As of November 8, 2024, Lake Sam Rayburn is offering some excellent fishing opportunities. The water is slightly stained with a temperature of around 72 degrees, and the lake level is currently about 2.55 feet below pool.

Weather-wise, today is expected to be partly sunny with a high of around 78 degrees and a low of 60 degrees tonight. Sunrise was at about 7:30 AM, and sunset will be around 6:45 PM.

Bass activity is quite strong, especially in the mornings when they are schooling more actively. You can expect topwater action on grass edges and points, making lures like chatterbaits, swimbaits, and frogs highly effective. Shallow bass are feeding aggressively on the abundant shad in shallow water, and they can be caught using spinnerbaits and topwater frogs around shoreline brush, hay grass, and high spots.

For deeper bass, target the mouth of creeks and offshore flats where they are chasing bait. Here, Carolina rigs, dropshots, and shaky heads are working well. There is a large population of schooling bass heavily chasing bait balls around main lake ledges in 17-22 feet, main lake drains in 10-17 feet, and main lake and secondary points.

Crappie are fair on standing timber in about 27 feet of water on brush piles, with minnows being the preferred bait over jigs. Blue and channel catfish are also fair in 24-27 feet of water and in the river bends, responding well to cut bait and minnows.

Hot spots include the areas around hay grass and flooded bushes early in the morning, as well as the mouth of creeks and offshore flats. Main lake ledges, drains, and secondary points are also productive for bass.

Given the current conditions, it's a great time to be out on the water, especially during the major bite times from 7:16 AM to 9:16 AM and 7:45 PM to 9:45 PM. Make sure to target the shallow fish with Texas rigs, wacky rigs, shallow water crankbaits, and topwaters, and don't miss the deeper bass with those Carolina rigs and dropshots. Enjoy your fishing trip on Lake Sam Rayburn