Toledo Bend

[Bill Babler]

Not many years ago, I mean as little as 2 or three years would it even have been seemed possible,  that tournaments would be won on this body  of water that harbors Giant bass with 3 inch minnow baits. Dimiki rigs and FFS. 

I believe this technique got a HUGE kick start on the Rock last Fall during the Toyota Series. 

The way non-A-rig tournaments are won has not only turned a corner but taken a sharp detour. 

On the recent MLF event there, 9 out of the top 10 finishers fed the fish on their FFS Dimiki rigs. 

Most every fish and I mean BIG fish and lots of them were first seen then fed these micro baits on lite line on SPINNING TACKLE. 

No more fishing only seeing and catching. Times have most certain changed and really I have no idea if it’s for the better. 


 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I’ve been coming to T rock for over 50 years and have caught very few bass here.    Primarily due to no electronics I guess.     I used to try but it’s pretty tough in the summer when the lake stratifies.  It’s really not a lake you can run down good looking banks and catch fish.   At least in the dam area.  I always feel like it’s empty water.  So FFS is pretty tempting.   But I guess I’ll keep trout fishing at Taney.  

[Bill Babler]

Snagged your more than correct. This however is changing to not only clear water high mountain lakes but Texas, Georgia Alabama, and other Southern States. 

Off color medium depth stained traditional Largemouth waters are now FFS micro baits havens.   Seeing every fish prior to trying to catch it, regardless of depth or water clarity. 

Unbelievable how fast this has happened. 

 

[nomolites]

I think a lot more fisherman’s eyes have been opened up to the offshore fish that have always been there, and I don’t really see this going back to other way soon.  I quit bank beating years ago once I figured out how to target and catch deep fish, and FFS simply made that easier.  And put boats on most of my favorite spots.   I don’t see much use for it for shallow fish, but I see the pros using it there too.  I’m not that fond of staring at the screen.

Mike

 

[Quillback]

I go back and forth about buying FFS, but I have decided, at least for now, that I have fun fishing the way I fish, I like a little mystery to my fishing.  Never have liked to sight fish for bedding fish either.

The pros are sure fishing with it, and if I was a diehard tourney fisherman I would be too.  

I've watched the pros use it for fishing jerks in relatively shallow water.  I remember watching Lee Livesay win on Fork at least in part throwing jerks and watching them come after it.  

Toledo Bend for the Elites the week of the 22nd, and the Classic in March on Grand.  I'm really interested to see how it works on Grand.

Maybe with all that deep water fishing going on, they'll drive them back to the banks.  😃

[Dock-in-it]

Regarding FFS smack down/education, Patrick Walters (Elite pro) showed its capabilities in Nov 2020 on Lake Fork. His approach with FFS caught everyone off guard. 

MLF pro Drew Gill (age 21) is a product of college fishing and he just finished 3rd on the MLF-BPT on Toledo Bend and won the MLF invitational last week on Sam Rayburn.

If you want to see the impact of college fishing and the future of high level pro fishing I would recommend you watch his interview from earlier this week on Bass Talk Live (BTL) on YouTube. 

This young man is ready for prime time.

 

[Bill Babler]

Dru Gill was dropping the Dimiki right on their heads just like Connell. 

I’ll bet you a dollar to a donut that in the TVS River systems this year it’s going to be the Dimiki. 
Long Lining Cranks and Hair jigs will still catch them there but I bet lots of those Guys will catch them on mini baits, while looking at em.  

SPINNING RODS. 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

3 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Snagged your more than correct. This however is changing to not only clear water high mountain lakes but Texas, Georgia Alabama, and other Southern States. 

Off color medium depth stained traditional Largemouth waters are now FFS micro baits havens.   Seeing every fish prior to trying to catch it, regardless of depth or water clarity. 

Unbelievable how fast this has happened. 

 

I did catch em here and there prior to the virus but nothing like trips LOZ.  I would visit friends in Gravois and get out early and beat the banks.  Jigs, spinnerbaits, tx rig worms and catch fish.  I sure haven’t duplicated that on T rock.  

[Ham]

I bought FFS for crappie fishing. I want to see how it benefits me when looking for White Bass too.

Im still wrapping my mind around the fact that guys aren’t going to be using seasonal patterns and appropriate seasonal techniques combined with finding spots to catch the best limits of 5 over the 1-2-3-4 day events. 
it’s not for the better. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, Ham said:

I bought FFS for crappie fishing. I want to see how it benefits me when looking for White Bass too.

Im still wrapping my mind around the fact that guys aren’t going to be using seasonal patterns and appropriate seasonal techniques combined with finding spots to catch the best limits of 5 over the 1-2-3-4 day events. 
it’s not for the better. 

Watch Josh Jones or Ben Milliken on Youtube.  They have it dialed in and the number of big fish they catch out in the abyss is crazy.  The TX DNR tracking study is pretty interesting too.  How many BIG tagged fish are located later on no-nothing flats is an eye opener too.