FISHING REPORT
It is a great time of the year to be at Lake Sam Rayburn. The trees are beautiful to see in the reds, yellows and oranges covering the shoreline of the lake. There are lots of duck hunters around the lake excited about all of the water fowl coming down from the northern states. And the fishermen are telling large tales of all the fish they are catching and of course, the infamous story of the "one that got away." The lake is very low this time of the year and some people think this is a bad thing, but any local Rayburn angler will tell you this is when Big Sam is at its best (less water means more concentrated fish)!!!
With most of the tournament activity over until next spring, and a large percentage of the outdoorsmen in the woods hunting instead of fishing, NOW is the time to bring the family to the lake. With water temps in the 60s and the lake a little over 7 feet low, the fish are bunched up along the grass and on deeper structure. Both crappie and bass fishing can be fantastic in the fall and winter on Rayburn. Don't miss the opportunity to catch some of the best fish of the year. The last time the lake was this low in the winter we saw 6 bass that were entered into the SHARE-A-LUNKER program (13 plus pounds), and if water levels stay low we expect to see many this year in that range. The SHARE-A-LUNKER program started this year in October and will run through the spring; it is a great restocking program, and Texas Parks and Wildlife needs your help catching those big ones. Here are some tactics that may put one in your boat.
FISHING TIPS FOR CATCHING THAT GIANT BASS
- Don't be afraid to throw big baits. It is a fact that big bass like big meals, so don't hesitate to "scale-up" and throw a bigger bait. There are many great baits for big bass-- if you are looking for that big bite try the biggest version of the bait you like to throw. If you usually throw a 1/2 ounce rattle trap, try a 3/4 ounce size, or if you like to use a 6 inch lizard try upgrading to an 8 inch lizard. Keep in mind you probably won't catch the numbers of fish using a larger lure, but if you stick with the bigger baits you will see the size fish you catch increase.
- Look for the sweet-spot. Big bass will usually hold on the best cover, so when fishing for a big bite key on the most favorable spot to get a bite. If it is a large grass bed, key on the grass points or where the grass bed falls into the creek. Like most of the wild kingdom, bass have a pecking order, and the big fish in the area get to use the best and most effective feeding location. If you find these key spots where big bass hang out, then you will increase your big bass catches.
- Fish in the midday hours. There was a study done by Bass Masters Magazine about 10 years ago where they studied the 100 biggest bass ever caught. The one thing that was consistent was the time they were caught. The study showed over 70% of the biggest bass were caught between 10am and 4pm.
If you need more info on our INSIDER’S MAPS you can go to our web site at www.insidersmaps.com . We continue to help fishermen catch fish and are working on the water and off to produce a product that will not only help you catch more fish, but to save you time and money in learning different bodies of water. We now have maps for many different lakes including SAM RAYBURN, LAKE FORK, TOLEDO BEND NORTH AND SOUTH, CEDAR CREEK, RICHLAND CHAMBERS, LAKE AMISTAD EAST AND WEST, RED RIVER (pools 4&5), LAKE TEXOMA, and more. To learn more about the maps feel free to call or email at the numbers below.
God bless and good fishing,
Jeff and Heather Buchanan
office – 936-897-1099
cell - 936-240-1700