Sam Rayburn Fishing Guide Report by Lynn Atkinson

Reel um N Guide Service
Owner
Lynn Atkinson

 Water Temp.56

Normal pool 164.40               

Water Clarity 2 feet

03-29-09

Sam Rayburn is at 160.25 ft the water temperature has been around 66 degrees all week.   A front came thru dropping the temperature back down to 56. The water has been clear in some of the pockets but murky on most of the larger creeks and up the rivers. We are expecting rain again this week and lots more water coming down the Angelina River.

The fishing has been tough but we have still managed to pick up 15 to 20 fish a day with a few going around 5 lbs.  It looks like every day has been improving just a little with the water warming up. The fish are not moving far, just burying up in the grass or moving to the next drop. Sunday we fished several spots and caught 9 fish, one around 4 lbs and the other one around 5. The day started off slow with just a few short hits on the south bank where the water temperature was around 56 degrees.  Then we headed to the north bank and found the water was a few degrees warmer with a little less wind and the sun shining on it. I had found some fish there early in the week and I hoped they were still there. This place is a point that has a drain on each side of it. This is just a little spot with about 5 foot of water around and some grass. It took a few casts to  catch the first fish, then we caught two more. By then the sun was up and had warmed things up some.  We eased back to our first spot and that’s when we picked up the 5 lb fish; right off a creek channel.  Moving over to our next spot we picked up a few small fish.  Moving back to the creek channel we got our next good fish. It was looking like a pattern was coming together and that’s when we had to go. Senko’s and wacky worms have still been a good choice to fish over the grass and around the edges. Traps and Stanley Spinner baits have been catching their share of fish.  Most of our fish have come from shallow water, 2 to 10 feet. We haven’t fished any deep fish this week but I have an idea it’s going to get good soon.

Crappie had started to bite in the grass before the front and that slowed everything down again.   I look for it to pick up as the weather warms up.  There are still a lot around the bridges so check em out.

Remember the Sharelunker Program entries started on October 1 and run thru April 30th. If you haven’t heard, it encourages anglers who have  caught a 13 - pound- plus largemouth bass to lend or donate it to the TPWD for spawning purposes. There are some great benefits doing this, and one of them is getting a full color, life size, fiberglass replica of the bass. (October 1-April 30 only)  If your fish meets the requirements listed above, call their toll-free, 24-hour pager at 1-888-784-0600 or (903) 681-0550.Check out the Program rules 

If you haven’t heard about The Bass Class on the water check it out on the website and give me a call. Come learn some tricks that will help you catch fish on any lake.   

Big D Outdoors is the place to get your boat ready now. The spawn is getting closer by the day..  So, what are you waiting for?  Give them a call 409-769-3700.  

God Bless
Lynn Atkinson
srayburn@rayburncountry.com
www.rayburncountry.com
Home 936-897-3400
Cell 979-220-0251

Sam Rayburn Big Bass Splash Is Almost Here!

Kelloggs Pro Jim Tutt stops by Allman Company

After Day 2 of the FLW Stren Series was over Kellogs Pro Jim Tutt collected his check after just missing the cut to fish on day 3.  He parked parked his Kellogs wrapped Ranger boat out infront of the office so that he could head next door to the Stump Restaurant to eat.  Before heading over he took the time to let a young fishing fan see his boat and get her picture taken with him.  He even maganged to dig up some Kellogs Rice Crispy Treats for her.  Cameron Allman enjoyed the boat as much as she did her treats.  Thanks Jim!

Oklahoma State wins FLW College Fishing event on Sam Rayburn

Oklahoma State wins FLW College Fishing event on Sam Rayburn

21.Mar.2009

“It feels good to win this one,” laughed Powell, who admitted the win will help earn support for his enthusiasm for the sport. “My mom says I have a bad addiction (to bass fishing), but I’m going to go home with a check now, so that’s pretty funny. She keeps saying it’s going to be a problem, but I don’t see a problem.” 
 
Powell said the team caught eight or nine fish throughout the course of the day sight fishing. Powell said a few of their fish were caught on a trick worm, however, the team threw a variety of baits at fish they could see.

“I don’t know if you can ‘junk’ sight fish, but if you can, we did it,” Powell said. “The fish were spread out and spooky, so we had to stay off of them. We’d get up on them and they’d leave and we’d come back 15 minutes later and just go down the bank.”

Rounding out the top five teams are LSU-Shreveport – Zach Caudle and Joe Landry, both of Shreveport, La., (six bass, 17-15, $5,000); Lamar University – Matt Morrison of Silsbee, Texas, and Danny Iles of Hemphill, Texas (six bass, 17-9, $4,000); Texas A&M – Tyler James of College Station, Texas, and Weston Brown of Midlothian, Texas (six bass, 16-3, $3,000); Angelo State – Josh Seale of Beckenridge, Texas, and Austin Adcock of Leander, Texas (six bass, 15-10, $2,000).

FLW Outdoors announced the College Fishing trail in May 2008. The entire schedule, which is organized around the five Stren Series Divisions can be found by visiting CollegeFishing.com, along with the rules, requirements and information on how to create a bass club.

Full-time students enrolled in four year colleges or universities are eligible to participate in the events. Schools in each division can send two-person teams to each of the four qualifying events in their division, with each event limited to a maximum of 40 teams. Each team will have an opportunity to win $10,000 for first and $2,000 through fifth place. The prize money will be split evenly between the winning team’s club and the school they represent. The tournaments are free to enter, boats and drivers will be provided and all collegiate teams will receive a travel allowance. The top five teams in each of the qualifying events will advance to one of five televised three-day FLW National Guard Regional Championships.

Each school represented in a televised Regional Championship will have team shirts and boats provided by Ranger. The purse for each Regional Championship will be a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha outboard wrapped in school colors for the winning club and $25,000 for the school they represent. Awards of $6,000 will also extend through fifth place for the club and school to split evenly.

The FLW National Guard College Fishing National Championship will be a three-day televised event hosting the top five teams from each regional, 25 total teams. The teams will be provided with team shirts and wrapped Ranger boats towed by Chevy trucks for this competition. The purse for the championship will range from $25,000 cash and a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha outboard wrapped in school colors and $50,000 for the school they represent to $15,000 for fifth, split between the club and school.

The winning team will be declared the FLW National Guard Collegiate National Champion and will qualify for the $2.5 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol in 2010. The winners will also receive use of a wrapped boat and Chevy truck for the Forrest Wood Cup.  

Big Newer Water Access Home on Sam Rayburn in Rayburn Country

Featured listing this week is a 3,500+ square foot 2 story house finished in last year and it sits on 2 wateracess lots in Rayburn Country.  This house has 5 bedrooms plus an office, 4 & 1/2 baths, 2 living areas and plenty of parking.  Houses this size are hard to come by in the area.  Visit the www.allmancompanyrealtors.com to see more pictures and get more info.

Lynn Atkinson’s Fishing Report for Sam Rayburn

Reel um N Guide Service

  

 

 

 

Owner
Lynn Atkinson
Water Temp.56

Normal pool 164.40               

Water Clarity 2 feet

03-22-09

Sam Rayburn is at 159.50 ft, the water temperature has been around 66 degrees. The water has been clear in some of the pockets but murky in most of the larger creeks and up the river. We are expecting rain this week and lots more water coming down the Angelina River.

This week has been tough with all the people on spring break and the Tournaments that have been going on. A lot of fish have been caught and released but the size was way down for this time of year. With the weather warming up this week there are a lot of male fish in the shallows staking out bedding areas but I haven’t seen any females with them.  So where are they?  That’s what everyone is asking. Some lucky fishermen always seem to find some on tournament days.

With light winds this week we have done a little offshore fishing; using Carolina rigs; and found some nice keeper fish.  We worked the Carolina Rigs off the points and ledges. The flats that have grass have had a lot of fish on them.  Senko’s and Wacky worms have been catching a lot of them and that is fun. Lipless crankbaits and Stanley Spinner Bait worked over the grass edges are catching some fish.   Colors!  There are lots to choose from in every brand.  I can’t tell you which one is best because each day is different.   Some of the colors I like are Crawfish, Red/Gold and Chrome. On the Stanley Spinner bait, White seems to be the hottest with White / Chartreuse coming is second

We also did a little Crappie fishing from the Pontoon boat.  We even ended the day with some nice fish in the live well.  The kids had a great time pulling them in and I had as much, or more, fun watching them. I have to let everyone know that I did hook into one big fish on a roadrunner that gave me a good fight.  Everyone there were on there toes as the battle lasted around 10 minutes before we netted it.  It was the biggest fish I have caught on an ultra light. What a Deal.

Remember the Sharelunker Program entries started on October 1 and run thru April 30th. If you haven’t heard, it encourages anglers who catch a 13 - pound- plus largemouth bass to lend or donate it to the TPWD for spawning purposes. There are some great benefits doing this, and one of them is getting a full color, life size, fiberglass replica of the bass. (October 1-April 30 only)  If your fish meets the requirements listed above, call their toll-free, 24-hour pager at 1-888-784-0600 or (903) 681-0550.Check out the Program rules 

If you haven’t heard about The Bass Class on the water check it out on the website and give me a call.  Learn some tricks that will help you catch fish on any lake.   

The Crappie have been moving into the grass and things are starting to look up for them this year. There still a lot caught around the bridge piles. Good Luck, hope to see you soon.

Big D Outdoors is the place to get your boat ready now. The spawn is getting closer by the day..  So, what are you waiting for?  Give them a call 409-769-3700.  

God Bless
Lynn Atkinson
srayburn@rayburncountry.com
www.rayburncountry.com
Home 936-897-3400
Cell 979-220-0251    –
Lynn Atkinson
srayburn@rayburncountry.com
www.rayburncountry.com
Cell 979-220-0251
Home 936-897-3400

Cecil Russell Wins On Sam Rayburn

This one didn’t get away

(Photo not from this tournament)
The third time was the charm for Willis, Texas pro Russell Cecil, who returned to Sam Rayburn Lake after two previous disappointing tournaments and cashed the winner’s check. (Photo by Vince Meyer)

Cecil hangs on for Stren Series win despite tough final day

By Vince Meyer - 21.Mar.2009

JASPER, Texas – Twice before, Russell Cecil saw victory vanish on the final day of a tournament on Sam Rayburn Lake. This year he made sure the big one didn’t get away.

The seven-year pro from Willis, Texas, took a 7-pound, 4-ounce lead into the final day of the second Stren Series Texas Division tournament of the season and made it hold up despite a shaky final.

But Cecil doesn’t care how he got the job done, just that he finally got it done.

“Funny,” he said, “last year on the last day I caught 20 pounds and didn’t win. This year on the last day I caught 11 pounds and won. You just never know with fishing.”

Cecil’s three-day weight of 58 pounds, 11 ounces earned him a check for $25,000 and a fully rigged Ranger boat package worth $40,000. He held off a hard charge by Scotty Villines of Ponca, Ark., who couldn’t overcome a tough first day (14-3) despite a massive 25-pound sack on day two and a 14-9 sack on day three.

Had Villines overcome his lead, Cecil might well have chalked it up to a his typical Rayburn luck. Before losing here last year to Dicky Newberry by 1 pound, 12 ounces, he was disqualified in 2007 for bringing six fish to the docks.

This year he got redemption, but it wasn’t easy.

“I sure didn’t catch ’em today,” Cecil said. “It got tough on me. I guess I didn’t make the right adjustments today.”

But neither did a lot of other guys as the tournament wore on. Despite a warming trend and massive in-shore movements by bass, many anglers reported a tough bite. None of the pros topped the 20-pound mark Saturday, which was the standard to be measured by on the first two days. For some reason, the water near shore got murkier despite a complete lack of rainfall. Some theorized that an algae bloom is under way.

For a sight-fisherman, that makes it tough, and Cecil was intent on sight-fishing at this tournament. He did it for the first two days, but changed gears Saturday when he thought the near-shore fish had been worked over too hard. So he threw a Rat-L-Trap instead and brought 11 pounds, 14 ounces to the scales, seventh best among pro contestants on the final day. In essence, he won the tournament on the first two days with a combined weight of 46 pounds, 13 ounces, which was too much for the others to overcome.

Cecil said his primary area got crowded as the week went on. He pulled his limit early the first day and got out of there to avoid drawing a crowd. But others soon found the spot, including Cody Bird, who finished 20th, and Scotty Villines, who finished second.

“It was murderers’ row in there,” Cecil said. “I thought, ‘This isn’t good.’”

But the spot’s effectiveness was illustrated by the fact that he returned on day two and had 18 pounds in the livewell by 10:30 a.m. He finished the day with 23 pounds, 9 ounces.

“But when I saw what Scotty weighed (25 pounds, 6 ounces), I thought it was over,” Cecil said.

His best bait all week was a Big Bite swimming minnow.

Villines makes it close

Villines started the day in second place, and that’s where he finished, though he did make a good run at Cecil with a 14-pound, 9-ounce bag on the final day to earn $10,000.

“I knew I was around the fish, but I just wish I could have gotten them to go the first day,” said Villines, whose three-day bag totaled 54 pounds, 2 ounces.

In practice he used a wacky worm and found a lot of big fish near stumps. But on the first day they were gone. However, his co-angler that day was fishing the other side of the boat in deeper water and pulled 16 pounds, which Villines used to his advantage.

“I tied on a fluke and and put the hurt on ’em,” he said, referring to his 25-pound sack on day two. “I did some sight-fishing when I saw a good one, but mostly I was fan-casting while looking for fish.”
A white baby fluke was his best bait.
Johnston’s best-day bag isn’t enoughStephen Johnston of Hemphill, Texas, admits he’s not much of a sight-fisherman. He spent the entire tournament working away from the bank, and that may have cost him a few pounds.

But on Saturday he weighed the heaviest bag among all pros, 17 pounds, 13 ounces, which he caught using a Carolina rig with a 6-inch lizard. He finished the tournament with 52 pounds, 4 ounces worth $8,000.

“I really like a Texas rig,” he said, “ but I had to put it down today and drag that Carolina rig. I got on my butt seat, slowed down and took my time. It was a struggle today.”

25 LBS leads Day 1 of the Sam Rayburn Stren Tournament

Leading the pro division with 25 pounds, 7 ounces is Charles Bebber of Willis, Texas, who is shooting for his first Stren Series win. Perhaps the pressure to perform that feat is why Bebber was so tight-lipped about his tactics Thursday.

“I’d rather not say right now,” Bebber replied when asked how he caught his five-fish limit, which included the big bass of the day at 9 pounds, 1 ounce. “I’ll be happy to share all that after the tournament.”

Bebber was willing to say that he’s running from spot to spot in a creek arm and that he caught a fish about every 45 minutes

Cecil fishes for redemption

Russell Cecil of Willis, Texas, finished second here last year and is in the same place after Day 1 with 23 pounds, 4 ounces. He also found a consistent bite and when he knew he had a 20-pound bag he left that spot and looked for another that might produce as well. If he found it he didn’t say, but he did divulge his tactics: Carolina rigging an 8-inch lizard and flipping a Fighting Frog. But while others are looking for fish moving up, Cecil is hitting on fish moving out. His entire bag consisted of long, skinny, spawned out females.

“I hope I can get more of these tomorrow,” Cecil said. “I’ve let two opportunities here slip through my hands, so I want to make good this time.”

With bright, sunny skies and calm water, Thursday was perfect for sight fishing. Few do it as well on the Stren circuit as Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas, who holds down third place with 22 pounds, 7 ounces. He said he found a hot bite by throwing a variety of soft plastics to the beds and that he hopes to improve on his 52nd place showing in the division opener on Falcon Lake. For that to happen he’s hoping the sight bite prevails.

“It was consistent all day,” said Tutt, who has two previous Stren Series wins. “I haven’t done much of this lately, but today the conditions were perfect. There’s a lot of boats where I’m fishing, but it’s a big area and you can’t worry about that.”

Day 1 Standings of the Top 20 Pros.  Please see www.FLWOUTDOORS.com for the rest of the story above and a list of the full standsings.

Jeromy Francis Wins BFL on Sam Rayburn

Francis wins Walmart BFL event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Robison co-angler winner

14.Mar.2009

“I was extremely shocked that 15-10 would be the limit to win,” said Francis. “I thought it would take 21or 22 pounds to win.”

Francis caught his limit at Harvey Creek by 10:30 a.m., culling from there. He was catching prespawn bass, fishing in 4 feet of water in grass with a fluke, Rat-L-Trap and a ChatterBait.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Dicky Newberry of Houston (five bass, 15-8, $1,347); Charles Bebber of Willis, Texas (five bass, 15-1, $898); Ricky Campbell of Waxahachie, Texas (five bass, 15-0, $629) and John Cox of Cedar Creek, Texas (five bass, 14-0, $539).

Ricky & Charlotte Guy Win Big on Sam Rayburn, 31.38 LBS!

Angler\’s Quest Team Tiremax The Guys Smoke the Field!! Anglers Quest Rayburn Saturday Series #3

by Bill & Barbara Long / Anglers Quest

Rayburn

water was in good shape and about 6 feet below normal pool level with water temps running 55-56 degrees. The weather at takeoff was a calm cold 38 degrees with a warming? to 45 degrees by weigh in time. The fish catching was good on Big Sam today as there were 21 limits brought to the scales, for a total of 126 bass at 319.00 lbs making the average bass brought to the scales today weigh 2.53 lb.

Griff Griffith from Huffman, Tx & Mike Matheson from Crosby, Tx ran their Sprint/Marcury bass rig to north main lake on a milk run to various places throughout the day to finish in 3rd place with a total of 5 bass at 17.14 lbs fishing with rattletraps around scattered grass. They took home $500.00 for their day on the water. They had a very nice kicker bass that tipped the scales at 8.71 lbs in their sack. They reported catching 25-30 bass all day.

* Please visit Angler’s Quest website for the full story and standings.

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