Sam Rayburn is a reservoir located on the Angelina River east of Lufkin and about 15 miles north of Jasper, Texas. The lake was formed in 1965 to provide flood control and supply water to Beaumont and Lufkin. Its maximum depth is 80 feet and it covers approximately 114,500 acres at an elevation of 164 feet above mean sea level.

Air temperatures will probably be in the low 40s at takeoff and climb into the mid-60s to low 70s by midafternoon. Water temperatures will likely be in the mid-50s.

Sam Rayburn averages about 30 feet deep and water visibility is usually around 1 foot. The river arms can get muddy depending on rainfall, but the main lake doesn’t change much. It’s generally the kind of water most people really like to fish. The water level is currently 162.4 feet above msl.

Hydrilla, willows and buckbrush are the dominate cover. The reservoir also has some peppergrass, coontail and pondweed, but it is too early for these to be a factor in the tournament. Crayfish, shad and perch are the primary forage.

The key to pinpointing quality fish in this tournament is the water temperature. If the water is relatively warm, the bass will be positioned on the inside edges of the grass, close to sand and gravel spawning areas. If the water is relatively cold, the bass may be anywhere in the grass. When fishing the grass, I recommend using a lipless crankbait like a 5/8-ounce Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe or a 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Trap in red or chartreuse. You’ll want something that will run 4 to 8 feet deep, and you’ll want to keep the lure in contact with the grass as long as possible. Jerking the lure free when it snags the grass is a great way to stimulate strikes. If you are not hitting the grass, you need a heavier lure. If the weather turns really cold, you might try fishing the outside edges of the grass with a red or chartreuse Bagley Original DB3 or another crankbait that will hit the grass in 7 to 10 feet of water. Carolina-rigging a green-pumpkin Zoom Lizard or Brush Hog on either the inside or outside edge of the grass, depending on where the bass are positioning, is another good option.   

If the water is up high in the bushes come tournament time, a 1/2-ounce white or chartreuse double willow-leaf spinnerbait can be productive. Pitching a 3/8-ounce to 1/2-ounce black and blue jig with a craw chunk is another good option in the bushes. There will probably be a lot of 3-pounders caught and maybe a 9- or 10-pounder. Last year it took Oklahoma State University more than 18 pounds to win. I believe it will take more than 20 pounds to win this year.

Here are the five rod-and-reel combinations I recommend:

If you have any questions about fishing Sam Rayburn that I have not answered here, please e-mail me by clicking the link at the top of this page.

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From:   Kirk Walker, Northeastern State

How effective would swimming a jig through the grass be? Also, would you pitch the hydrilla this early?

The effectiveness of swimming a jig really depends on how warm the water is. If it warms up in the next few days, it might work, but right now I think the water is too cold for it to be effective. Normally it is too early to pitch the grass, but I’ve heard that there is some visible hydrilla. If that is the case, it might work.