SAM RAYBURN
Lake levels are climbing as result of recent heavy rains. Big Sam continues to produce strong catches. Those two items are some of the biggest news on one of the heaviest fished impoundments in the country.
At press time Rayburn was 160 feet which is the highest level in recent months and the lake is sure to go higher as creeks and rivers in the upper water shed are all full and headed south.
Water temperatures are from 56 to 58 degrees and upper lake is muddy to stained and south Rayburn is both stained and clear, depending on location. The areas from the dam north 10 miles are basically clear and the backs of all feeder creeks are stained to muddy. Anglers caught a lot of bass the past week and fishing predictions for the next 30 days are basically excellent. To avoid the crowds and for a better chance at a big bass, week days are often better especially in the spring peak fishing season.
It looks like most of Rayburn's bass will spawn the full moon week of March so from now until then will provide a great chance for fishermen to get a big bass. Some of Rayburn's proven techniques/patterns/baits include working a lipless crank bait over submerge grass in 2 to 8 feet. Slow-rolling ¾ ounce Stanley double willow leaf spinner baits along grassy point is another big bass producer as is working a Carolina rig along points a ridges from 2 to 15 feet.
Slow-falling soft plastics will also get lots of bites plus they will also catch big bass. Berkley's Gulp! Sinking Minnow and Yamamoto's Senko (both in 5-inch models) are some of my personal big bass producers. I have caught some of my biggest Rayburn bass on lipless crank baits and Berkley's Frenzy Rattl'r, Rat-L-Trap and Luck Craft being personal and local favorites. Other recent big bass baits have been jig n pig, Texas rig and tube jigs.
Crappie fishing has been basically on hold with high winds and heavy rains keeping white perch fishermen off the lake. If weather patterns stabilize and water temps climb into the 60s crappie will move to the edge of shallow flats and the back of creeks before moving into spawning grounds. Crappie jigs such as Stanley Wedgetails are super baits and are even better when tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles. Most use the one-sixteenth ounce version.