Sam Rayburn Late Spring Fishing Report: Bass, Crappie, Catfish, and More

Howdy folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Sam Rayburn fishing report for Saturday, May 31, 2025. We’re waking up to that textbook late-spring pattern on Big Sam, with stained water sitting right around 77 degrees and the level trending a little above pool—about 1.2 feet up. Sunrise hit us at 6:30 this morning, and you’ve got daylight right through to 8:15 tonight, so there’s plenty of time to wet a line and fill a cooler.

We’re getting classic transition-to-summer conditions. Most of the bass have wrapped up their spawn, with only a few stragglers holding shallow. The most consistent bass bite now is coming out of that 8-14 foot range—think ledges, humps, and old timber, especially near creek channel swings and off main lake points. Texas rigs and Carolina rigs rigged with big worms in watermelon red or junebug have been getting hammered. Some anglers are still picking off fish early on topwater if there’s a little chop, but don’t sleep on deep-diving crankbaits along those drops as the sun climbs.

Crappie and catfish are both in that typical late May shuffle—fish are moving between spawning haunts and summer hangouts. Crappie are best in 4-12 feet of water, hanging near standing timber and brush piles. Live minnows under a cork have put a bunch of slabs in the box this week. If you’re more into artificials, small jigs in white or chartreuse will do you right, especially later in the morning as the baitfish move up.

Catfish are still working shallow flats and points, especially right after sunrise. Punch bait and fresh cut shad are the go-tos, with folks reporting solid stringers from boat and bank alike. You’ll find blues and channels mixed in, with some days bringing in a few fish pushing double-digit weights.

White bass are scattered but catchable up creek arms and along deeper humps. Rattle traps and road runners are steady producers if you cover enough water.

Weather’s shaping up to be a mild Texas day, light southeast winds and just enough clouds to keep things comfortable. No major cold fronts or storms in the immediate forecast, so expect fish to settle into a consistent bite.

For the hottest bites, check out main lake points near Harvey Creek and the ledges south of the 147 Bridge—both have produced numbers and size lately. For crappie, the Black Forest area’s holding fish, and the brush piles out from Shirley Creek Marina have been solid, especially during the afternoon.

That’s the scoop from your buddy Artificial Lure—thanks for tuning in, y’all! Don’t forget to subscribe for all your up-to-date fishing news and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.