Well we are at the end of another great year of fishing on Lake Ray Roberts. The lake is currently 8 feet low. The recent rains brought the lake up 6 inches, but the cold fronts have really dropped the water temps. On the main lake we are seeing temps around the mid 50's, but the back of the coves it has been as low as 37 degrees. We had some surface ice the morning of the 2nd in the very back of a creek. That is only the second time I have seen that. Needless to say the colder temps have had a negative impact on the bass fishing. During the winter months on Ray Roberts during a full day trip we are looking for a handful of bites all day. Are numbers may be down this time of year, but we do catch some really nice fish. I am using a 1/2 oz red rattle trap around the deepest edges of the grass on the main lake with some success. If you want to concentrate on a big fish, then you need to be pitching a 1/2oz black/blue jig in the timber along the creek channels in the mouths of the major creeks.
The hot fishing on Lake Ray Roberts right now is for big catfish, mainly blues. The last six weeks we have been filling the boat with catfish. We have had both good numbers and size (two over 30 pounds last Sunday). The nice folks from the tv show Hunt Sleep Fish, out of Oklahoma, came down last week and we filmed an episode on catfishing. Fortunelty the catfish cooperated and we had 25 or 30 fish on camera by 9:00 that morning. It should air in the next two weeks. The cold front this week slowed that bite down for us Saturday morning. The water temp where we are catching them dropped 15 degrees, but with some warmer days forecasted for this week, I look for that bite to pick back up.
The sand bass fishing is very good right now as well. It is common place for us to put limits in the boat this time of year. On the main lake you just need to find the gulls and the sand bass will be there. We are using 1oz Critter Gitter slabs in a shad pattern or chratruese. The last week with the cooler temps the chartruese color has been working best.
If you are looking for a guided trip on Lake Ray Roberts I will do my very best to make sure you have a good time and have success on the water. If you have any questions give me a call or shoot me an email. Good luck on the water and be safe.
