Hello, anglers and outdoor addicts.

Lake conditions

The Sabine River Authority reported the lake level at 167.89 feet mean sea level with the gates at the emergency spillway all closed.

Water temperatures were running 66-68 degrees. However, in the back of coves it can go as high as 69 degrees. North Toledo was slightly stained as well as midlake areas with the south end clear to very clear.

Fishing report

BASS: Our shallow and deep patterns are working. On our shallow patterns we are using wacky rigs in The General in green pumpkin as well as pumpkin party. On our Senkos we are using mad melon and watermelon blue flake.

On our Square Bulls we like a Blue Back with 12-pound fluorocarbon test. It runs from 2-8 feet. The Blue Back resembles a shad which is what bass are feeding on in the autumn.

In addition, we continue to catch bass on jigging spoons, drop-shot, Carolina and Texas rigs. On our jigging spoons and drop-shot we fish the same water at 25-40 feet. I have caught bass as deep as 55 feet with a jigging spoon.

On our Texas rigs I like to use a Berkley Bottom Hopper in June bug, and if it very bright, I like to move to Bottom Hopper in red bug. Also, a Trick Worm in candy bug seems also to catch bass.

On our Carolina rigs I like to use a 4-foot leader made with the same line as I do my main line, which is 15- or 17-pound fluorocarbon test. I like to use a 4/0 Fusion worm hook with a Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin or watermelon red flake. I also like to use a Green Pumpkin Chigger Craw on my Carolina rigs.

The spoon bite continues to improve. A couple weeks back we caught close to 20 with 5-6 quality bass weighing up to 3-4 pounds each. Most of those came on a chrome spoon but we did catch several nice spotted bass on a burnt nickel.

We also are catching nice crappie on a chrome spoon. It’s all about watching the electronics and moving around until we find them.

CRAPPIE: I talked to guide Tater Reynolds early this week and he said the numbers are still up. He said his associate had five clients and they caught 82 with most of them quality slabs. Some of them were suspended in 30-35 feet, he said, but most of them were suspended in 25-28 feet. They were hitting live shiners and crappie jigs, he said.

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Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. His column appears Wednesdays. Contact him at 463-3848 or

joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com or visit www.joejoslinoutdoors.com

Joe Joslin / Special to the American Press

Coy Walters caught a couple of quality bass that hit a wacky rig close to the Toledo Bend dam.