Tournaments on top of tournaments continued on Rayburn last weekend as Angler's Quest, Walmart BFL and Grand Slam Series were all going on at the same time. Weights were good but not what they have been in recent weeks as there were no 30 pound bags and 20 pounds won just about everything. The Grand Slam Series was a 2 day event and pro angler James Strickland of Jasper, TX won with a 2-day total of 39.15 pounds. Definitely a good catch but not the weight total of past events. The lake has really been hit hard and this does impact the weights in tournaments. There were also fewer limits weighed in when compared to the events in early and mid February.
The lake level is up to 162.11 feet and one unit is running at the dam for just 5 hours per day with a small output of 4272 cfs. Water temperatures are ranging from 57 to 60 degrees. The southern one-third of the lake has fairly clear water and the rest of Rayburn is slightly stained to stained. According to tournament winners conversations, some of the best producers have been lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and Carolina rigs. Most are fishing less than eight feet but a few are working crankbaits and Carolina rigs in the bottom of minor creeks, drains and ditches in depths of 10 to 15 feet. This pattern is especially productive behind cold fronts.
A few crappie are being caught in the back of large coves with a good ditch in them. Light line (6-8 pound test) and a spinning rig or spin cast with a sixteenth ounce jig worked in 6-10 feet are producing a few white perch. Also, some anglers are catching crappie with shiners underneath 147 and 103 bridges.
Please send us your fishing reports . Call 337-463-3848 or e-mail me at joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com. web is www.joejoslinoutdoors.com.
Be Safe, God Bless and Good fishing!