Current lake level is 162.59 .. Conservation Pool Level is 164.4 msl
If you are a bass fisherman, now is definitely the time to wet a hook on Sam Rayburn. In recent days a number of fishing patterns have been effective and here are a few of the best.
If you like to fish lipless crankbaits, like a Rat-L-Trap, this is the time of the year you will love. The "Trap" bite has been on and the colors doing the most damage have been bleeding-craw, bleeding-shad, chartreuse-craw, chartreuse-gold and bream. Fish these baits in 6-to 10 feet of water over areas that have hydrilla. Other very productive baits will be the Wiggle Wart, Rapala DT and the Bandit series.
The key to using any crankbait on Rayburn is to select a model that will "tick" the grass as it is being retrieved. Occasionally you will hang up, but just give the bait a sharp snap with the rod and it should pop free. Be ready the moment your bait pops free because this is actually when a number of your strikes will occur. With the lake level on a slow rise there will be lots of newly flooded brush and grass. This will make the fishing just continue to get better and better.
At times the wind can be a real nuisance, but it sure hasn't stopped the big bass from hitting. Just keep in mind that wind and wave action can create pretty good fishing conditions. Baitfish congregate in these windy areas, and that attracts the bass. Use the wind to your advantage, but always be safe. Getting a cold wave over the front of the boat (and drenching you) can sure make for an unpleasant day of fishing.
Spinnerbaits will get red-hot in the upcoming weeks as bass move around in the rising water. Work the inside grass-line with colors such as fire-tiger, white, chartreuse/white and fire-cracker. I am especially fond of the Texan Lure, Lil' Hustler and Strike King tandem baits that have a gold willow-leaf and small nickel Colorado blade. This combination really attracts big fish.
If soft plastics are your cup of tea you can pretty much depend on three good patterns working. The first pattern is to use a Carolina-rigged lizard (watermelon or red shad with a 3-foot leader) in deeper drop-off areas next to creek channels. This is a great pattern for this time of the year since cold fronts have a tendency to roar in, moving the fish from shallow water back to the deeper areas. Work the bait in from 17- to 22 feet of water.
The second pattern I love to use is a Texas-rig worm or jig-n-lizard fished in 8-to 10 feet of water along outside grass-lines. Work the bait slow, and be ready because some of the strikes may be awesome. Good colors for the Texas-rig will be watermelon-red, black neon and black-blue. For the jig-n-lizard, use black, brown or solid white. Match the trailer to the jig color.
The third pattern will be using a small Waveworm, Senko or tube bait with a bb-type weight attached about a foot or so up the line (like a miniature Carolina-rig) in shallow water spawning areas. This set-up can be a dynamite technique. Use white or other bright colors so you can keep track of exactly where the bait is at all times. Better have some heavy line spooled on your reel because you may hook up with a real wall-hanger.
As the water continues to warm you will see improved wacky worm fishing. Good colors will be pumpkin, junebug and those really “hot” colors such as bubble-gum and orange.
Here is my suggestion for when you catch that big fish … Take some quick pictures and measurements of the bass and then put it back into the water to complete the spawn. Then you can have a fiberglass replica made for hanging on the wall to relive great memories of the trip. Who knows, in the future you may have an opportunity to catch the bass again and by that time it could be a lake record.
See you on the water – Jim Binns
