As of October 8, 2024, Lake Sam Rayburn is offering some exciting fishing opportunities. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.
### Weather and Lake Conditions
The water is slightly stained with a temperature of about 80 degrees, and the lake level is currently 0.82 feet below pool. Expect partly sunny skies with a high of 89 degrees and a low of 71 degrees tonight.
### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at 7:23 AM, and sunset will be at 6:57 PM, giving you ample time to catch both the morning and evening bites.
### Fish Activity
Bass are actively schooling in the morning, particularly on grass edges and points, making topwater baits like chatterbaits, swimbaits, or frogs highly effective. For deeper bass, target the mouth of creeks and offshore flats using jig head minnows, Carolina rigs, dropshots, and shaky heads. Crappie are fair on standing timber in 27 feet of water around brush piles, where minnows over jigs are working well. Blue and channel catfish are fair in 24-27 feet of water and in the river bends, biting on cut bait and minnows.
### Best Lures and Bait
For bass, use topwater baits early in the morning, especially in areas with hay grass and flooded bushes. Deeper bass are responding to Carolina rigs, dropshots, and shaky heads. Crappie are best caught with minnows over jigs on brush piles. Catfish are biting on cut bait and minnows in the deeper areas.
### Hot Spots
- **Grass Edges and Points**: These areas are hot for topwater action in the morning.
- **Mouth of Creeks and Offshore Flats**: Target these spots for suspended bass using deeper presentation lures.
- **Brush Piles in 27 Feet of Water**: This is where you’ll find crappie biting on minnows over jigs.
- **River Bends**: Look here for blue and channel catfish in 24-27 feet of water.
### Additional Tips
Be cautious of the lake level, which is expected to drop 5-7 feet in the future for dam maintenance. Navigate carefully to avoid sandbars and stumps, especially in the creeks.
With these tips, you should be well-prepared for a productive day of fishing on Lake Sam Rayburn. Good luck
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI