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TX

Sam Rayburn Reservoir

A 114,500-acre East Texas reservoir on the Angelina River, a hydrilla-rich impoundment between Lufkin and Jasper that consistently delivers tournament wins on Texas-rigged worms, swimbaits, and frogs along grass edges.

Surface
114,500acres
Max depth
80ft
Primary species
Largemouth bass · Crappie · White bass · Catfish
§ 01Today on the water · Sam Rayburn Reservoirvia Open-Meteo · 03:15 local
Air temp
79.6°F
Barometric
30.09″
→steady 24h(0.00)
Wind
6mph
from SSE
Moon
Waxing Crescent
day 4.0 · 17% lit

Air conditions sampled near the lake center, not measured on the water · refreshed ~15 min

§ 03Next 3 daysvia Open-Meteo · interpretation
  1. 17
    julFri

    Watch the wind

    hi 96° · lo 74°

    Lean into wind-fed shorelines, all day. Wind drives bait position today; pick the shoreline taking it.

    ── stiff s wind

  2. 18
    julSat

    Stable window

    hi 93° · lo 79°

    Anytime through the day. Quiet weather day; lean on seasonal pattern and structure.

    ── light sw wind · settled

  3. 19
    julSun

    Stable window

    hi 96° · lo 77°

    Anytime through the day. Quiet weather day; lean on seasonal pattern and structure.

    ── light sw wind · settled

§ 04Field notesTX

Where it is

Sam Rayburn sits in the Angelina National Forest in deep East Texas, between Lufkin to the north and Jasper to the south. The reservoir runs roughly 50 miles from the upper Angelina River arm down to the dam, and at 114,500 acres it is the second-largest reservoir wholly within Texas (after Toledo Bend, which it borders to the east).

Seasonal pattern

Spring (February–April). Pre-spawn fish stage on creek-channel breaks and secondary points starting in late February. Spawning waves move shallow as water temps push 60–66°F, peaking in March. Lipless cranks over emerging hydrilla and Texas-rigged worms in flooded brush carry the window.

Summer (May–August). As surface temps climb past 80°F, bass slide to deep main-lake humps and creek-channel ledges in deeper water. Carolina rigs, big worms, and football jigs work this pattern. Hydrilla edges and grass points still produce a topwater bite at first light and last hour.

Fall (September–November). Shad migrate into creeks and bass follow. Lipless cranks, swim jigs, and topwater along grass lines work the most consistent topwater of the year.

Winter (December–January). Suspended fish along bluff walls and channel swings come on jerkbaits and slow-rolled spinnerbaits. Surface temps bottom out in the upper 40s to low 50s.

Key structure

  • Hydrilla — extensive in mid-lake and in creek arms, the lake's defining cover when it's healthy
  • Standing timber — substantial in creek arms and the upper reaches
  • Creek-channel ledges — summer staging line
  • Main-lake humps near the dam
  • Grass points and edges at the mouths of major creeks

Forage

Threadfin shad drive the system. Bluegill provide a shallow-water forage layer in grass year-round.

Access

Multiple public launch points are spread around the lake. Confirm current launch and ramp conditions through local sources before a trip, since availability changes through the season.

Regulations

Standard Texas bass regulations apply. Always verify current rules with Texas Parks & Wildlife before fishing.

§ 05Lake factssourced · revised 2026-07-05

Every fact above links to its official source — state agency, federal water authority, or tournament archive.

§ 06Sources & field guides

Field guides

Data & references

  • Today's conditions — Open-Meteo, refreshed every ~15 min
  • Moon phase — local astronomical calculation, no external API
  • Lake area, depth, structure — regional bass-fishing references and US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir summary for Sam Rayburn Reservoir
  • Regulations — verify current rules with Texas Parks & Wildlife before fishing

Last revised · Back to Lake Guide