Sam Rayburn is at 152 .25 ft and has came up just a little from the rains we have been getting. Each one of the fronts has brought us some really nice showers. Sam Rayburn is still low but things have begun to look up.
The lake is 12.15 ft low and we are seeing a lot of sandbars and humps. There is a lot of timber above the waterline which makes it easy to see. The timber, and the grass that is coming up all around, looking like fishing paradise.
Trophy Bass start moving in the winter, making their way to places they will spawn. This is the best time to be on the lake trying to hook one. A few days of warm weather and these fish get even more active and your chance of hooking a Trophy goes way up. The Moon will affect the bite also as we seem to catch a lot more big fish around the full and new Moon. Jan. has been one the best times for customers to catch big fish.
Everything is looking up with the water rising and making the grass just right for some awesome fishing. This week we got out and caught some fish, one topping 9 lbs. That’s just a start. Yep, you guessed it. We are hard core fishing. When you’re looking to catch a big bass you’ve got to look in the right places to start with. The water is still low and that is going to narrow the field and move the staging areas. Get ready to learn a new game here on “Big Sam”.
The best bite has been on the sunny days which is just fine with me. Soft plastic has been slow for use along the grass lines but it will improve on the full moon. We have been covering a lot of water with lipless crankbaits and Spinner baits looking for active fish. These fish will start to move in along the grass lines on points and along creek channels as they make their way into the pockets. The most talked about color for lipless bait is Rayburn Red. Don’t get stuck on just one color. There are lots of shades of Red and some new baits. The Flap Jack by Strike pro can turn a slow day in to a fantastic day of catching fish. There are lots of ways to work a lipless crank bait and learning what the fish want is the biggest key. The Stanley Spinner Bait is a great way to cover a lot of water and there are lots of colors. Start with Chartreuse White, Blue Flash or Toledo Gold Flash then you have to just play. Sometimes they want Gold Blades and sometimes they want Nickel Blades. Sometimes it is the size of the blades that make the difference. We’ve been picking up some nice fish off the points and creek channels on Crankbiats and Carolina Rigs in 12 to 18 ft. The old Lizards will start to get some action and the best colors to start with will be Watermelon Red and Green Pumpkin.
One thing for sure you can’t catch a Trophy Bass sitting at home watching the “boob tube”. Get some new line on all the reels, get out, and get to fishing. It’s nice to get away and enjoy a day on the lake. Take someone fishing this week.
Crappie; The Crappie fishing has been slow as they move up river but we are still catching a few. They should start bunching up and that’s when it will get good. Getting out on cool winter day and having some fun with friends and family is the best. Grab the kids and friends and come out to enjoy a day on the water. Everyone has loved the new pontoon with the shade, changing room and the port-o-potty. We can handle up to 8 anglers.
Boat ramps at middle lake: Jackson Hill Marina cleaned their ramps a few weeks back and I have been using it. Cassell Boykin, the New Ramps are still under repair but they have been lunching some boats there. They got the hump taken out and will be working on extending one ramp at a time so you just have to check when you get there. Hopefully everything goes great with the repairs there.
God Bless
Lynn Atkinson
