Sam Rayburn Fishing Report: Muddy Waters, Scattered Bass, and Deep Crappie Bite

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Sam Rayburn fishing report. According to the latest Texas Parks & Wildlife and the Reel Um N Guide Service weekly report out of KOGT, Rayburn is running **muddy**, about **58 degrees**, and sitting just over **9 feet low**. Water’s stable, patterns haven’t changed much this week, so it’s a grind-but-reward kind of day. Sunrise is right around **7 a.m.** on Rayburn with sunset close to **5:20 p.m.** The solunar-style forecasts for East Texas show the **best feeding windows mid‑morning and late afternoon**, with a weaker flurry right after daylight. With the lake low and off‑colored, that first light bite up shallow and then a move out to 18–25 feet is the play. **Bass:** Largemouth are still splitting between a shallow reaction bite and a deeper winter pattern. Local guides are talking about fish scattered on **main-lake points, drains, and timber in 18–25 feet**, plus a few in **4–8 feet** where there’s any remaining grass or hard cover. Best producers have been: - **Shad and craw colored crankbaits** grinding bottom in 10–18 feet. - **Alabama rigs** and **vertical spoons** on deeper bait schools. - Up shallow, **Texas‑rigged creature baits**, **swim jigs**, and **lipless traps**—just slow that retrieve down. Winter on Rayburn is famous for big sacks; Major League Fishing just highlighted that December is prime time for heavyweight bags here, so don’t be afraid to commit to a big bite program with a **big jig or glide bait** around timber and drains. **Crappie & panfish:** Crappie reports have been spotty with the off‑color water. When you find them, they’re holding tight to **deep timber and bridge pilings**, hitting **small minnows** and **hair jigs** fished slow. Bluegill and other sunfish are mostly a brush‑pile deal on worms and small jigs. **Catfish:** With the lake low and muddy, **channel and blue cats** are a solid backup plan. Focus on **river channel edges and ledges** with **cut shad, punch bait, or chicken** on Carolina rigs or tight lines. **Baits & lures to tie on today:** - **Lipless crankbaits** in red or rayburn gold for beating the bank and grass edges. - **Mid‑depth crankbaits** in shad or craw for 8–15 feet. - **A‑rigs** with small paddle tails over timber and points in 18–25 feet. - **½–¾ oz spoons** for dropping on shad balls. - **Green pumpkin / black‑blue Texas rigs and jigs** for pitching to stumps, brush, and docks. **Hot spots to try:** - **Black Forest to Harvey Creek:** work the creek channel bends and outside grass edges with crankbaits and A‑rigs. - **Five Fingers / Caney area:** classic winter structure; drag a jig or Carolina rig on points and drains, and watch your electronics for bait. No real tidal influence here, but the wind will act like a tide—any wind‑blown bank with stained water and bait flickering is worth your time. That’s it from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.