SAM RAYBURN
Rayburn's level is 157.98 feet with no generating at the turbines with water temperatures 49 to 51 degrees, depending on location. Anglers fishing Big Sam the past week have had a challenge, for the most part. Cold winds have made fishing almost like work and and has also aided to keep water temps down. It looks like weather this weekend will be greatly improved and shallow water should move up 2-3 degrees which will definitely help. Daytime temperatures for Saturday and Sunday are forecast for 60s and even low 70s.
This will definitely improve the fishing in the 2 to 6 foot depths. Finding shallow water with scattered grass adjacent to a drain, ditch or creek could be a blast if these warm temps materialize. The basics and proven fishing techniques for Rayburn should prove successful with these conditions. If you get on Rayburn this weekend and the warm-up is in place, I suggest starting with the basics....a lipless crankbait (Rat-L-Trap, Frenzy Rattl'r or Yo-Zuri) in red crawfish and chrome/blue back as well as a Stanley spinnerbait (three-eighths ounce double willow in white/chartreuse) worked over and along the edge of 2 to 6 ft. grass.
When moving baits fail, tournament anglers are going to a Carolina rig with lizard and work it very slowly on outside of grass in 4 to 8 feet. If this doesn't get bit, try one of Stanley's Bug-Eyed Football jigs in 12 to 18 feet in scattered brush. Also, a Bill Norman DD22 (deep diving) crankbait in 12 to 18 feet has caught bass all winter.