Us Kansas guys are preparing to take our semi-annual pilgrimage to Texas to chase the bigguns...we'll fish June 25-29 and going to Toledo for the first time. Any "must know" advice or suggestions for first timers on that lake? We'll be staying at Holly Park. Is there a good place to buy a quality lake map when I get down there? Are the boat lanes marked on Toledo like they are at Fork? I have Gen2 electronics so hoping I can put them to good use on some off-shore fish, but also hoping to find some hydrilla and/or shallow flipping fish as well. Are there underwater lights around boat docks? Thanks in advance for your input!

HS State Championship is this weekend. You will likely get a lot more info and help next week, after the tourney.

Stop by Bass Pro and get all the lake maps around here, or find a local bait shop near you and most of them will have them.

these maps look pretty good and ship quick if you don't get one from Bass Pro or stop at a local tackle store.
http://www.fishingbuddymaps.com/toledo-bend-fishing-map-wgps/

this link shows how the boat rows are marked and other things to know about the lake. lanes can be really wide or really narrow but overall they are well marked compared to some lakes!
http://www.toledo-bend.com/toledo_bend/index.asp?request=buoys

I don't know much about the place you are staying at but just south of you is Palo Guacho, Housen, and 6-mile creek arms. All of em have good deep water and the main lake points in front of each are usually stacked with boats. Across the lake from you are San Miguel and 1215 creek arms. More boat docks and stuff in them. So many options lol and who knows you could spend the whole time in the creek arm you are in and do fine! KVD just wore em out cranking humps so bring 6,8 and 10xds!!

If you are looking for a paper map then check in at Toledo Tackle. Across the Pendleton Bridge on the Louisana side. They should have some. Yes the boat lanes are marked but are also easy to miss one of the markers and get into the timber (BAD MOJO!). Some of the docks have regular lights but don't expect fancy underwater ones. For the fishing techniques you are asking about you will have to pick one and stick with it. You can't have your cake and eat it too!
Toledo is too massive to try and do all that effectively. It will take some time to find any deep grass and then it is not a "load the boat" technique. You can fish all day punching the grass and not get a bite and then maybe in one spot get into a small school. Then you still have to determine the color and the lure (Jig or Worm??) Do not be mislead by the fishing reports that every tree or every hump or point has a 10lb bass like the Pro's caught. Fishing on Toledo is still a chore. Especially with this hot weather we have now.

I looked at that web site with the boat lanes and that is a god one. Having never been, what is the color notations on the bouys? I see red and green. East and west, North and South

Main Lake is Red/Green and creek and side lanes are white poles.

Texas has the large white cylinder bouys with orange stripes. The ones with red stripes indicate a boat lane intersection. Single small white poles are crossing lanes outside of the larger boat lanes. Don't run outside any lanes if you arent familiar with the lake especially above the bridge. I'd be doing a lot of night fishing of I was going at that time of summer.

We just got back from there. Cell phone service is best on the water, but spotty. Lots of bait and fish out deep. I found more bait on the Lousianna side the last day but didn't get to fish much over there. Grass is spotty this year. Some places we found it last year did not have any this year. Boat lanes are well marked. Good luck!

Appreciate the info!