Caddo Lake Bass Fishing Reports

[Railroader]

i do have a question chris.......how in the ---- do you throw a c-rig with a 5 foot leader.....i think you need to give me some fishin classes one day.just curious....obviuosly im not in the know anymore





jerry

7ft rod or longer

[Chris]

i do have a question chris.......how in the ---- do you throw a c-rig with a 5 foot leader.....i think you need to give me some fishin classes one day.just curious....obviuosly im not in the know anymore


jerry

Jerry ,

Railroader is right.....a 7 foot rod is a must. I would love to take you to Caddo and show you what I have learned. This time of year on Caddo is exceptional for me using a Carolina rig. I use the longer leader because some of the water Im catching fish is 20 ft plus... I didnt catch any that deep yesterday but I wasnt there very late. Usually the best times for me to catch a bunch of fish on the deep carolina rig is between 2:30 pm to about 5:30 or 6:00 pm.....and the hotter the temps the better the bite. Alot of folks question the long leader ....but its not that big of a deal. Alot of pros successfully use a 6 or 7 foot leader including Pete Thliveros. If you go bck through some of the old Caddo posts you will see where I caught lots of fish in the summer on Caddo. Dont look at last summer because I didnt go then because of low water conditions. They will be biting like crazy through August so we have lots of time to hook up.

[Mr. bigmouth]

i learn something new everyday,actually im not all that familiar with the c-rig never have fished it that much.From all the how tos ive seen i never knew you could use a leader near that long.Ive always hear maybe up to 3 ft maximum.Guess ill have to look at purchasing a couple new longer rods in the near future. thanks chris





jerry

[Hawgwild]

Got on the lake a little after daylight and fished till just before noon..

Wasted the first 1.5 hours in a non productive area...moved to another and the party was one..

2nd cast in new area caught a nice 13.5 incher and a few cast later caught another near 5 lbs.. pictured below.. continued using the buzzbait and caught anothere 14+"slot fish and anothe 13" keeper..I sas using a black Cavatron buzz with black blade and red hook..no trailer...all that hit the bait were caught..

Started using some plastics and finally caught another slot fish on a Lake Fork "Fork Craw" in blue bruiser... Then things kinda went south on me...

Hooked another good "over"..was messing around too much at the boat to land the fish and fish finally  flopped off.. probably due to a dull hook and my hands were really slipping on the rod as I had just applied some sunscreen.....I'd already lost my only black cavatron buzz bait about 15 foot up a thee

So started using some cranks... and finally hooked another good one on a chrome/blue rattletrap...it was at least as large as the one pictured below but never got a good hook in it....again...probably due to dull hooks..

All the fish were caught off of trees in water ranging from 2 to 6 feet..water was somewhat muddy where I fished and 87 degrees and rising...

So anyway had a fun day and know what I want to do in my little company tourny tomorrow..

Was a little worried about the fish as it had taken the bait deep and in the gills and was bleeding a good bit...so left it in the livewell for a bit...when I checked it later it appeared to be doing pretty well so released it back near where it was caught..



Had I not messed up and landed the 2 that got away probably would have had close to 16 lbs of fish..maybe more...would like to see that tomorrow in my tourny...

...and the heat IS on...

Scottie

[Crustaceous]

Wish I was fishing with some of you guys today.  I spent all morning on the lake fishing all around off Jeems, and didn't catch a fish.  Finally went to Big Green Break and caught one on a Ribbit, but that was it for the day.  I tried buzzbaits and a Pop-R early, threw worms, frogs and spinnerbaits.  Guess I should have gone up to deeper water, but didn't want to fight the boat traffic.  Compared to what I did, it sounds like it would have been a better way to go.

Was definately HOT out there today.  WHEW!   

[Red Ranger]

Had a pretty good day finding fish today, but not landing them.    By 9:30 had set the hook on eight, but only one made it to the boat - a nice 16" slot fish.  Got a couple of the "almost caught" fish close to the boat and I would say they were both overs.  Fished docks and trees in 3-4 foot of water.  They were biting june bug tubes and worms for me.

[Red Ranger]

Chris, I could use some of your C-rigs lessons too.  I use to catch some good fish on a C-rig, but can't seem to get a fish to touch one now.   

[Hawgwild]

Same here RedRanger on the C. Rig....I do intent to use it a little tomorrow in my tourny when the bite slows a little later in the day..

Chris..that would probably make a good article for submission to the bass fishing articles and maybe a short version in the tips and techniques section..

Scottie

[Chris]

These spots are mainly about boat positioning and not so much Carolina rig skills. You would be surprised at how many fish are caught when the bait is falling especially when the deeper bite is on. I will still be glad to go out and show you guys a few of these areas but you will have to keep it .

[BIG PAPA]

Went to Caddo this morning with one of my brothers. Bite was really off for me early only had 2 I caught on a frog at 10:00. then we hit the heavy grass with a heavy weighted tex. rig with flukes and big worms.
Caught 13 between 10 and 1:00 with 11 slot fish 1 over ( about 7 .5 ) and 1 dink, so out of a total 15 fish I could have weighed the one over and my brother could have weighed 1 small 12 incher. They were along edges in 4-6 ft. in heavy hydrilla and pads mixed.
papa

[b1jeremy]

hey scottie....about the sunscreen mishap...i would suggest you use either the pump bottle or the aerosol sp? bottle...i have both and will not ever go back...gets the job done plus not as messy...also i am always afraid of getting the other kinds on my plastics when i pitch...anyway sounds like you had a good day...Jeremy

[Chris]

Guess I will go on out to Caddo and deal with that river traffic and bust some C-Rig fish. I will let yall know this evening how it went. 

[Red Ranger]

Hey papa, I tried some of the heavy stuff yesterday too - along the edges.  And I've pitched to open pockets.  But I've never tried to fish with a heavy weight in it.  Can you tell us a little more about how you do that?  Do you just thow it in the middle of the stuff and jig it, drag it??

[Hawgwild]

Fished a little compayn tourny on Caddo today....I was on good fish yesterday, but today....

I only  caught 5 fish and only 3 were small keepers for 3.06 lbs..still good for 6th place and a gift certificate to Bacons...

Big bass was 6.5+ lbs..and he also had the winnig string at 7.5+ pounds....I don't believe there was a limit brought in today.

23 boats were in the tourny...

My misshap of the day... ..I had trailered to another launch..went to load my boat and as I motored the boat to the trailer I noticed my  backup lights were on in my truck...well......I had left the truck running to get it cooled off but apparently left in in reverse instead of park..

Sure enough as soon and the boat hit the trailer the truck started to roll back...    I took off and took a flying leap onto the ramp just in time to stop the truck....but then looked back and my boat had floated off..  Another boater was nice enough to bring it back to the ramp..   then made in home safely..

Why do these things happen...

Scottie

[BIG PAPA]

I started fishing a heavy slip sinker in grass probably 40 years ago on Bistineau. It really is not hard you just throw the worm (plastic) out into the grass and work it back pulling it into holes and working it as best you can. You will have to yank it frequently to clear the grass off, but that is part of it sometimes you get bit when you jerk it. You will think you are not doing much good at first as you keep grass on your bait most of the time. but just stick with it and it will pay off. Do not always assume that you need a heavy weight either, if you can work the bait down and in the grass or pads with a lighter weight it is easier. The thickness of the grass will be the deciding factor, if the grass is thin enough for a 1/8 to 3/8 sinker by all means try it, but if it is too thick and the bait just sits on top then go to 1/2 or even a full ounce. Also remember that sometimes especially early and late that a weightless worm will often work in the thickest stuff by just slowly dragging it along and pausing at any thinner spot you find.
Main thing to remember about heavy weights and heavy grass is to jerk hard to clear the grass off of your bait, you will have to do this several times every cast. Another thing that can work is to keep your boat in cleaner water like a boat row and pitch to the openings that you can get to, just jig it a few times and move to the next target. I do not always peg my sinker I let the situation tell me if I have to, if the grass is too thick the sinker will fall and the bait will sit on top at that point you will have to peg the sinker. Another thing I am working on in grass is a heavy line drop shot rig. it seems to pull the bait down in the grass easier. I am using a 3/4 ounce weight and about 1 ft. of leader with the hook rigged above the weight with a Palomar knot.
Good luck and let us know how you do.
papa
papa

[Chris]

Well, didnt bust much....two unders in about 5 foot of water on the Carolina rig. Talked to some buddies on the way out and they were catching some topwater fish about 6 pm. My son and I watched em catch a 4 pounder on a Pop-R in Alligator next to some slop in the shade. We had fun just driving ..........my ten year old hasnt been in my new boat yet so we really kind of road around.

[Red Ranger]

Thanks papa.  I've sorted tried what you were describing, but not had much luck.  And of course if you aren't sure you're doing it right, then you don't much confidence in it and then don't stick with it very long.  Especially with the grass build up, it can be frustrating.  Sounds like I need to tweak what I'm doing a little based on your experience, and stick with it.  It will help the confidence factor a lot knowing I'm doing it the right way.

Like your drop shot rig idea too.

[BIG PAPA]

Yeah I think the thing that bothers most is the grass constantly on your bait, but you just have to jerk it off and keep going. This time of the year on most of our area lakes they are in the grass so go in and get em.
good luck
papa

[kcs]

Fished from 1:00 to 8:00 caught 9 fish three over, two slot, and two unders. The biggest two was 6.5 and 5.5 All came in about 5 to 15 foot. Caught them all on bubble gum trick worm.

[NickLeBrun898]

Hey guys Caddo has been doing pretty decent for us lately....catchin a lot of fish on the frog pattern...mostly slot w\ a few over....just wanted to let everyone know that we are in the process of possibly starting some evening tournaments on Caddo soon...it is still kinda up in the air, it will be done by North Caddo High School (just like last year if anyone remmbers)....Hopefully ill have some more info soon.    Nick

[Hawgwild]

Hey Nick..That sounds like alot of fun...Hope the tourny's are on a Friday evening...about the only time I could fish those..

Scottie

[BIG PAPA]

Sounds good Big Bass Nick. thanks for the report and info.
papa

[skeeter_bite]

Fished Caddo from 3:30 til around 8 this evening.  Managed to boat 5 fish, missed several more.  3 were real good slot fish, and two fat unders.  Caught and missed most of them on frog in or near grass, water varied from 3 to 8 feet.  Caught the other two on t-rig plastic in same areas.

[Red Ranger]

Did you put an "x" on the side of the boat where you caught them?

[BIG PAPA]

You know I used to do that but when I moved the boat the water would wash the X off so I just started putting the X on the water.
papa