wording that states that it is also in the best interest of the public.

I am sure that many questions will come up on exactly where the diversion point/s will be located and where the pipeline will be going. Lots of wording about a diversion point downstream, but then I see a statement that SRA does not contemplate any approved location downstream. If there was a diversion point downstream would SRA be using the generators to release sufficient amounts of water to satisfy the contract?

• Not sure if I understand the mention of more than one Purchaser Project under this agreement?

• It also states that the Purchaser may purchase water from Toledo Bend Reservoir from another Person with the written approval of SRA. What circumstance would allow this to take place?

• The agreement makes it clear (right now) that water may only be sold to persons for use outside Louisiana... except if given written approval by SRA. What legal issues would develop if the need was there to allocate or sell additional water within Louisiana? Would this be another water sales agreement that would increase the amount of water pulled from TB on an annual basis?

• Not sure how to address this, but there will always be speculation and concerns about the measuring equipment and whether it is accurately monitoring the volume of water being pulled from Toledo Bend. We landowners gauge it pretty well by how much our floating docks drop.

• If Texas joins as a partner will the audit of all transactions be done by both Louisiana and Texas auditors? • I assume that David Charlton of Baton Rouge is the attorney representing Toledo Bend Partners.

• Exhibit 4 lists three individuals that are original principals with a 10% or greater equity interest in Purchaser – Aubrey Temple Jr., Donald Bollinger and B.J. McCombs. Are these Louisiana folks?

• What effect will the expiring of the Power Sales Agreement in 2018 have on overall operation of SRA?

• If the water sales contract goes into effect, where do you expect the additional revenue to be used?

• How does the financing of the $2 billion overall project take place – private enterprise, state and/or government assistance, etc.?

I would assume that by now the agreement is in front of the Louisiana Governor and could possibly even be signed. I am in no way opposed to private enterprise investing in a project that can make money but I am also a landowner on Toledo Bend Lake.

My wife and I are retirees and we moved to Toledo Bend to enjoy life, fish, work with the church and stay busy with other community functions. For the past year-plus I have had my “floating” dock sitting on dry ground and our pontoon boat hangs suspended in the air.

Low Water

With our current drought conditions many of the folks that use to come down for the week or weekend have gone elsewhere. Grandkids that use to enjoy catching perch off the dock now just walk down to the dock and shake their heads in disappointment. Some businesses that use to flourish are probably going to not make it and trying to find a buyer for your home or property is impossible unless you just want to give it away. Needless to say there are many frustrations in the Toledo Bend area.

Making money by selling water and not using volumes of water generating would seem to be a viable plan for the future – if we have enough water to go around. I hope that both SRA-Louisiana and SRA-Texas will look after the people’s best interest as they go forward with a water sales plan. -- JB