Rayburn, too, has a lot of water with current readings at 164.58 feet with full pool assumed to be 164.4 feet. One generator is running 24 hours with a minimal discharge of 4279 cfs. A large part of the lake has stained-to muddy conditions with off-colored conditions almost to the dam which is very unusual. Last weekend, a big portion of Buck Bay was muddy as well as part of Farmers Flats. My tournament partner, Tom Barrett of Sulphur, has fished Rayburn for twenty-five years stated he had never seen muddy water conditions in that portion of the lake prior to last weekend.
Even with those changing conditions, Rayburn's bass still were active. The winning team of the Skeeter Bass Champs Team Tournament last weekend had a five fish limit of 25.7 pounds and stated they caught their fish Carolina rigging on the outside grass edge in 10-12 feet. Other top finishers flipped shallow grass with jigs and Texas rigs, used Texas rigs to work outside grass edge while others used Carolina rigs to work bare humps in 6-8 feet. The biggest bass of the tournament weighed 8.68 pounds and was said to have been caught on a Texas rig Yum worm with light sinker (one-sixteenth ounce).
Other tournament anglers finishing in the money caught bass on spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits, split-shot rigs, wacky rigs and Rat-L-Traps. Skeeter Bass Champs first place winners took home a great check of $20,200. They should be able to afford gas for a while!
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!