The Ark-La-Tex region is blessed with some of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. Toledo Bend, Lake Fork, Caddo Lake, Lake of the Pines, Caney, Bussy Break are all area lakes that continue to make the Bassmaster Top 100 lakes in the country every year. But there’s one that has emerged as the best of the best…. Lake Sam Rayburn!
Located in the heart of East Texas just east of Lufkin, Sam Rayburn continues to defy logic and mystify marine biologist. By that I mean, no other lake in this region gets more pressure and hosts more tournaments than Rayburn and yet it continues to put out huge stringers of bass week after week. Today I’ll give you some statistics that will illustrate just how good Sam Rayburn is at this time.
One way to judge a lake is to look at tournament results. It’s a great barometer to determine how healthy a fishery really is. One recent tournament was the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash which is held annually on Sam Rayburn in the month of April. Anglers from all over the country make their way to this famed reservoir each year for one thing…to catch big bass! This year the Sealy event did not disappoint as record numbers were caught.
Here's some impressive numbers to back up why Sam Rayburn is truly the best. These weights reflect the total bass weighed over the three-day event.
Friday - 41 bass weighed in over 7.00 lbs. with 9 of them over the 9 lb. mark including the winning fish of the event coming in at 11.30 lbs. Saturday - 34 bass over 7.00 lbs. came to the scales with 14 coming in over 8.00 lbs. Sunday - was a good day but not as good as the two previous days, which is normal for a three-day event, as only 13 fish were weighed in over 7.00 lbs.
With all Bob Sealy events, there’s an hourly payback, as well, that pays the Top 15 places per hour. Here’s what it took to just get an hourly check or 15th place each hour.
Friday – it took a bass weighing 5.38 lbs. to get 15th place each hour.
Saturday – you needed a 4.66 lb. bass to make the Top 15.
Sunday – a 4.20 lb. bass put you in the Top 15.
To the average person who does not fish, these numbers mean nothing, but to an angler, these numbers are off the chart impressive!
What makes this even more amazing is the fact that from January through the end of September, there’s not a single weekend where Rayburn isn’t hosting at least two tournaments.
Most lakes with this kind of pressure will have a drop off in the quality of bass caught. But not Sam Rayburn and that’s a testament to the hard work of the Texas Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. No other state does as good a job of producing great fisheries than the state of Texas!
If you’re looking for a place to go and catch big bass, look no further than Lake Sam Rayburn! Till next time good luck, good fishing and when in doubt, set the hook!
Steve Graf Angler’s Perspective
