MANY, La. – After a highly successful season-opening tournament, the Texas Team Trail heads east Feb. 18 to the Toledo Bend Reservoir, the only lake ever to be named the No. 1 black bass fishery in the nation for two consecutive years. At last season’s TXTT event, Toledo Bend, which straddles the Texas and Louisiana border, produced a winning stringer of over 32 pounds and two bass that each exceeded 11 pounds. To contend for the win, a limit of five bass is a must, including one kicker in the double-digit range.

Since 1990, Toledo Bend has been regularly stocked with Florida-strain largemouths and the result is a fishery that uniquely possesses an unimaginable number of double-digit bass. In addition to the giants, healthy numbers of 5- to 7-pound fish are present. The only issue is that the best lake in the country is receiving an unprecedented amount of fishing pressure.

“I’ve lived on the lake for 13 years and I’ve never seen this many boats,” said Ronnie Bland of Indian Creek, Texas, who finished second at the season opener, presented by Cabela’s. “You can still catch fish all day, but the big ones are harder to come by. They’re there, but they’re just not consistent.”

“It’s been a steady flow of people through the fall until now,” echoed Lucas Oil pro Stephen Johnston, a well-known Toledo Bend guide. “The big schools are getting pressured and you can only pound on them for so long. The fishing is still good, it’s just not as great. The pressure has affected the lake.”

Currently, the 186,000-acre impoundment sits 3 feet below full pool. Last year, the water was high, which allowed anglers to flip the flooded bushes. Shallow-water flipping is still very much in play this year, but it will be confined to standing timber, lay-downs and hay grass. In general, navigating Toledo Bend will be a challenge.

“With the water level where it is now, the stumps are just below the surface,” added Bland. “People really need to follow the boat lanes to ensure safety. These are mostly hard pines and when you hit one, there’s no give.”

In addition to flipping, wacky rigs, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and square-bill crankbaits are expected to get heavy use in the skinny water. At the mid-depths, Carolina and Texas rigs are proven producers. Presently, the water temperature sits at 56 degrees and projects to warm slightly come tournament time. This all points to a shallow water slugfest, but Bland isn’t ready to give up on the offshore bite.

“You can catch fish right now in 2 feet of water and you can catch fish in 20 to 22 feet. I really believe the winning team will do some of both. That’s what Malcom (Franks) and I plan to do. Maybe we’ll start the day shallow, then hit some deeper points and brush piles, and then end the day back shallow.”

With unseasonably warm temperatures, Johnston believes an early spawn is not out of the question. Last year, six of the top 10 teams were sight-fishing.

“The water temperature is about right, but this year we’re looking at a declining moon. It’s possible some go up next week with the full moon. I’m not saying a big wave will, but I’m saying there will be a wave. I recently caught some 6s and 7s that were busting and ready (to spawn).

“Toledo Bend is so huge that there will be some fish ready to spawn on one end of the lake and on the other end they’re still mid-depth. I think most of the fish are positioned from 8 feet of water to the dirt. The way it’s lining up, it’s going to be a shallow tournament. The Louisiana side has a big, huge flat that warms up first. It’s already got fish on it now, but it’s crowded.”

Johnston, who took third at Rayburn with new teammate Dan Wilson, predicts over 30 pounds will be needed to take top honors at Toledo while Bland predicts it will take 26 to 28.

“There will be about 30 sacks over 20 pounds and a few sacks over 30 pounds,” said Johnston. “To win, you’re going to have to push 30 pounds. It could take 35 pounds; it’s very possible. The lake definitely has them. In the old days, you could only catch a stringer like that on part of the lake. With the stocking efforts, now you can do it pretty much everywhere.”

Teams will take off at safe light from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Rd. in Many, La. The weigh-in will also take place at the park, beginning at 3 p.m.

The Texas Team Trail consists of four regular-season events and a year-end championship. Each regular season event is a one-day team tournament and delivers 100 percent payback, including a fully-rigged 18-foot, 150-horsepower bass boat guaranteed as the first-place prize.

Registration is ongoing for the Toledo Bend event and can be taken over the phone at 210-788-4143 or online by visitingwww.texasteamtrail.com/tournaments/register/. For more information on rules and tournament payouts, visit www.texasteamtrail.com.