Agreed! Way overthinking this. It's just another East Texas lake. Just happens to be one of the prettiest. We always stay waterfront, fish, sightsee and boat up to one of the waterfront resteraunt/bars for dinner. It looks more "remote" because of the MARKED boat lanes through the swampy cypress trees which gives you the feeling of being "lost in the wilderness" but it's actually a very developed lake. Just go have fun! :-)

We never got lost on Caddo. I usually carry, and the gun might help with the smaller skeeters.

Only fish Caddo every few years. Almost won the tournament Turning Point puts on one year with 4 overs. Was flipping a heavy dropshot setup at the trees on the mainlake. Sun needs to be high with a clear sky. I think we had a dozen or so slots as well.
As long as you have a map chip and GPS, you are good.
Don't know how we did it out there back in the day with just a paper map.
Never had a problem though. Caddo was my son's favorite lake when growing up.
Addendum: We fished primarily off the K boatlane. Don't know what that area looks like these days. Used dark 6" worms wacky style on the dropshot

Some excellent input in previous posts. Don't pay any attention to the nay-sayers. Caddo is an amazing place and a great opportunity to see an outdoors that North-Texas Anglers rarely get to experience.

Boat Lanes: stay on them and pay attention. Usually about 10 yards off the side the arrow points to. I always take a paper map so you can see the big picture. Once you get off of the boat lane, idle!

Isolated and Scattered Cypress Trees are the main ticket. As stated previously, use a weightless stick bait, brush hogs, and big 10" ribbon tail worms (Black Grape). Don't sleep on the drop-shot either but use cheap lead, you will break a few off.

Grass and Pads - Frog and Buzz Bait....All Day!

Have a ton of fun and don't forget to take plenty of towels to wipe the boat down, there will be a nice tub ring!

Have a wacky rigged black/blue fleck sticko tied on. Last weekend we were doing ok working the current breaks with overhanging shade! No Giants (one over), but numbers were good until about 11:30am. Bites all day, but some short-striking.

Favorite area was "Oxbow" near government ditch.

Did we mention Big Pines for catfish dinner?

This is one of my favorite lakes to fish. I have never caught any "giants", but they are there and those that fish the lake regularly do catch some nice bass.

I did get lost one time back 20+ years ago in my brand new Triton, but the lake is NOT desolate and I quickly found a local who helped me get back on course. That one trip did inspire me to buy my first GPS unit. However, most of the people from that area have never had a GPS and never get lost. The getting lost thing is way overblown.

I do know that it is a beautiful place and you will see tons of wildlife, both in the water and out. It makes it fun even if the fish are not biting particularly well. And as someone mentioned above, there are some really good places to eat on the lake.

Also, for serious water skiers, the main lake is famous for the best skiing water in Texas. You will see some very serious skiers and wakeboarders on that part of the lake. They do NOT interfere with the fishing because they do not venture to the areas that are the most productive fishing holes.

You will also see some very expensive homes and lodges on the lake. It has kind of been "discovered" by some of the crowd from DFW and of course from closer Shreveport. Some of these people have serious money from the looks of the "lodges".

It is a different type of lake and a different type of fishing - and for that reason alone some fishermen don't give it a fair shot. I know that it took me a few trips not to be intimidated by it, but my boys and I love it now and look forward to the opportunities to fish on it when we can.

Brush hogs , flukes I like weightless zoom white lizard in pads. White buzz bait and white spinnerbaits

We did good around Sand Island and Ole Folks

Watch for schoolers near or in boat lanes where there is current as you're fishing wherever. Get on them immediately with a big topwater bait. They were crushing a big whopper plopper recently. When that slows down throw a weedless swim bait in the same area and hold on.

Buy a lake map. I have fished it 2 times and have never had an issue getting around. Need to watch where the state line is. I don't think there is a reciprocating agreement on fishing licenses between Louisiana and Texas. Some of the locals can verify this or not.

That refers to border waters between Texas and Louisiana. Your license is good to fish in Louisiana and theirs here.

You can fish anywhere on Caddo with a Texas or Louisiana license. I researched it last year before my first trip there.

Wow! Thank you all for the help....MUCH appreciated! I will report back next week and let you know how the trip went.

I dont know where the locations are for some of the places you guys are referring to but, i will search on my graph and figure it out. My confidence is already growing for a new lake...thanks again for your help!