"Promising Fishing on Lake Sam Rayburn: Bass, Crappie, and Catfish on the Move"

As of December 13, 2024, Lake Sam Rayburn is offering some promising fishing conditions. The water is slightly stained, with a temperature of around 62 degrees, and the lake is currently 2.70 feet below the conservation pool elevation.

For those planning to head out, sunrise is at about 6:57 AM, and sunset will be around 5:06 PM. There are no significant tidal changes to worry about on this freshwater lake.

Fish activity has been improving, especially for bass, which are moving into shallow water as they chase bait into pockets. Target areas with brush and grass, and use your favorite lures such as crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or flip into these areas with plastic worms or jigs.

Crappie are slowly moving up the river and can be caught using jigs and minnows, particularly in deeper waters around creek channels and brush piles. Catfish are active in 15-26 feet of water and are biting well on cut bait and minnows.

For hot spots, consider the lower part of the reservoir where the water is clearer, and game fish tend to hold around vegetation edges, flats, and creek channels. In the upper third of the reservoir, focus on standing timber, brush, and laydowns.

Be cautious of the many sandbars and stumps, especially with the current water level. If you're after bass, early mornings and late evenings are good times to use topwater baits, while deeper points can be targeted with rattletraps and shallow-running spinnerbaits.

Overall, it's a fair to good time for fishing on Lake Sam Rayburn, with a variety of species active and ready to be caught. Just remember to drain your boat's water and onboard receptacles to prevent the spread of zebra mussels.