Falling for Big Sam's Cooling Bite: Topwater, Crankbaits, and More for Lake Sam Rayburn Anglers

Lake Sam Rayburn’s cooling fall bite is picking up steam this Friday, October 31. Water’s holding around 80 degrees, but the lake has dropped to a striking 8½ feet below pool, so there are humps and shallows cropping up—keep those eyes peeled, especially running out of the main creeks. Mornings start calm, but winds build through the day, and you can feel fall finally winning out over summer. Today, sunrise came at 7:03 AM with a sunset coming at 7:36 PM, and we’re sitting under a waxing crescent moon, lending just enough nighttime light for those headed out early or staying late, according to Solunar Forecast. The best fish activity will spike during those classic major feeding times—late this afternoon from about 4:26 to 6:26 PM is your big window, and a bonus minor run from 9:25 to 10:25 AM for those hitting it after breakfast. Anglers are reporting solid bass action—and ‘Big Sam’ hasn’t disappointed. The last tournaments saw Brody Campbell sack over 70 pounds across three days, with several other pros bagging five-fish limits in the 30–35 pound range. Recent catches show both big and steady numbers, with the potential for a trophy largemouth always a cast away. Reports from Reel Um N Guide Service say bass are biting shallow at points and in the pockets, jumping on topwater frogs and soft plastics like senkos first thing, especially around grass and brush. As the sun gets overhead, try crankbaits around points and deeper drains—these are pulling better fish as they move off those shallows. For those fishing deeper, jigs and Carolina rigs off ledges and structure are getting the nod. Crappie are starting to group up on the brush and timber—especially in 12 to 20 feet. Look for them on your electronics, stack up with minnows or small jigs, and don’t sleep on timber in Ayish Bayou. White bass are popping up, schooling off long points, and will readily hit small spoons and Rooster Tails worked through the fray. If catfish are your game, the recent trend has been drifting or anchoring in creek channels and deeper holes using cut bait; the blue and channel cats have moved off the flats and are actively feeding. For those running the latest tech, forward-facing sonar (LiveScope is king out here) is giving a real-time leg up, especially in targeting suspended fish and nosing out those deep brush piles. But in the end, nothing beats finding a pocket stacked with threadfin shad and watching it light up with feeding bass, just like Campbell did during his winning tournament run. Top lure picks this week: - **Topwater frogs** and popping baits early in the grass - **Senkos and trick worms**, weightless or lightly Texas-rigged, near shallow cover - **Crankbaits** and squarebills over points and drains - **Jigs and Carolina rigs** off deeper ledges, using green pumpkin or watermelon as your first picks - **Santone Swim Jigs**, white or shad color, and a ChatterBait JackHammer for covering water along outside grass lines - For crappie: Small **minnows* This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.