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Texas · Fishing
Joaquin sits on the western shore of Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States and the dominant reason most anglers make the drive out to Shelby County.
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Joaquin sits on the western shore of Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States and the dominant reason most anglers make the drive out to Shelby County. The reservoir straddles the Texas-Louisiana state line, which means a little extra paperwork before you launch, but the tradeoff is a massive body of water with serious largemouth bass populations alongside crappie, catfish, and white bass. The lake's flooded timber and creek channels give fish plenty of structure to hold on year-round, and the Joaquin area provides relatively uncrowded access compared to some of the higher-traffic boat ramps further south near Many or Logansport. Spring is when most dedicated bass anglers show up, targeting pre-spawn fish moving into shallow flats and timber edges, but fall can be just as productive when white bass and crappie stack up. If you're coming from out of state or crossing over to fish the Louisiana side, sort out your licensing before you leave home — enforcement on Toledo Bend is active on both sides of the line.
Toledo Bend is a border lake, so a valid license from either Texas or Louisiana covers you to fish the entire reservoir, including the opposite state's waters. That said, you need to follow the regulations of whichever state issued your license, and the two states have different size and bag limits for some species, so check the current rules for your license state before you go.
Largemouth bass are the main draw and what most visiting anglers target. Crappie, channel catfish, blue catfish, and white bass are also consistently present throughout the lake. Striped bass and hybrid stripers show up in the catch as well, particularly when shad schools are active near the surface in fall.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TX.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TX.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TX.
SABINE (Toledo Bend Reservoir Area): 409-625-1940
~54 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TX.
Wattle Duck Pond
~56 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TX.
Toledo Bend Reservoir - Pendleton Bridge Area
~59 min drive
Easy
Stumpy Lake
~1h 7m drive
A worthwhile stop near LA.
P H Tischhauser Lake
~1h 21m drive
A worthwhile stop near TX.
Lake Bistineau State Park Fishing Pier
~1h 22m drive
Easy
Cassells Boykin
~1h 23m drive
A worthwhile stop near TX.
Also worth it near here
Bass fishing peaks in late February through April when fish move shallow ahead of the spawn. Crappie fishing is strong in the same window, with fish staging around submerged timber in 8 to 15 feet of water. Fall, roughly October through November, brings another productive stretch as water temperatures drop and fish feed aggressively before winter.
Early morning and late afternoon are most productive for bass, especially in warmer months when midday heat pushes fish deeper. Crappie and catfish are more forgiving of midday hours, and night fishing for catfish on Toledo Bend is popular and effective during summer when daytime temperatures are extreme.
The lake works for all skill levels. Beginners can do well fishing from the bank or a simple jon boat around flooded timber with live bait for crappie and catfish, which don't require much technical knowledge. Serious bass anglers will get more out of it with a boat and some familiarity with reading structure, but the fish are there regardless of experience level.
