Wintertime Wonder: Fishing the Active Bites at Lake Sam Rayburn

As of December 28, 2024, Lake Sam Rayburn is offering some promising fishing conditions despite the winter chill. Here’s what you need to know:

First, let's look at the environment. The water is slightly stained with a temperature of about 58 degrees, and the lake is 2.29 feet below pool level[1].

For timing, sunrise is at 7:08 AM and sunset at 5:19 PM. There are no tidal changes to worry about since this is a freshwater lake[4].

Fish activity is steady, with bass being quite active. They are chasing shad in the shallows and off points, making crankbaits a good choice, especially around grass areas on the south end of the lake. Schooling bass are also active around main lake ledges in 17-22 feet of water and main lake drains in 10-17 feet. For these, use dropshots, Carolina rigs, or deep diving crankbaits[1].

Crappie and white bass are moving in the river channel but are not stacked up as usual. Crappie can be caught on standing timber in 27 feet of water using minnows over jigs. Catfish are doing well in 15-26 feet of water on cut bait and minnows[1].

For the best lures, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are excellent for daytime fishing during the cooler months. Topwater baits work well during low light conditions, and plastic worms, jigs, and Carolina rigs are effective around vegetation edges and deep ledges[2][3].

Some hot spots include the south end of the lake where you can find grass, and the main lake ledges and drains. The river channel is also worth exploring for crappie and white bass. Additionally, areas with standing timber and brush piles are good for crappie and catfish[1][2][3].

Overall, Lake Sam Rayburn is providing a good mix of fish species and active fishing spots, making it a great place to cast your line this winter.