If you're planning to hit Lake Sam Rayburn today, here's what you need to know. As of November 7, 2024, the water is slightly stained with a temperature of about 72 degrees, and the lake level is 2.55 feet below pool.

The weather is looking mild, with sunrise at around 7:30 AM and sunset expected at about 6:45 PM. There's no significant tidal activity to worry about on this freshwater lake.

Bass activity is quite strong, especially in the mornings when they are schooling heavily. You can catch these bass using topwater lures like frogs, chatterbaits, and swimbaits around grass edges, points, and areas with hay grass and flooded bushes. For deeper bass, target the mouth of creeks and offshore flats where they are chasing bait; a Carolina rig, dropshot, or shaky head will work well here.

Crappie are transitioning from main lake brush to creek channels and can be found on standing timber in about 27 feet of water on brush piles. Minnows and jigs are the preferred baits for crappie.

Blue and channel catfish are fair in 24-27 feet of water and in the river bends, responding well to cut bait and minnows.

Some hot spots to consider include the shoreline brush and hay grass areas, high spots, shallow ditches, and creek channel swings for bass. For crappie, focus on the standing timber and brush piles in the creek channels.

Overall, it's a great time to be out on Lake Sam Rayburn, with plenty of fish activity and a variety of species to target. Just remember to drain your boat's water when leaving to prevent the spread of zebra mussels.