Toledo Bend Guide

Feb 2012

Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

Feb 2012 --- WOW! The lake is on the rise. Recent rains have pushed the water up to the 164’ msl mark, and it has been a long time since we saw that number. Now all we need is a good three day soaking to get the lake back up to the + 165’ msl mark that I have been praying for.

And how about these great days with the temperatures in the 60’s? Bet those folks up north would love to have some of this.

Toledo Bend Lake Level Stats - As of 2/5/2012 - 6:30 AM

Lake Level 164.03’ msl (7.97-feet low)
Generator 1 Currently shut down
Generator 2 Currently shut down
Spillway Gates – Closed
Current Waterflow 204 CFS
This information provided courtesy of Sabine River Authority State of Louisiana

Lake Levels Last 9 Years on 2/5
2-05-2011 164.49
2-05-2010 169.23
2-05-2009 168.51
2-05-2008 168.69
2-05-2007 171.14
2-05-2006 164.13
2-05-2005 169.25
2-05-2004 170.02
2-05-2003 168.95
This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey

Surface water temperature ranges around 50+ degrees and the southern part of the lake would have to be rated as mostly somewhat clear with the back of the coves being slightly murky to muddy due to runoff from the recent rains. I saw in Pro Guide Joe Joslin’s column that the North Toledo Bend State Park boat ramp has been dredged and is open for business. That is good news.

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BASS –Good reports coming in from area fishermen. Seems like there are multiple patterns – and that should please everyone.

Shallow – Texas-rigged plastics fished near the bank or along the edges of the grass are taking good size bass, however, right now the bigger fish seem to be just a bit deeper. Baits such as a Texas-rigged centipede, baby brush hog and Crème’s “Scoundrel” can be deadly at this time of the year. I also like to throw one of the Yum Money Minnows and Stanley’s new Vibra Shaft spinnerbait that has custom matching painted blades. And if you do not have one of the always popular Rat-L-Trap’s in a Toledo Gold, Zombie Shad or Rayburn Red color – you are missing out on some exciting action. There have even been a few reports of bass being taken on topwaters such as the Rogue, chugger and the Ribbit frog.

Medium – Use the Senko or Strike King’s “Ocho”, and let the bait flutter down in the 6 – to 12 foot depths. I also like to use the double fluke rig, placing a shad color on one hook and a watermelon red on the other. Medium-running crankbaits have certainly been effective with the chartreuse and red varieties producing best.

Deeper – I love a Carolina-rig and this is the time of year that it really shines. Many bass will be coming in from deeper water and staging in areas close to spawning spots. A C-rig with a ¾-oz barrel weight, 15-inch fluorocarbon or monofilament leader, coupled to a 3/0 – to 4/0 wide-gap hook is the rigging required. This is all finished off with a Netbait “Mad Paca” or Zoom “Ol’ Monster” worm to complete the package. Now is also the time to be chunking a Norman “DD22”, Rapala’s “DT16”, Luhr Jensen’s “Hot Lips Express” or Strike King’s series “6XD”. Colors that seem to be working best are powder blue/chartreuse, chili craw, sexy shad and bluegill.

Lord, Keep Your arm around my shoulder, And, Your hand over my mouth!

    Project Healing Waters -

The Piney Woods Fly Fishers work with veterans at the Lufkin VA facility as a part of Project Healing Waters. Project Healing Waters is a project dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

The Piney Woods Fly Fishers meet at the VA facility in Lufkin every second and fourth Friday to bring their knowledge to the veterans. The activity which started in 2011 has taught the veterans to tie various flies, cast fly lines and fish during some outings to the ponds in the Lufkin area.

The most recent project is building fly rods that were provided to the participants by PHW. The rods constructed by the veterans will be entered into a contest consisting of other competitors from around the US. The winner of the contest will receive a have a choice of fishing trips. Here the members of Piney Woods provide some instruction.
The veterans must build the rod themselves. Piney Woods members can only offer instruction and guidance.

Each participant selected the type of rod they wished to build (length, and line weight). The rod kits come with rod blanks, handles, reel seats, guides, mounting thread and epoxy.

The participants must fit the materials layout the guide spacing and then using the thread wrap the guides and seal it with the epoxy. Completed rods are sent to Hook and Hackle for judging and final selection of the winners. After that the rods are returned for the use by the veterans.

Earlier in 2011 the PWFF taught how to construct many flies that were used on the fishing outings.

Upon completion of the rod building activity more fly tying and casting instruction will be conducted.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is a 501 C3 nonprofit organization. It is dependent on tax deductible donations and the help of volunteers like the Piney Woods Fly Fishers.

Various companies in the fly fishing community and outside contribute the materials used in the projects.

The Piney Woods Fly Fishers is a member of the Gulf Coast Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers. PWFF was formed in 1988 to promote the art, science and sport of fly fishing; conservation and preservation of our natural water resources and brotherhood among all anglers.

http://www.pwff.org/
http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/

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After 35 years of marriage, a husband and wife came for counseling. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the years they had been married.

On and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured. Finally, after allowing this for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and after asking the wife to stand, he embraced and kissed her long and passionately as her husband watched - with a raised eyebrow.

The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze. The therapist turned to the husband and said, "This is what your wife needs at least 3 times a week. Can you do this?"

"Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I
fish."

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Crappie and Yellow Bass – Looks like if you are planning a crappie trip to the famous “Chicken Coop” (north of Pendleton Bridge) – you may have waited just a bit too long. Fishing action has died down quite a bit and now is the time when the crappie will be heading for the 2- to 8 foot depths to spawn.

I expect some really good reports during the upcoming two months. Most of this action will be on live shiners and small black/chartreuse or blue/white jigs. I hope that the yellow bass fishing will improve a great deal with the warming weather.

***************************************** COSMIC LAWS -

Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible place in the universe.
Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal - and someone always answers.
Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone will ring. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know INCREASES dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
Law of Bio-Mechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
Law of the Theater & Football Stadium - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.
The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible IF you don't know what you are talking about.
Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
Oliver’s Law of Public Speaking -- A CLOSED MOUTH GATHERS NO FEET!!!
Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better.. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.

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The "Y" Generation –

People born before 1946 were called – The Greatest Generation.
People born between 1946 and 1964 are called – The Baby Boomers.
People born between 1965 and 1979 are called – Generation X.
And people born between 1980 and 2010 are called - Generation Y.

Why do we call the last group - Generation Y?
Y should I get a job?
Y should I leave home and find my own place?
Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?
Y should I clean my room?
Y should I wash and iron my own clothes?
Y should I buy any food?

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Final Thought – THE OLDER CROWD

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. 'Is it true,' she wanted to know, 'that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?' '

Yes, I'm afraid so,' the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, 'I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked

'NO REFILLS'.'

See you out on the water – I will be in a red and white Nitro so wave to me and we can chat. -- JB

2012

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

Jan 2012

The older we get - the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for…….

Jan 2012 --- A new year! The slate is wiped clean and all of us have a brand new start. I am sitting here writing this while the northern part of our nation is having heavy snows .. and our temperature here is in the high 60's. That is why we live in Texas. A few heavy rains have given a slight boost to the lake level and I am sure that many of you are trying out some of that new fishing tackle that Santa left under the Christmas tree. I hope Santa brought all of you what you wanted .. and needed.

Toledo Bend Lake Level Stats - As of 1/3/2012 - 6:30 AM Lake Level 161.37’ msl (10.63-feet low)
Generator 1 Currently shut down
Generator 2 Currently shut down
Spillway Gates - One gate open 24 hours/day 4" to maintain minimum downstream flow
Current Waterflow 445 CFS
This information provided courtesy of Sabine River Authority State of Louisiana

Lake Levels Last 9 Years on 1/03
1-03-2011 163.67
1-03-2010 171.18
1-03-2009 168.09
1-03-2008 168.24
1-03-2007 168.26
1-03-2006 162.87
1-03-2005 168.59
1-03-2004 167.46
1-03-2003 170.77
This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey

Surface water temperature ranges around 50+ degrees and the southern part of the main lake would have to be rated as clear. The back of the coves are slightly murky due to the recent rains ***************************************

BASS – Right now grass still holds some bass, however, for consistency I would stay with the deep water jigging spoon or drop-shot rig. This deep water jigging has been fairly productive with fish coming mostly from the 30-40-foot depths. The bite can be very light so pay attention as you work the bait. Some anglers are even “dead-sticking” the spoon, letting it lie on the bottom for quite a few seconds before they lift it. The last time I was on the water I didn’t catch a lot of fish from any one spot so try a number of those humps, ledges and creek channel lips.

If you think BIG bass can’t be taken on these shiny spoons let me tell you a story. My friend and pro angler/guide Joe Joslin was recently fishing with a couple of clients and landed a 10-pound - 13-ounce monster bass on one of these shiny rascals while fishing in the 30+ foot depth range. What a bass!!! It may have been a cold morning but I bet everyone warmed up pretty fast when that lunker came aboard. If you want to “punch the grass” I recommend staying with the jig and trailer or as some of you like to say - the “jig-n-pig”. This combo will catch bass under many different conditions and is a great way to entice a real heavyweight. I prefer the black/blue combo and like to mix in a few that are white, black/brown/amber and pumpkin craw. Another technique I recommend is a Carolina-rig that has a lighter weight and a fluke-type bait. You should fish this very slowly, trying to mimic the actions of a dying or injured shad. Colors I like for this are a shad or a watermelon/candy pattern. The deep diving crankbaits nay be just the ticket on these warmer days when the bass get a bit active but are still somewhat suspended. Try colors like the sexy shad, green tomato, citrus shad and fire-tiger.

It won’t be long before the “trap” bite will explode so keep those shallow running baits handy. Colors to have in the boat are Rayburn red, Toledo gold, bleeding shad and fire- tiger. Be sure to check out the Bill Lewis “Zombie Shad” series - They look great. I especially like the alvacado zombie and the zombie shad colors.

Crappie and Yellow Bass – Crappie fishing has been on fire at the famous Chicken Coop, with most of the fish being taken on live shiners or jigs fished in the 30-foot range. Yellow bass fishing has been somewhat slow but should start to get better in the upcoming month.

Things To Remember for 2012

1 Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!
2 Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
3 Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
4 Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
5 If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
6 If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
7 It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
8 Never buy a car you can't push.
9 Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
10 Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
11 Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
12 The second mouse gets the cheese.
13 When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
14 Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
16 Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.
17 We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
18 A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. 19 Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.

Save the earth..... It's the only planet with chocolate!

There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order.

Final Thought –
A little silver-haired lady calls her neighbor and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started."

Her neighbor asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"

The little silver haired lady says, "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster."

Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster."

He takes her hand and says, "Secondly, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then," he said with a deep sigh ............ "Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."

In Rethinking the Future, "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." -- Alvin Toffler

See you out on the water – I will be in a red and white Nitro -- JB

Toledo Bend Water Issues

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.

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

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

If you are a bass fishermen, or married to a bass fisherman, then you know that you never have enough fishing tackle – especially good baits. Well if you are looking for some extra special items to fill that stocking I would like to suggest a few “Made In Texas” baits from a very special company. The new kid in town goes by the name of TLC Baits and they have some really interesting products.

I always like to feature new items, especially when they are developed and used by anglers that know their stuff. Joseph Tompkins and his brother Billy are a tough duo on the water and after five Bass Champs events in the South Region of Texas they finished as Bass Champs 2011 Anglers of the Year.

This is no easy task and the Toledo Guide would like to say a special Congratulations to the team!

Billy and his wife Tiffany own and operate TLC Baits, however, rumor has it that the design and development department belongs to Tiffany. They have a wonderful selection of custom baits that include craws, creatures, worms, lizards and jerk-baits. Prices range from $3.99 - $4.79 a bag.

Colors include Watermelon Magic, Watermelon Red, Watermelon Festival, Amistad Special, Stormy Night, Plum Nasty, Black Grape, Green Pumpkin & TLC’s special color - Watermelon Warfare. The company also does special color requests and bulk orders. The following are a few of TLC Bait company’s products:

I really like the look of this 3.75-inch Amistad Special. It would also make a great trailer if you are a jig fisherman

The company has many fluke and minnow body’s available but if you are a Lake Falcon angler you will really like the 8-inch Falcon Fluke. It will be just perfect for enticing those Lake Falcon, Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn lunkers.

If you are looking for a 9-inch lizard to attract those BIG bass then check out these guys

The 5 –and 6-inch Monsters are sure to get the attention of fish and fishermen

A classic design that has proven it’s worth throughout the state – 4 ½-inch model

The Hoss comes in 5 and 6 ½-inch models in a variety of colors

It doesn’t matter if you use a drop-shot, Texas-rig, Carolina-rig or do most of your fishing “wacky” style - These baits fit every need

Well there you are, a few last minute suggestions to make that anglers face light up on Christmas morning. The goal of TLC Baits is to show their passion for fishing by sharing a "customized plastics" series of quality baits. Give them a try and let me know the results.

For more information visit the TLC Baits website at www.tlcbaits.com.

Dec 2011

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one...

Dec 2011 --- Boy this change in weather is nice. Cool mornings that require a jacket and then Fall-like days that are simply beautiful. Rain shows up occasionally and are certainly welcome. Better enjoy this weather because we will soon start that pattern of cold fronts that push down from the north bringing brisk winds and the need for winter snow suits, gloves and raingear. However, there are also days during the month of December where I have been fishing in shorts and a T-shirt. Love that Texas weather.

Toledo Bend Lake Level Stats - As of 12/3/2011 - 6:30 AM
Lake Level 159.68’ msl (12.32-feet low)
Generator 1 Currently shut down
Generator 2 Currently shut down
Spillway Gates - One gate open 24 hours/day 5" to maintain minimum downstream flow
Current Waterflow 501 CFS
This information provided courtesy of Sabine River Authority State of Louisiana

Lake Levels Last 9 Years on 12/3
12-3-2010 163.97
12-3-2009 171.26
12-3-2008 168.05
12-3-2007 167.89
12-3-2006 165.23
12-3-2005 162.82
12-3-2004 170.71
12-3-2003 167.19
12-3-2002 168.08
This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey

Surface water temperature ranges from 62 to 71 degrees and water conditions on the southern part of the lake would have to be rated as clear. There are many humps, islands, etc. showing as the water continues to drop and beautiful grass beds (that hold fish) are in many areas of the lake. There is lots of ramp maintenance is being done so I would check with your local marina to see launching conditions before heading to the lake. I have been launching down by the dam at the ramp off of Hwy 255 and have had no problems. However, many new stumps and obstacles are showing so proceed carefully when on the water. Some boat lanes are good to use and some are very dangerous.

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Bass – You know the old saying – “Find the grass and you will find the bass”. Well finding the grass is very easy because it is in places that have not seen grass for years. I was on the water last week and the majority of the time my partner and I were flipping jigs in the matted hydrilla. Fishing was a bit slow but I found that I REALLY like the new “Wedge Head” jig made by Lonnie Stanley. The Wedge Head Jig is great for pitching or flipping into tight cover and brush. The bait actually pushes weeds and grass out of the way and falls easily though the toughest brush without hanging up. As it falls it has a slight “wobble” that adds even more action to the trailer you are using. This broken-back style jig also allows you to get your lure to the bottom while your soft bait stands up behind the weighted wedge. I like it and once you try it I know you will too.

I have received a number of reports on what is catching bass and here are a few to help you on your next trip.

The jig and trailer is always a "go-to" bait for this time of the year and will catch bass under many conditions. I like the black/blue combo and like to mix in a few white, black/brown/amber and pumpkin craw. Good jigs are Stanley’s “Bugeye”, Strike Kings “Hack Attack and Buckeyes “Mop Jig”. Each of these are quality
products and have a strong hook.
The Texas and Carolina-rigs can be very productive and I like to use a fluke, Ol’ Monster or Paca Craw as the bait. Colors are always a personal issue but you can’t go wrong with a watermelon, watermelon/candy, black/blue, shad pattern or a green pumpkin.

There are also reports of a few bass being taken on the Texan “Shaker”, Rogues, white spinnerbaits and even a few on the frog imitations such as the “Ribbit”. I still like to chunk a DD22 and a square-bill during the day.. Each of these baits can get the attention of big bass.

Crappie and Yellow Bass – Most reports of crappie are about fishing near the 30-foot mark around brush using live bait or small jigs. I caught a few yellow bass in from 22- to 34 feet of water on 3/4-oz Texan chrome jigging spoon, and this action should improve greatly as the water cools.

Fin and Feather Resort recently sold at auction last Thursday morning November 17th to local resident Melda Bartholdi with the winning bid of $3.245 million. Bartholdi was not available for comment following the auction. Auctioneer Spanky Assiter began the bidding at $5 million but with no takers and dropped the opening bid to $500,000 which quickly got the bidders involved. There were three onsite bidders as well as one online bidder. The crowd numbered around 25 bidders and onlookers but more lookers than bidders. The sellers had invested $5 million in renovations in recent years, according to the auction company Wilson Auctioneers. The winning bid included the entire 19 acres and all the equipment, goods and furniture. We will relay any additional news as it becomes available.

Observations On Growing Older

-Your Kids are becoming you...and you don't like them...but your grandchildren are Perfect!
-Going Out is good.. Coming Home is better!
-You Forget names ..... But it's OK because other people forgot they Even knew you!!!
-You realize you're never going to be really good at anything .... Especially Golf.
-The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.
-You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's Called "pre-sleep".
-You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" Switch.. -You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
-Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.
-You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
-What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
-Everybody Whispers.
-You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet ..... 2 of which you will never wear.
---But Old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

God's sense of humor During Creation,
God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the world. And then He made the earth round.

Final Thought –
A hooded robber burst into a Wisconsin bank and forced the tellers to load a sack full of cash. On his way out the door, a brave Wisconsin customer grabbed the hood and pulled it off, revealing the robbers face. The robber shot the customer without a moment’s hesitation. He then looked around the bank and noticed one of the tellers looking straight at him. The robber instantly shot him also. Everyone in the bank, by now very scared, looked intently down at the floor in silence. The robber yelled, "Well, did anyone else see my face?" There are a few moments of utter silence in which everyone was plainly to afraid to speak Then, one old Norwegian named Ole from Wisconsin tentatively raised his hand and said, "My wife got a pretty good look at you."

See you out on the water – I will be in a red and white Nitro so wave to me and we can chat. I will be the one going VERY slow -- JB

Falcon Lake

So You Want To Fish Falcon Lake

The ¾-ounce black/blue jig and crawfish trailer slid quietly into the slightly murky water, bounced once off the limb of an old hardwood, and then fell down toward the lake bottom. It never made it. The strike was nothing more than a light “thunk”, but when the hook was set all heck broke loose. The heavy braid line was strained to the limit and it was touch and go as to who was winning the battle – fish or fisherman. With much straining the huge bass’ head soon surfaced and in a gill-rattling jump it threw water all over my partner, made a lunge back to the bottom, and then the line snapped.

It was pretty quiet in the boat as my partner and I looked at the ripples on the surface of the water where the bass disappeared. How big was the fish? Probably in the 10-pound plus class, however, these type of fish stories are what makes Falcon Lake famous – and also keeps fisherman returning for more and more.

We would have probably never heard of the small town of Zapata if it were not for Falcon Lake. The 2010 population census was listed at 1,036, but when the fishing is hot the small town’s population seems to double and the area is a beehive of activity. Anglers come from all over the world to test these waters and in many cases they catch the biggest bass of their life.

Falcon Lake is located on the Rio Grande River, about 40 miles east of Laredo on Highway 83. Surface area of the reservoir is 83,654 acres and its maximum depth is listed as 110 feet at the dam. Falcon Lake was impounded in 1954 and its conservation pool elevation is 301.2 ft. msl. Water level on the lake can fluctuate severely and at the time of this writing current pool is at 277.8 msl. – which puts it about 23-feet low. The water clarity can range from murky in the upper end to slightly stained in the south.

Anglers will find the lake to be relatively shallow with gradual sloping banks. Flooded brush, hardwoods, mesquite, old fence-lines, rock piles, inundated buildings and road beds make up the bulk of the fishing structure.

If you are fishing the lake in the summertime you need to be tough, because it is not uncommon to have temperatures during the day in the 100- 110 degree range. At this time of the year many anglers fish early, come in for a siesta and then resume fishing later in the afternoon. And before all of these drought conditions, hydrilla provided good fishing cover along the shoreline.

If you think Falcon Lake is not something special allow me to tell you about a couple of past tournaments. In 2008, Professional angler Paul Elias set a new B.A.S.S. record when he won the Elite Series “Lone Star Shootout” with a 4-day weight of 132.8 pounds. His bass were caught on deep diving Mann’s crankbaits and C- rig’d 12-inch jelly worms.

Now let’s jump forward to October 8, 2011 when the Bass Champs “South Championship 2011” tournament was held. There were a total of 163 teams entered and some of the biggest weights we've ever seen in bass fishing competition anywhere took place. The winning team of Robert Ballard, of Del Rio, and Clarence Vaughn of Amarillo, Texas had an unbelievable tournament fishing with football jigs and the Power Tackle Lateral Perch. Their winning catch of 10 bass for two days weighed an amazing 86.18 pounds. That's more than an 8 1/2 pound average per bass. There were 13 bass caught weighing more than 10 pounds including three weighing more than 11 pounds. Now get this - 86 of the 163 teams averaged 20 pounds or more a day while 22 teams caught more than 30 pound limits a day. The team of Scott Barnett and Brandon Baker caught the biggest bass of the tournament, an 11.57 pound bass, on a 1/2-ounce Jewel Football jig with a Zoom Super Speed Craw trailer in 7 feet of water. WOW!

When fishing Falcon Lake you need to be sure you have a valid Texas fishing license and it is recommended that you get a Mexican fishing license if you are going to wet a hook in Mexican waters. Mexico licenses can be purchased in Zapata at Robert's Fish N' Tackle (2425 S. Highway 83, 956/765-1442) or from
Falcon Lake Tackle (2195 S. Highway 83, 956/765-4866.)

Falcon Lakes record black bass weighed a whopping 15.63 pounds and was caught 1/7/2011 on a Zoom Mag Fluke by local guide Tommy Law. That is the size we were after as we launched our boat in mid-November. My fishing partner for this trip was Butch Hudkins from Llano, Texas. Hudkins is a factory representative for many bait companies and a veteran angler that knows his way around Falcon Lake. Once we arrived at the lake we had about three hours to fish before sunset and were rewarded with a fat six pounder and a few bass in the four and five pound range. These fish hit jigs, Netbait Paca Craws and Mad Paca’s flipped into the center of flooded brush. Flipping the bushes is an exciting way to fish and you can definitely get your tackle tested.

Even at 20+ feet low, Falcon Lake is spread out and offers an abundance of water to fish. Just be careful that you don’t spend all your time running and not fishing. And remember, when looking for productive fishing spots in the upcoming months - rocks are the key.

We launched at Beacon Lodge which is owned by my good friend and super angler/guide Speedy Collette. The Beacon Lodge facility has a nice ramp available and there is no problem launching here during these low water conditions. As you leave the launch and head right you will go north up the lake and into the river section. Here you can fish great spots such as Arroyo Veleno, Del Burro, Salado and Chapote. Head south and known areas for great fishing include Arroyo Del Tiger, Little Tiger, the State Park area, Salinillas and Coyotes.

There are many other fine cuts, coves, points and humps available on both the U.S.A and Mexican side of the lake. During our trip the river areas were pretty murky, so with those conditions and the falling water we spent most of our fishing time in the mid-lake to southern section.

One thing you can usually plan on when fishing Falcon Lake is the wind. If it is blowing more than 15mph from the north, navigation in the southern part of the open water can get very tricky. Large swells can build and I assure you that it’s easy to take a wave or two over the bow or get some spray from the waves. Good raingear is essential for weather changes and also for staying dry when making those long boat runs in rough water.

But unlike our neighbors to the far north, there will be times when the lake is perfectly calm and even during the month of November and December you will have days where you can wear shorts and T-shirts and feel very comfortable.

During this trip I also had the pleasure of meeting one of the premier guides on the lake – Jim Behnken. As we shared a meal I quizzed him about the fishing during the upcoming months and here were some of his responses:

*Q- What are the best baits to be using by season -
*A- Summer - Flipping a jig and chunking football jigs Winter - I prefer a 3/4 Jo Baby spinnerbait in green shad and a football jig
Spring – Texas-rig with a 7-inch Yum Dinger or Magnum Fluke
Fall - Strike King Series 6XD crankbait

*Q– How about the best colors –
*A- For jigs when fishing up-lake I stay with the black/blue or camo. When fishing down-lake I stay with the watermelon/red and peanut butter jelly colors. If I am fishing plastics up-lake I like the green pumpkin and down-lake I use the watermelon/red.

Q- In the next three months, what is the best time to be on the water and depth to fish -.
A- I prefer the evening fishing better than morning for the most part, and like to keep my bait in from 10- to 15-feet of water.

*Q– What is the most important tip you would give to a fisherman coming to Falcon for the first time –
*A- Be sure you’re casting to a hard bottom, rock, and gravel or shell beds

Those are good words – Thanks Jim!

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Hudkins and I fished hard, looked at lots of different water and averaged about 20+ bass per day. It was a good trip even though we experienced one of those cold fronts and blue-bird skies that shut the fishing down for a short period of time. We had bass over 7-pounds each day, with our biggest going 8-13. And like all bass fishermen, we had bigger fish on and some even up to the boat, however, they are now just another Falcon Lake fish story about the big one that got away.

For those of you planning a trip to Falcon Lake in the upcoming months, here is a list of items that I would certainly recommend:

Cell phone – Make sure you get an emergency number to call in case of a break-down.
Raingear – Quality raingear can be invaluable
Rods – Heavy action
Hooks - Heavy duty 4/0 – to 6/0 (take lots of them)
Sinkers – Use ½ - to 1-ounce size (take lots of them)
Jigs - Quality ¾ - to 1 ½-ounce sizes that have strong hooks. A couple that I prefer are Stanley’s “Flip Max” and Strike Kings “Hack Attack”.

I am also trying a couple of new baits that I think will be dynamite. The "Wedge Head Punch Jig" was recently introduced by Stanley and it will be great for flipping into the trees and grass.

The other bait is produced by Buckeye Lures and is called the "2-Part Jig". It is a football jig that has a removable head that slides up the line when a fish is hooked to minimize lost fish.

The ability of the jig to let the weight slide up the line will greatly increase your catch ratio when fishing heavy weight in deep water. The bait comes with one skirt/hook combo and two different size heads. I really like it.

Swim Jigs – ½ ounce and heavier with a flapping legs trailer. There are some really good ones on the market – just make sure they have stout hooks.

Fishing Line - 20# plus Fluorocarbon or 65# braid

Deep Diving Crankbaits – I prefer the Norman DD22 and Strike Kings 5 to 6XD series

Square Bills – Just make sure they have strong hooks.
Colors – Citrus Shad, Sexy Shad, Tomato Craw, Tennessee Shad and any Tilapia color

Rat-L-Trap – Use the ¾-oz models in Honey Craw, Bream Fire-Tiger and Tilapia.

Also try the new Zombie Shad series in the Citrus, Sexy, Shad and Chrome Black patterns.

Plastics – Ol' Monster, NetBait Paca Craws and Mad Paca's, Magnum Flukes and full size Brush Hogs. Toss in a few extra long worms such as NetBaits 15-inch C-Max and Mann’s 12-inch Jelly Worm.

Colors I would have handy are Watermelon/Red, Red Bug, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Candy and Okeechobee Craw.

Jigging Spoons – Silver ¾ and 1-ounce for working the rocky ledges
Spinnerbaits – Go with ¾ or 1-oz, baits with large double blades such as Stanley Lures “Wedge Plus” and the Strike Kings KVD series.
Swim Baits – Even though I didn’t do much good on them this trip the shallow flooded brush in many area looks ideal for working this bait

Well there you are, a few tips for fishing what I consider to be one of the premier bass fishing lakes in the country. Falcon Lake is one of those special places where a 5-plus pounder per day is the normal and don’t be surprised to catch more that 40+ bass on a good day. I have heard it said by more than one angler that a bad day on Falcon Lake is usually better than a good day on many of our other lakes. How true!

Send me a picture of the big one you catch! Good Fishing – JB ***************************************************
Contact Information:
Falcon Lake State Park - (956) 848-5327
Falcon Lake Tackle – (956) 765-4866 Store Hours: Internet store open 24/7/365 – regular store open everyday from early to late – and longer if needed
Robert's Fish N' Tackle (956) 765-1442 (Guide service and fishing tackle)
Store Hours: Monday- – Sunday: 6:00 am-8:00 pm

Guides –
Outlaw Guide Service - Tommy Law - (325) 439-6045
Jim Edwards Guide Service - (361) 816-1316
Gary Harlan's Guide Service - (956) 765-3404
Speedy Collette – (956) 236-9717
Jim Behnken Guide Service – (210) 414-8048
Doug Fett – (419) 302-8600 Steed Guide Trips Cell: (956) 286--4091
John Williams – (956) 236-2942
Robert and Robin McFarlane – (956) 857-7314 or (210) 416-4563
Keith Combs - Trophy Bass Guide Service - (254) 681-9566
Roberts Fish N' Tackle – Robert Amaya - (956) 765-1442

There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home.

November 2011

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The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

Nov 2011 - WOW! We had some rain the other day and it was so enjoyable. The fresh smell of rain along with needed moisture for our grass and trees was definitely appreciated. Not sure we had enough to help the lake but we are still praying for more.

Toledo Bend Lake Level Stats - As of 11/1/2011 - 6:30 AM

Lake Level 159.86’ msl (12.14-feet low) ** We set a new record it seems each day.
Generator 1 Currently shut down
Generator 2 Currently shut down
Spillway Gates - One gate open 24 hours/day 6" to maintain minimum downstream flow
Current Waterflow 572 CFS
This information provided courtesy of Sabine River Authority State of Louisiana

Lake Levels Last 9 Years on 11/1
11-1-2010 164.08
11-1-2009 173.28
11-1-2008 167.58
11-1-2007 167.76
11-1-2006 165.05
11-1-2005 163.44
11-1-2004 168.60
11-1-2003 166.12
11-1-2002 167.07
This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey

Water temperature is in the lower 70’s and conditions on the southern part of the lake would have to be rated as extremely clear. In many places there is grass where no one has seen grass before.

Launching continues to get more and more difficult as the water level falls. Check with local marinas or SRA on ramp conditions. There are MANY stumps and obstacles showing up – so be very careful.

There are a number of marinas that are re-working their boat ramps, among them on the Texas side are Holly Park Marina, Huxley Bay Resort and Paradise Point in Mill Creek that I have pictured below where they will be adding an additional section.

I launched at the public ramp off highway 255 near the dam last week and had no problem. However, if the lake continues to fall it will be more difficult to reach the main lake because of shallow spot between the ramp and the main lake.

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Boat lane clearing to be initiated by SRA. -
On Thursday, October 27th, the Louisiana Sabine River Authority Board met and discussed potential for clearing the main N-S boat lanes. A decision was made to contract with Keith Kays to work for 10 days @ $2,500 a day to push the stumps over with a barge mounted back hoe and drive them down into the bottom of the lake. After 10 days, if this works, SRA will purchase a barge to use with their equipment and continue pushing stumps over. Fifty miles of lanes will be cleared, starting at Cypress Bend headed north to San Patricio then south to Pleasure Point. The decision to only clear 50 miles was based on the fact that water above San Patricio is too low with most areas being dry.

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BASS – Grass! Grass! Grass! Once again that’s the pattern that seems to be working best. Best action seems to be early in the morning and look for lots of schooling action.

Local angler A. D. White and I used swim-jigs and the standard Texas-rig for most of our fish last week, and the bass sure were fat. I would also recommend the Stanley spinnerbait and a wacky worm fished near the edge of the hydrilla. Some reports of bass being taken on floating minnow baits such as a Bomber “long A”, Smithwick’s “Rogue” and the always popular Zara Spook, especially if you have some cloud cover. The buzzbzit bite should just get better and better.

Shad is the right color and mix in a few clear or bone colors.

CRAPPIE/YELLOW BASS – Few reports from crappie fishermen
and most are still using live shiners fished near brush or creek channels in about 20-feet of water.

Look for the yellow and white bass near the entrance and up the major feeder creeks and on humps that are near deeper water drops. White and I also caught yellow bass on chrome ½ - to ¾-oz jigging spoons fished near drops and humps in water from 15-26-feet in depth.

GRANDPARENTS' ANSWERING    MACHINE

Good morning. . . ..
At present we are not at home but, please Leave your message after you hear the beep.. beeeeeppp ...

If you are one of our children, dial 1 and then select the option from 1 to 5 in order of "arrival" so we know who it is.
If you need us to stay with the children, press 2
If you want to borrow the car, press 3
If you want us to wash your clothes and ironing, press 4
If you want the grandchildren to sleep here tonight, press 5
If you want us to pick up the kids at school, press 6
If you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday or to have it delivered to your home, press 7
If you want to come to eat here, press 8
If you need money, press 9
If you are going to invite us to dinner, or, taking us to the theatre start talking we are listening !!!!!!!!!!!"

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       Piranha Caught In Texas

Well it had to happen sooner or later: A Piranha was recently caught is U.S. waters. Tom Bass Lake, a popular 25-acre Harris County fishing spot located at the intersection of Texas 288 and Beltway 8 was the fishing location where a pre-teen girl using a hook baited with a piece of hot dog caught the hand-size fish. The fish ended up in the hands of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fisheries staff who made identification confirmed and verified by outside experts.

The fish was definitely a piranha, in fact it was a red-bellied piranha. The fish a native of the Amazon basin has an aggressive carnivore behavior and quite a set of “chompers”. This was only the second piranha verified found in Texas waters. The other piranha documented in Texas was taken in 1982 from Boerne City Reservoir in Kendall County.

Possessing and releasing live piranhas (or any of the dozens of other exotic, harmful or potentially harmful fish) is prohibited by Texas law. Yet every year, we see an increasing number of prohibited fish, which have the potential to do great harm to native fish and the ecosystems in which they live, discovered in Texas waters. The Internet has made it a whole lot easier for people to get them. Most of the fish come into Texas through the aquarium trade and end up in Texas waters when released by owners who tire of the fish or see them outgrow their tanks. Texas law prohibits sale and possession of live piranhas and other dangerous or potentially dangerous fish, but many states do not.

Federal law prohibits importation of only a handful of fish - snakeheads, "walking" catfish, silver, big-head and black carp. First offense for possession of prohibited fish species is a Class C misdemeanor in Texas, with a maximum $500 fine. But subsequent convictions boost the charge to Class B and Class A misdemeanors, which carry possible jail time as well as heavier fines. A person caught releasing a live, prohibited fish in Texas faces a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, and repeated offenses can bring state-jail felony charges. ****************************************************

               Alligator Gar Stocked To Combat Carp Invasion

Mississippi joins Tennessee and Kentucky in stocking alligator gar to try and counter-act the spread of common carp and the invasive Asian carp, mostly silver and bighead. Flooding of the Mississippi River this year has brought these carp to many new bodies of water. Sportsfish make up a small percentage of the alligator gars diet since they tend to be scavengers and go after what is most abundant. In most of our water systems that is rough fish such as shad, the common carp and the Asian carp. Some of the stocked gar also have been fitted with transmitters so they can be tracked.
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Interesting History -
Urine used to be used to tan animal skins, so families would all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor". But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot......they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June... However, since they were starting to smell.
..... . Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof... Hence the saying, ”It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire... Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas’ porridge cold, pea’s porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive... So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer. And that's the truth....Now, whoever said History was boring!! ! ******************************************

Strolling For Bass -

The first time I got involved with “strolling” was at Toledo Bend. My fishing partner and I were trying to get a crappie or two for the skillet and “ol’ papermouth” wasn’t cooperating. The first two or three hours were slow, but then we started strolling and the action really picked up.

Strolling is simply a technique where you use an electric trolling motor to slowly move the boat along a precise depth by using your depth finder. Strolling is an extremely productive method, especially during the spring and hot summer days. It is a pretty well accepted fact that fish of all species relate to changes in the bottom terrain. This is true whether you are working a jig-n-pig along a creek channel for a big bass or fishing a tiny tubebait for bream or crappie.

Presenting a bait along changes on the bottom of the lake such as humps, drop-offs, river channels, cuts, submerged treelines, etc., will in most cases dramatically increase your chances for catching fish. The key is to keep your bait in the strike-zone for as long as possible. Let’s take an imaginary fishing trip and put the strolling technique into play.

For starters it good to have a topographical map of the lake you are fishing. After examining the map we find an area where the river channel makes two sharp bends, and then meanders off along a flat. Water depth in the channel shows to be about 30-feet; with surrounding depths ranging from 5-to 25 feet. Now let’s go strolling. As we slowly motor over the area I recommend dropping buoy markers to flag those specific locations where the river channel changes direction. By watching the depth finder and using the marker buoys as reference points, we can now slowly work a bait near the drop-off areas of the channel.

While at the marina we heard that most fishermen were having their best luck fishing a bait at a depth of about 18-feet. By watching the depth finder and slowly moving the boat, we will try to keep the bait tantalizingly crawling and hopping near this key depth. If no action occurs we will change our depth a bit, either deeper or more shallow, and continue fishing until we get a strike.

When I am bass fishing one of my favorite baits for strolling is the Carolina-rigged worm, however, Texas-rigged worms, crankbaits, a jigging spoon, live-bait, and even a slow-rolled spinnerbait can at times be quite effective.

If you are a crappie fisherman good baits to stroll are a small tube-bait, beetle spin or a live shiner. Just keep the bait moving slowly at the depth you have selected, and at times twitch and hop the bait for added attraction.

So let’s review the key steps for successful strolling:
1. Get a good topographical map of the lake you plan to fish.
2. From this map locate areas where sudden changes take place; humps, drop-offs, river channels, creeks, etc.
3. Use marker buoys to identify these changes in bottom structure and to keep yourself oriented as you fish the area.
4. By slowly moving the boat with the electric trolling motor and watching the depth finder, keep your bait near these key spots.
5. Vary the depth you are fishing the bait until the fish are located.

Strolling may be defined by many as a “lazy man’s way of fishing”. But make no mistake, once you start keeping that bait in the productive zone longer you will see a dramatic increase in not only the weight of your stringer at the end of the day, but also the quality of the fish you will be catching.

Strolling is lots of fun and also a great way to fish with the entire family. If you’re not strolling you are probably missing out on some really great catching.

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Fall Back on Sound Advice –

Sunday, November 6, 2011:
Time to Change Your Clock AND Your Smoke Alarm Batteries
USFA Press Office, Emmitsburg, MD. – As our nation moves back to Standard Time beginning this weekend, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to mark the occasion as a time to test your home smoke alarms and replace the batteries if more than one year old. Every day in the United States, needless home fire deaths occur.

Working smoke alarms significantly increase your chance of surviving a deadly home fire. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you're awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert scanning the air for fire and smoke.

In addition to changing your smoke alarm batteries this weekend, the USFA recommends following these simple steps to protect your life, your loved ones, and your home:

• Dust or vacuum smoke alarms when you change the batteries.
• Test alarms once a month using the test button.
• Replace the entire alarm if it's more than 10 years old or doesn't work properly when tested.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
• For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor alarms.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout your home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Interconnected alarms are available at most stores that sell smoke alarms.
• Make sure everyone in your home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

Finally, prepare and practice an escape plan so that you and your loved ones can get out of your home safely should there be a fire. Plan to meet in a place a safe distance from the fire and where first responders can easily see you.

For more information on smoke alarms, fire escape planning, and fire prevention, visit the USFA website at www.usfa.fema.gov/smokealarms. *********************************************************** Remember - The heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge.

See you out on the water – I will be in a red and white Nitro so wave to me and we can chat. -- JB

Oct 2011

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one...

Oct 2011 --- Finally it is getting a bit cooler. It sure is nice to get up in the mornings and feel that crispness in the air. Maybe it won’t be long before we will start having some of those nice showers that can soak into the ground.

Keep in mind that the burn ban is still in effect at the time of this writing. Pray for rain!

Toledo Bend Lake Level Stats - As of 10/1/2011 - 6:30 AM
Lake Level 160.61’ msl (11.39-feet low) ** It seems like we set a new record each day.
Generator 1 Currently shut down
Generator 2 Currently shut down
Spillway Gates - One gate open 24 hours/day 6" to maintain minimum downstream flow
Current Waterflow 615 CFS

This information provided courtesy of Sabine River Authority State of Louisiana

Lake Levels Last 9 Years on 10/1
10-1-2010 164.81
10-1-2009 168.46
10-1-2008 167.92
10-1-2007 168.02
10-1-2006 161.77
10-1-2005 163.86
10-1-2004 168.08
10-1-2003 166.53
10-1-2002 166.18

This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey

Surface water temperature is in the high 70’s and water conditions on the southern part of the lake would have to be rated as extremely clear. If you haven’t been on TB in a while you will be shocked. There is more grass in the south end of the lake than I have even seen. In fact, I have visited with anglers that are excited about the new grass in areas such as 1215 and other numerous cuts in the northern part of the lake
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Launching is getting to be more and more difficult as the water level continues to fall. I would certainly check with SRA on ramp conditions before I hit the water. There are many more stumps and obstacles that have started to show up this week and the lake can be very dangerous if you are running fast. Falling water will continue to take its toll on other area ramps in the upcoming weeks. I hear new reports every week about someone that has lost a lower unit by hitting something. Be Careful!
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BASS – Grass! Grass! Grass! That is the pattern that most anglers are using these days and depths of from 2 –to 20-feet can all be productive. Best action seems to be early in the morning and look for lots of schooling action. The fish right now may not be the heavyweights you are looking for, but they sure are fun to catch.

I prefer fishing the standard Texas-rig at this time of the year and you need to play around with the size of the weight to be more effective.   Colors haven’t changed much for the past couple of months – use the watermelon, watermelon-reds and I have had success on the tequila sunrise and motor oil colors. If the action is slow go to the ol’ stand-by “wacky worm” presentation.

I still like to chunk a topwater bait such as the Pop-R, Rebel Minnow, Zara Spook, Frog and the always faithful Heddon Torpedo. Shad is the right color and mix in a few clear or bone colors.

You will see the spinnerbait and buzzbait action pick up in the next few months and they are always fun to throw. I have been using a citrus shad pattern skirt and a solid white for best action.

Crappie and Yellow Bass – Crappie fishing has improved a bit and if you have a good brush pile in about 20-feet of water you can catch a bunch on live shiners. Yellow bass have been showing up in surfacing schools and can also be taken in depths from 12-28 feet of water near the mouth of the major creeks. A 1/2-oz chrome jigging spoon is working best.

It's not whether you win or lose, but how you place the blame.

*HOW TO START A FIGHT*

One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift... The next year, I didn't buy her a gift. When she asked me why, I replied, "Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!" And that's how the fight started..... ______________________________

I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. "I'll have the rump steak, rare, please." He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?" "Nah, she can order for herself." And that's when the fight started..... _______________________________

My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table. I asked her, "Do you know him?" "Yes", she sighed, "He's my old boyfriend.... I understand he took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear he hasn't been sober since." "My God!" I said, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?" And then the fight started... ________________________________

When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the shed, the boat, making beer. Always something more important to me. Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, "When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway." The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp. ________________________________

My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, "What's on TV?" I said, "Dust." And then the fight started... ________________________________

Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the boat up to the van, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day. I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed.. I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible." My loving wife of 5 years replied, "And, can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?" And that's how the fight started... ________________________________

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds." I bought her a bathroom scale. And then the fight started....... ________________________________

My wife was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to me, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.' I replied, "Your eyesight's near perfect." And then the fight started........

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                                        Why Carry a Gun?

My old grandpa said to me 'Son, there comes a time in every man's life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's when he becomes too old to take a whoopin.'

I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.
I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.
I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I'm evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.
I don't carry a gun because I'm angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.
I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy.
I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.
I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.
I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

Police protection is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take a whoopin'..... author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

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                      Skirt Colors – Do They Make Difference

As you walk through your favorite fishing tackle store it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the vast assortment of skirt colors that are available. Gone are the days of the plain ol’ black, white and yellow skirts because now the color selections are only limited by your imagination. Many of the pros even carry a skirt-making kit when on the water to fine-tune their presentations. But do all of these rainbow of colors really work and do they have a place in your tacklebox? Let’s investigate.

Basically there are two well-known skirt materials - silicone rubber and latex rubber. Each of these products come in strands that are thick, thin, square, flat and round. The majority of the commercially-manufactured skirts are silicone based. Colors are almost unlimited and the glitter, natural, baitfish scale, chrome foiled finishes and holographic appearances are vibrant and appealing. There will probably always be a debate regarding whether silicon is a better skirt material than latex or vice-versa. My opinion is that both will catch fish and I personally prefer silicone because it is available in more colors.

Pro angler Kevin VanDam should know a thing or two about color selections and he opts for a chartreuse, white or sexy shad color for most of his fishing. But for clear water conditions he tries to “match the hatch” with colors that represent specific hues for shad, crawfish and bream. In fact many pros feel that water clarity is the most important issue when making those color selections.

The following table will give you a general overview of colors to select:
Clear Water or Bright Skies – Use clearer lightly colored skirts such as white, yellow, silver, clear, smoke or gray

Dingy/Stained Water or Dark Cloudy Days – Use the darker colors such as black, brown, purple or chartreuse colors

Most of the prey in our area lakes is shad and crawfish so this makes color selection relatively easy at the start. Almost any bluegill or crawfish color skirt can easily imitate a bluegill, perch or other cover and bottom-oriented baitfish. If you feel like you need to add a slight trace of a color to make the bait more appealing just use a felt tip marker. These markers come in a multitude of colors and make customizing a skirt easy.

As we approach Fall and Winter the jig skirt colors that have historically been most productive in our area for jigs are the black/blue, watermelon, watermelon-red and brown pumpkin. Bass will also be feeding heavily on shad so for spinnerbaits use colors like the shad, chartreuse-white, silver or white-red. If bass are hitting your bait but just not “taking” it is usually a sign that the skirt color is pretty close to what they want but not quite. I simple fix at times is to simply rotate the skirt so that the colors that were on the bottom are now on the top. Remember, it doesn’t necessarily have to look right to you – it has to look right to the bass.

Skirts will last longer if you give them an occasional spray of Armor-Off. I also like to keep them stored away from excessive heat, sun or humidity. If an older skirt seems stiff just grip the strands and give them a few pulls. This causes the strands to “release” and become much more flexible. Few of the anglers I talked with said that they threw a single color skirt. Most liked to mix in a few strands of chartreuse, black, silver or green. Many liked a few strands of red and I think the logic here is to imitate a gill flash or blood attraction. Skirt colors are fun to play with and at times you can really find a pattern such as the Toledo Gold or Sexy Shad that truly make a difference.
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See you out on the water – I will be in a red and white Nitro so wave to me and we can chat. I will be the one going VERY slow -- JB

September 2011

The reason Politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would 'hate' to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.

Sept 2011 --- HOT!!! It seems so long since we have had one of those nice showers that soaked into the ground. Keep in mind that the burn ban is still in effect at the time of this writing. Pray for rain!

Toledo Bend Lake Level Stats - As of 9/1/2011 - 6:30 AM
Lake Level 161.25’ msl (10.75-feet low) ** This equals the record low set Oct 16. 2006 **
Generator 1 Currently shut down
Generator 2 Currently shut down
Spillway Gates - One gate open 24 hours/day 7" to maintain minimum downstream flow Current Waterflow 731 CFS

This information provided courtesy of Sabine River Authority State of Louisiana

Lake Levels Last 9 Years on 09/1
09-1-2010 167.28
09-1-2009 168.44
09-1-2008 168.39
09-1-2007 170.81
09-1-2006 162.46
09-1-2005 164.29
09-1-2004 169.29
09-1-2003 167.97
09-1-2002 167.57

This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey

Surface water temperature is in the high 80’s to 90 and water conditions on the southern part of the lake would have to be rated as extremely clear. Launching is getting to be more and more difficult as the water level continues to fall. Six Mile public ramp (where I launch) is still open, but there are a number of very shallow humps as you motor from the ramp going north to reach the deeper channel. Falling water will continue to take its toll on other area ramps in the upcoming weeks.. The last time I was on the water I only saw three other boats, but I saw a number of rigs stacked up at Carlson's Marine - probably most having lower unit work done. Be Careful!

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SRA NEWS - Ongoing Drought Conditions Affect Toledo Bend Operations TOLEDO BEND PROJECT JOINT OPERATION 450 Spur 135, Burkeville, TX 75932 SRA-TX 409/565-2273 SRA-LA 337/286-5255 August 31, 2011

(Toledo Bend Reservoir) The ongoing drought conditions have taken a toll on water resources in the States of Louisiana and Texas. Drought conditions have affected operations at the Toledo Bend Reservoir operated jointly by the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana and the Sabine River Authority of Texas (Authorities). The Authorities' responsibility to satisfy downstream flow requirements necessary to meet major industrial water contracts from diversion canals downstream of Toledo Bend Reservoir become even more challenging as drought conditions, which began with a very dry winter and spring, have persisted through the summer.

Since the latter part of April, it has been necessary for the Authorities to release water from the reservoir to meet these downstream commitments by running one hydroelectric generating unit 2 and ½ hours every other day which later changed to 3 hours every other day due to persistent drought conditions. The impact of these downstream releases on lowering Toledo Bend Reservoir levels has been minimal (approximately 1 ½ - 2 inches per month) compared to the impact evaporation has had on lake levels (calculated at 12.29 inches for the month of August). Maximum temperatures averaging 102° F since the first of August have increased the effect of evaporation on the lake levels.

Current low lake levels preclude the Authorities from continuing to release water through the hydroelectric generating system leaving the spillway gates as the next water release alternative. To continue to accomplish the necessary water releases, one spillway gate is opened approximately 7 inches 24 hours per day to release a continuous flow of water downstream. The persistent drought conditions have necessitated Toledo Bend operational modifications that have never had to be made in the history of the reservoir. The Authorities will continually monitor lake levels and downstream conditions to determine any necessary adjustments that need to be made. Normal operations will resume as conditions improve. The Authorities encourage all boaters and recreational users to use good judgment and be safety conscious at all times. For any questions, please contact the offices at (337) 286-5255 (SRA-LA) or (409) 565-2273 (SRA-TX). www.tbpjo.org

Economics Will Start Getting Tougher - In case you are not aware, some of the larger tournaments are starting to move from Toledo Bend to Sam Rayburn because of the low water conditions. The East Texas Division of Skeeter Bass Champs 2011 Championship Tournament was scheduled to be held at Fin and Feather Resort but due to safety issues has moved to Rayburn. Rayburn is also extremely low but does not have the navigation problems (trees and boat lanes) that we are experiencing on TB.

I recently got some very interesting information from my good friend and pro angler Joe Joslin. A Texas SRA representative he was speaking with said that Toledo Bend has lost over 50,000 acres to drought conditions - that takes it down from 183,000 to 133,000 surface acres. According to the rep, that's more area than the entire impoundment of famous Lake Fork. ********************** BASS – If you like to fish grass then the southern part of Toledo Bend should really please you. I have never seen so much submerged and visible grass in the lake. The bass are definitely in the grass but it can make for some difficult fishing. If you like to "punch the grass" with a jig and trailer odds are that you may catch some real lunkers.

Early morning fishing has been fairly good on topwaters and frogs, but when that sun gets out the bite gets tough. I would recommend night fishing but it is dangerous enough getting around the lake in the daytime .. much less at night. I would fish the Texas and Carolina-rigs near the creek channels and breaks – from 15- 30 feet deep. Keep a crankbait or spoon handy for schooling fish that may be active on the surface.

Crappie and Yellow Bass – Crappie fishing has slowed down considerably and those catching crappie are still having best luck on live shiners near brush piles in 20+ feet of water. Yellow bass have been showing up surfacing schools and can also be taken in depths from 12-28 feet of water. A 1/2-oz chrome jigging spoon is working best.

If at first you don't succeed - skydiving is not for you

It's not whether you win or lose, but how you place the blame.

9 Things That Will Pass In This Lifetime -

1. **The Post Office - Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.

2. **The Check - Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with checks by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and on-line transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.

** 3. **The Newspaper - The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper on-line, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.

** 4. **The Book - You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from **iTunes**. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore on-line and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book.

** 5.**The Land Line - Telephone Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.

6.**Music - This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalog items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Khoper, and the video documentary, "**Before the Music Dies**."*

7.**Television - Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. **Prime time** shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through **Netflix**

8.** The "Things" That You Own - Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and **Google** are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good new. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.**

9.**Privacy - If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again. ** *******************************

Why Go To Church? -
One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, "I'm not going." "Why not?" she asked. I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "(1), they don't like me, and (2), I don't like them." His mother replied, "I'll give you two good reasons why you SHOULD go to church: (1) You're 49 years old, and (2) You're the pastor!"

The Usher
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row, please," she answered. "You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring." "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired. "No," he said. "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly. "Do you know who I am?" he asked. "No," she said. "Good," he answered.

Show and Tell
A kindergarten teacher gave her class a "show and tell" assignment. Each student was instructed to bring in an object that represented their religion to share with the class. The first student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish and this is a Star of David." The second student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Mary. I'm a Catholic and this is a Rosary." The third student got in up front of the class and said, "My name is Tommy. I am Methodist, and this is a casserole."

The Best Way To Pray
A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby "Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray," the priest said. "No," said the minister. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven." "You're both wrong," the guru said. "The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor." The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted. "The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

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The Twenty and the One A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation.

The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed.. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City , the finest restaurants in New York , performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean ..." "Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So, tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?"

The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church , the Baptist Church , the Lutheran Church .." .........

The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

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Today's Thoughts –
HOMELESS MAN'S FUNERAL
As a bagpiper, I play many places. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt bad and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played ' Amazing Grace ,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full. As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years." Apparently I'm still lost.....

********** And finally …

Her Diary: Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.' When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

His Diary:
Boat wouldn't start, can't figure out why.

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When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth -- Think of Algebra.

See you out on the water – I will be in a red and white Nitro so wave to me and we can chat. -- JB