Trying to plan a trip to the river do you think the sand bass will still be spawning the first weekend of March? Normally go middle to end of February but won't be able to this year.

Over the years it seems like it's usually on until spring break at least. You should be good.

Yep

Early to mid-Feb until mid-March is typically the best. That can vary, but we target mid to late Feb for our trip, and I might make a few day trips after that.

Thanks everyone for the info.

Hey I have a dumb question for all Yall. Could a person take and launch a 22 foot pontoon in that river and make it up to where the fish bite? I have a wheel chair co-pilot that needs the space that it provides. I have been reading about that run and would love to try it.
Thanks for the info

It would be tight, but you could probably launch a pontoon at River Ridge's low water ramp as long as you have a good 4wd to get it back out. Their ramp is a tight squeeze at times, and depending on the water level you can have all 4 tires of the truck in the water launching there. I would not want to try it if the water is high and you have to use their high water ramp. The route out to the river from the high water ramp is tight and tricky.

Yellow Dog is another possibility. But I haven't used it so I wouldn't know for sure.

There is a ramp at 2517 that would be the most likely to be able to launch and load a big rig. It's a nice looking ramp, not sure how it looks under the water though.

There are no courtesy docks at any of the above locations. You would have to figure out how to get your co-pilot in and out of the boat.

As for security at the ramps, River Ridge would be my first choice, and is where I always launch. Not so sure about the other two. The public ramp at 2517 will draw all kinds of people. I've been by Yellow Dog while on the River, and when the weather is nice there are always a lot of people there fishing from the bank and using the ramp. River Ridge is a pay to play facility, and given Tom used to be a game warden, I doubt many will risk acting stupid at their place.

You could call Jane and ask her about River Ridge and pontoon boats. She and Tom own it and guide out of there. Her handle here on the forum is "whitebasser", for good reason.

I have watched toons launch at River Ridge�s low water ramp. It�s tight but doable. 2517 is where most toons launch. I have also seen toons launch at the McFadden ramp down river from River Ridge.

Thanks I will check into it. Great heads up on the Courtesy dock that is very important for loading

How is the sand bass run down by Logansport? Is it a lot better up river. It seems it would be better for a pontoon.

While looking around on Google earth for ramps, I spotted one at Garrett Park at Logansport(31 58.971, 94 0.960)
In the picture it had loading dock/pier, but picture is 3 years old, may need to verify. Chamber of Commerce would probably know. Good luck with the co-pilot!

Garret's park is a good ramp on the Texas side...I launched there a few weeks ago....I don't remember there being a dock, just a concrete walk with steps that follow the grade for high and low water... However directly across the river on the logansport side I believe there are some docks that you could load a wheelchair into a pontoon....this area is actually the far north end of Toledo bend and the river runs deep ( about 30')....as you go up river there are several lakes slough's and creeks that come into the river...keep in mind that the right bank going up river is still Louisiana for several miles...I have never fished down there only made a run to get the feel of things....it is beautiful!