Fishing Forecast for Lake Sam Rayburn - Bass, Crappie, and Catfish Opportunities Abound

As of October 6, 2024, Lake Sam Rayburn is offering some exciting fishing opportunities. First, let's look at the basics: sunrise was at 6:53 AM, and sunset will be at 7:38 PM. Since Lake Sam Rayburn is a freshwater lake, there are no tidal reports to consider.

The weather has been mild, with the water temperature at around 82 degrees Fahrenheit and the water slightly stained. The lake level is currently 0.35 feet below pool, but be prepared for it to drop 5-7 feet in the future due to dam maintenance.

Fish activity is quite promising. Bass are in a transitional phase, with both shallow and deep bites. You can catch them in shallow water over grass using topwaters like chatterbaits, swimbaits, or frogs early in the morning. As the day progresses, switch to Carolina rigs, dropshots, or shaky heads on secondary points and offshore flats where bass are chasing bait. There has been some schooling action, so keep an eye out for those.

Crappie are fair, particularly on brush piles in 15-27 feet of water, where minnows over jigs are working well. As the weather cools, crappie will start transitioning up the river on stumps.

Blue and channel catfish are also fair, found in 15-25 feet of water on cut bait and minnows, especially in the river bends.

For the best results, target areas like the mouth of creeks and offshore flats for bass. The hay grass and flooded bushes are hot spots early in the morning. For crappie, focus on the usual brush piles and stumps up the river.

In terms of lures, topwaters like poppers, frogs, and buzz baits are effective in the morning. For deeper bites, use Carolina rigs, dropshots, and shaky heads. For crappie, minnows over jigs are the way to go. For catfish, cut bait and minnows are your best bet.

Overall, it's a great time to be out on Lake Sam Rayburn, with plenty of fish activity and various species to target. Just remember to drain your boat's water when leaving or approaching public fresh waters to prevent the spread of zebra mussels.