SAM RAYBURN
Rayburn's level is 162.4 with full pool at 164.4 feet with one turbine running at the dam for five hours each day with minimal water release at 4253 cfs while turbine is activated. Water temperatures are in high 50's with a lot of the lake having stained conditions. Sight fishing anglers are not finding very good conditions which suits me and a lot of other anglers just fine. Tournaments held last weekend showed Rayburn still strong requiring anglers to have over 20 pounds in order to have any hope of winning.
Last Saturday, Media Bass Tournament fished out of Jackson Hill Resort which is located on the north part of Rayburn just off of Highway 147. First place required over 25 pounds (five bass limit) with the top team reporting their bass came on big crankbaits. Second place needed over 22 pounds and they stated they used Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits for their catch in shallow grass. Third place finishers used Traps and Carolina rigs.
Another tournament, Angler's Quest, which headquarters were Mill Creek Park, reported their top place team had 20.02 pounds which were caught on Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. Second place came from Traps and Carolina rigs. Those reports gives the angler an idea of what is producing on Rayburn these days. These patterns will hold up for a few more weeks, depending on how warm the weather gets.
CRAPPIE: A few reports of crappie being caught in backs of creeks and mouths of coves in edge of ditches. Road Runners and Stanley Wedgetails tipped with Crappie Nibbles are working best. 6 pound test line Berkley Fluorocarbon with spinning tackle is a great system for catching crappie.