SAM RAYBURN
Rayburn basically has a full pond with current reading at 164.2 feet and one turbine running at the dam 24 hours with water release at 4298 cubit feet per second. Water temperatures are from 69 to 72 degrees and the muddy conditions of a couple fo weeks ago have stabilized. The news on Rayburn last weekend was McDonald's Big Bass Splash as 3,800 anglers fished two and a half days for over $560,000 in cash and prizes.
First place went to Jacob Afeman of Rosenburg, TX with a big bass of 11.30 pounds which won him a payday of $123,000 in prizes which included a full sized bass boat and 4-wheel drive diesel truck plus an ATV. The second big bass was over ten pounds with the other three top five bass weighed in at over nine pounds. These results are not as heavy as some years but a decent showing for a post spawn tournament.
From numerous general reports, anglers caught bass in the tournament on top water, frogs, spinnerbaits, wacky worms, Texas and Carolina rigs, Rat-L-Traps and jig n pigs, to name a partial list. Most were fishing grass in 1 to 12 feet.
AUTHOR INFO: Joe Joslin is a syndicated columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo and Sam Rayburn. His sponsors include Skeeter Performance Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lake Charles Toyota, Red River Marine/Alexandria, LA, Berkley, Fenwick, Abu Garcia, Daiichi, Jay's Carpet One DeRidder, The Floor Trader Lake Charles and Stanley Jigs Inc. Contact him at 337-463-3848 or joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com. and WEBSITE www.joejoslinoutdoors.com.