Lake Sam Rayburn Fishing Guide Report by Lynn Atkinson

Reel um N Guide Service
Owner
Lynn Atkinson

Water Temp.79
Normal pool 164.40
Water Clarity 2 feet
05-24-09
Sam Rayburn is at 162.92 ft and the water temperature has been around 
79 degrees. Water color has been stained up the rivers and clearing as 
you move south. They will continue to pull the lake down to prepare 
for the Hurricane season so plan on the lake to continue to drop.
This week we’ve have had a lot of schooling fish just about everywhere 
on the lake, that can be a lot of fun for everyone. We have been 
catching them on small crankbaits and spoons as they surface to chase 
bait. We have also been catching a few on Stanley Ribbits frogs around 
the pads in the back of some of the pockets. The pepper grass has been 
holding some fish but they are  scattered.  A lot of cranking with 
Stanley spinner baits has been getting some nice fish. The deeper 
hydrilla has been putting some good fish in the boat but it’s been 
slow so don’t miss any bites in it. The offshore structure is starting 
to show a few fish moving out there. Here are a few different baits to 
try out here, deep driving crankbaits, Carolina Rig, Texas Rig and 
Football Jig. You really have to work the structure to get these fish 
to bite; then you’ve got to get them out of it. Some of these bites 
can be very light so stay on you toes. This is time to pull out the 
big worms and do some dragging. Watermelon Red, Green Pumpkin and Red 
Shade are the base colors but don’t be afraid to try other colors.
Crappie; are moving out to the brush piles and we have been catch 
quiet a few of them from the new pontoon.  It’s really nice to have a 
lot of room to move around and plenty of places to sit, relax, and 
enjoy the day.  There are a lot of fish that are just under the limit 
being caught and released to fight another day.  The new pontoon boat 
can handle up to 8 anglers. There is also plenty of shade to get under 
to break the heat and we have a changing room with a potty for those 
times of need. So grab your friends or family and come on out and have 
some fun.  The kids will be out of school anytime now so get your 
trips booked and beat the rush.
The Bass Class on the water, I offer this class year ’round to help 
you learn your electronics. You will also learn about fishing 
structure on and offshore.   Check it out on the website and give me a 
call. Come see what all the fuss is about.  It is never to late to 
learn the tricks the pros use to Reel un N.
Big D Outdoors is the place to get your boat ready for tournaments or 
family fishin.  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

 

 

Place	Angler 1	Angler 2	# Fish	Pounds	Winnings	Points
1	Brig Luce	Blake Holiday	5	23.16	2,572.00	173.16
2	N.Dee Williams	Ron Wells	5	22.99	1,186.00	171.99
3	Phil Addisson	Tony Murray	5	20.93	700.00	168.93
4	Bobby Addison	Clarence Sanderson	5	19.57	600.00	166.57
5	Larry Diggs	Scott Thorton	5	19.13	520.00	165.13
6	Ricky Potts	Bill Huspeth	5	18.24	844.00	163.24
7	Alan Moore	Stanton Marsh	5	18.14	360.00	162.14
8	Greg Mcdonald	Gary Mcdonald	5	17.06	310.00	160.06
9	Chess Adams	Clayton Boulware	5	16.64	280.00	158.64
10	Charles Bebber	Keith Caka	5	16.17	260.00	157.17
11	Billy Penick	Bill Penick	5	15.73	240.00	155.73

Sam Rayburn Fishing Guide Report by Lynn Atkinson

Reel um N Guide Service
Owner
Lynn Atkinson

Water Temp.76
Normal pool 164.40
Water Clarity 2 feet
05-18-09
Sam Rayburn is at 163.12 ft and the water temperature has been around 
76 degrees. Water color has been stained for the most part around the 
mid lake area.
The weather had just gotten stable and wouldn’t you know it a front 
blows thru and put’s a twist in things.  With the wind blowing hard 
from the north it will muddy some of the areas that were just clearing 
up. The hydrilla has been thinning out in most places and the pepper 
grass has really taken over and become the dominate structure in some 
of these areas.  We have had a few schooling bass this week that can 
be a lot of fun to chase around the lake.  Small crank baits and 
topwater baits can put a few of them in the boat. There are a few 
patches of hydrilla on some flats that have been holding fish; 6 to 8 
foot seems to be the magic number.  Crankbaits and Spinner baits have 
been picking a few of them up. There’ve also been a few fish moving 
out to deeper structure. Carolina and Texas rigs have been catching 
some of them along with the Stanley ½ oz football jig. These bites 
have been very light and hard to feel so you have to stay on your toes 
to catch them. I haven’t seen any matt grass but the pads are starting 
to come along and there are some fish moving into them and can be 
caught on Stanley Ribbit frogs.  A Stanley Football Jig fooled this 
flathead into thinking it was a real crawfish, now if only I can fool 
that big old bass.
Tournament Anglers
The fish have been under a lot of stress with the spawn and post spawn 
and all the fresh water that’s been coming down the river. Tournaments 
all over the lake have had a lot of fish bought in that are in bad 
shape. The water temperature on the lake is not very high but the 
stress on the fish has been showing up everywhere.  To help lessen the 
stress on the fish we need to kick things in high gear and keep the 
live wells running.  This keeps the ammonia levels down and the oxygen 
levels up.  When you’re in the weighin line make sure you add some of 
the water from the tanks to your bags to keep the fish in good shape. 
Let’s all work hard to take care of our fish and speak up if you see 
one that needs some help. Remember fish don’t live long without water 
or oxygen in the water in the bag. This is the future of fishing that 
you hold in your hands.
Crappie are moving out to the brush piles and have been starting to 
bite. It’s been a little tough but will improve as they move out.  
There are a lot of fish that are just under the limit being caught and 
released to fight another day.  The new pontoon boat has plenty of 
room for up to 8 anglers to enjoy catching a few of these tasty 
critters. There is also plenty of shade to get under to break the heat 
of the sun and we have a changing room with a potty for those times of 
need. So grab your friends or family and come on out and have some fun.
The Bass Class on the water, I offer this class year ’round to help 
you learn your electronics. You will also learn about fishing 
structure on and offshore.   Check it out on the website and give me a 
call. Come have fun, learn some tricks then take your friends fishin.
Big D Outdoors is the place to get your boat ready for tournaments or 
family fishin.  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

Lake Sam Rayburn Fishing Report by Guide Lynn Atkinson

Reel um N Guide Service
Owner
Lynn Atkinson

Water Temp.74
Normal pool 164.40
Water Clarity 2 feet
05-10-09
Sam Rayburn is at 163.22 ft and the water temperature has been around 
74 degrees. Water color has been clearer down south, becoming more 
stained as you move up the lake.
The weather has been a little more stable this week.  We’ve been 
catching nice fish all week in the mid lake area around the grass 
lines. The grass has been changing a lot with all the water we’ve 
gotten in the last month.  Some of the grass is going great while 
grass in other areas has been disappearing altogether. The pepper 
grass is looking good and we have been picking up some fish around it. 
The pads are coming along in some of the pockets and a few fish are 
starting to move into them early. The Stanley Ribbit is one of my 
favorite baits to throw; this time of the year; when the fish start 
chasing topwater baits. When it was slow we backed up and put on a 
shaky head jig tipped with a couple of my favorite baits.  One is the 
8 inch needle worm by E2 Bait Company and the other is Hightail 
Holeshot by Kicker Fish Bait Company.  Both of these baits are unique 
as the worms have a lot of floatation in them so the tails stand up 
and waves to the bass.  If you don’t have any, you NEED to get some.  
Some of our best fish came off them while working them close to the 
inside grass line. If the water was stained I went to a darker color 
on my soft plastics and a more neutral color if the water was clear. 
The deep bite has still been slow but I look for it to pickup and 
can’t wait to get out there.
Crappie are still moving from the grass to the brush piles and back. 
The ones that have been in the grass have been hitting good as long as 
the water doesn’t get muddy. Floating a few minnows over the grass or 
running a roadrunner has been picking a few up. We had a limit of them 
this week and look for them to start moving out to the brush plies.

The Bass Class on the water, I offer this class year ’round to help 
you learn your electronics. You will also learn about fishing 
structure on and offshore.   Check it out on the website and give me a 
call. Come have fun, learn some tricks then take your friends fishin.
Big D Outdoors is the place to get your boat ready for tournaments or 
family fishin.  Give them a call 409-769-3700.  They are there to help 
you get the most out of your boating experience.

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

Lake Sam Rayburn Fishing Report by Guide Lynn Atkinson

Reel um N Guide Service
Owner
Lynn Atkinson
Reel um N Guide Service
Owner
Lynn Atkinson

Water Temp.74
Normal pool 164.40
Water Clarity 2 feet
05-03-09
Sam Rayburn is at 163.37 ft and the water temperature has been around 
74 degrees. Water color has been clearer down south, becoming more 
stained as you move up the lake.
The lake jumped about a foot this week from all the heavy rain we have 
had. The upper end is stained and somewhat muddy and the bite has 
really slowed down. This week we have gotten a few fish that have 
moved up around the grass edges and buck brush and begin to hit a few 
senko’s and wacky worms. The grass and pads are having a hard time 
keeping up with the water as it rises. Some of the grass that was 
there last week is several feet under water and has begun to thin out. 
The bluegills have started to spawn in a few pockets and that should 
bring a few old bass up close to grab one of them from time to time. 
If you find one of these places you may just stumble into some nice 
bass at the same time.  With the full moon coming around again you 
should have a few fish moving up so keep a close eye on the pockets 
and creeks. We have been catching a few fish early around primary and 
secondary points that have grass or brush on them.  Just fishing 
shallow from around 8 foot and up to the brush have been the best.
Crappie are still moving from the grass to the brush pile’s and back. 
The ones that have been in the grass have been hitting good as long as 
the water doesn’t get muddy from the winds or rain. Floating a few 
minnows over the grass or running a roadrunner have been picking a few 
up.

The Bass Class on the water, I offer this class year ’round to help 
you learn your electronics. You will also learn about fishing 
structure on and offshore.   Check it out on the website and give me a 
call. Come have fun, learn some tricks then take your friends fishin.
Big D Outdoors is the place to get your boat ready for tournaments or 
family fishin.  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