Lake Info

SAM RAYBURN SEASONAL PATTERNS -

A 114,500 acre lake located on the Angelina River in the Piney Woods of Texas; the dam is located in Jasper County approximately 15 north of Jasper, TX.

LARGEMOUTH BASS -

Bass fishing is productive year round at Sam Rayburn. In fact, there isn’t really a bad time to fish the lake. Certain patterns, however, are more productive at different times of the year.

SPRING -

February through April provide perhaps the best chance of catching a lunker bass. The spawn is on and the bass move into the flooded bushes and onto shallow flats. Some effective patterns are pitching jigs and plastics to the bushes, slow rolling a heavy spinnerbait on the flats and dragging Carolina rigs by the inside grass line.

SUMMER -

June through September can also offer some excellent fishing on Rayburn. This is the time of year when bass will move to the main lake points and to deep grass beds. Effective patterns are fishing deep diving crankbaits on the edge of the points and vertically fishing heavy jigs and big worms in the grass beds.

FALL -

October and November offers quite a mix of possibilities. The summer patterns will still work and some fish will move to the backs of the creeks to feed before winter. As the water starts cooling spinnerbaits are productive in the backs of the creeks and over main lake points.

WINTER -

Surprisingly enough, December and January means it is time to turn your attention back to shallow water cover for a lot of fisherman as the water temperature doesn’t get cold enough to push all fish into deep water. This is the time of year that the "Rayburn Red" rattletrap became famous. Spinnerbaits and small crankbaits can also fill your creel limits.

BREAM -

Bream are plentiful and fat on Sam Rayburn. They spawn during May and June which is the best time to catch them. Fish are caught by fishing crickets and worms in shallow water and tight lining the same baits in deep water.

CRAPPIE -

Crappie action kicks in the first of March with action in the back of the coves in 2 - 3 foot of water while spawning. April and May also offer excellent crappie action. The fish will be caught on the edge of the hydrilla lines on Stanley Wedgetail minnows and Blakemore Roadrunners. The middle of May the crappie move to the brush "hotels" set out by Mike to attract the fish. This action will last through the middle of September.

Did you know - Six of Mike’s clients hold Line Class World Records right now?!! Wow!

TOLEDO BEND SEASONAL PATTERNS -

Toledo Bend Reservoir -

Bordering Texas and Louisiana, Toledo Bend is a 186,000 acre lake with over 1,200 miles of shoreline. The lake is surrounded mostly by undeveloped land, much of it timberland in the Sabine National Forest. Learning a little about seasonal patterns and locations will help you book your trip at a time when what you want to learn will be the most productive.

LARGEMOUTH BASS -

Bass fishing is productive year round at Toledo Bend. In fact, there isn’t really a bad time to fish the lake. Certain patterns, however, are more productive at different times of the year.

SPRING -

February through May provide perhaps the best chance of catching a lunker bass. The spawn is on and the bass move into the flooded bushes and onto shallow ridges; some effective patterns are pitching jigs and plastics to the bushes, slow rolling a heavy spinnerbait over shallow ridges and dragging Carolina rigs by the inside grass line.

SUMMER -

June through September can also offer some excellent fishing on the Bend. This is the time of year when bass will move to the main river channel and to deep grass beds. Effective patterns are fishing deep diving crankbaits on the old river channel and vertically fishing heavy jigs and big worms in the grass beds.

FALL -

October and November offers quite a mix of possibilities. The summer patterns will still work and some fish will move to the backs of the creeks to feed before winter. As the water starts cooling spinnerbaits are productive in the backs of the creeks and over main lake ridges.

WINTER -

December and January means it is time to turn your attention to wood cover - namely the many stumps that dot the lake. The grass dies back during the winter so the stumps are where the bass are likely to be. Pitching jigs and plastics to the stumps on shallow ridges can be effective along with slow rolling heavy spinnerbaits in the same areas.

WHITE BASS -

The white bass are one of Mike’s specialties. He books anglers from all over the nation to fish for them during the early part of the year. White bass provide plenty of action and the chance to catch a line class world record fish. The best time to book a trip for white bass is mid January to mid April. This is when the spawning run is on which provides plenty of action. The white bass also bite will on the main lake during July and August when they gang up on the old river channel.

BREAM -

Bream are plentiful and fat on Toledo Bend. They spawn during May and June which is the best time to catch them. Fish are caught by fishing crickets and worms in shallow water and tight lining the same baits in deep water.

CRAPPIE -

Crappie action is actually hottest during the coldest part of the year. The fish will gang up in deep river bends and where you catch one you will catch plenty more. April and May also offer excellent crappie action. The fish will be caught from man made brushpiles set out by Mke to attract the fish.

Call Mike Wheatley at (409) 382-9166 for more excursion information, or if you want your very own MC Outdoor Adventures charter, click here to contact us to get you all set up!