At the southwest end of the Toledo Bend, Hausen Bay and Six-Mile Creek produce some of the biggest bass on Toledo Bend. Texas heavily stocks these large creeks with Florida-strain largemouths. Other top big-bass areas include the "1215 Area" just north of Pendleton Bridge, the Indian Mounds, the Bubbling Wells, Sandy Creek and the area near the dam.

At the north end of Toledo Bend, the Sabine River runs through islands and shallow coves. Some holes along old river channel provide deep water. Fish where the channels hit the main lake. Tenaha Creek enters the Sabine River from the Texas side. Across the lake, Cow Bayou enters Toledo Bend from the Louisiana side. In places, the river drops to about 35 feet deep near here.

"Fish around the mouth of the creek where it dumps into the river," says Greg Crafts of Toledo Bend Guide Service. "Fish the shelves along the river. Concentrate on bends and points or areas with old structure. Fish the mouth of the creek and any ditches that enter it."

For booking guided fishing trips with Joslin, call (337) 463-3848 or (409) 565-1288. Guided fishing trips with Crafts can be booked by calling (409) 368-7151.

Just north of Toledo Bend, Caddo Lake also spans the line between Texas and Louisiana. A 26,810-acre natural lake, Caddo actually produced a bass larger than the Louisiana state record, but the angler weighed it in Texas. On April 13, 1992, Bobby Shaver landed a 16.01-pound largemouth. In contrast, Greg Wiggins landed a 15.97-pound fish at Caney Lake in February 1994 to set the Louisiana standard.

Caddo Lake averages about 6 feet deep, but some holes drop to near 20 feet deep. Many anglers fish the bayous and sloughs on the Texas side. Some of these channels run 8 to 12 feet deep. Drop jigs or other soft-plastic baits along the channel edges or slow-roll spinnerbaits near wood structure.

Anglers can fish anywhere on Caddo Lake with either a Texas or a Louisiana fishing license. However, fishing regulations differ between the states. In Texas waters, anglers may only keep five largemouths per day, but none can measure between 14 and 18 inches long. In Louisiana waters, anglers may keep up to 10 bass per day, but only four may exceed 17 inches long. Louisiana anglers must return any bass measuring between 14 and 17 inches. The state line runs north to south through the lake in the vicinity of Big Green Brake in Caddo's main pool area.

Like Caddo, Lake Bistineau looks more like a flooded swamp than a lake. Five main creeks and several smaller tributaries enter Bistineau, a 17,200-acre lake east of Bossier City. Lake Bistineau typically produces more fish, but Caddo Lake generally produces bigger fish.

"Caddo Lake has the best potential for a trophy bass in northwest Louisiana," says fisheries biologist James Seales of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in Minden. "People catch bass up to 10 pounds fairly often and numerous 8-pound fish. Bistineau produces a lot of 3- to 5-pound bass, with some up to 8 pounds."

Although Lake Bistineau averages 8 feet deep, holes in the old Bayou Dorcheat channel drop to more than 18 feet deep in places. The Rock, at a big, deep bend in the channel south of Lake Bistineau State Park, holds fish in winter.

"In January and February, it's jig season," says Russell McVey of Southpaw Guide Service in Doyline. "We don't catch as many fish in the winter, but we catch bigger fish. A jig-and-craw-worm produces fish all year long, but it works best in January through March. Black, brown and amber jigs or black-and-blue jigs are among the best baits to use on the lake."

For booking guided fishing trips with McVey, call (318) 987-3833. For lake information, call Seales at (318) 371-3050.