As of December 1, 2010, Lake Sam Rayburn is at a current pool elevation of 155.95 feet which has the lake approximately eight feet below full pool. The bass are biting fairly well all over the lake with a lot of fish positioned around the shallow grass. There seems to be two different kinds of grass along much of Rayburn’s bank with the majority of it being hydrilla. The other kind of grass is similar to milfoil but I am not sure what the correct name for it is. However, both types are currently holding good numbers of fish. I have been starting each morning with either a spinner bait or a chatter bait fished on a PG104-7’6” with a white or white and chartreuse skirt, depending on the water color. Some days they have chased the spinner bait all day long, but for the most part once the sun comes up I have been switching to either a rattle trap or a wacky rigged Strike King Ocho. Generally I have been using some sort of shad patterned trap on a composite cranker. If they will not chase the trap then I have been throwing a wacky rigged ocho in watermelon red or straight watermelon on a PG144-7’0”. On most days you can be fairly successful around the shallow grass, but on the days where the shallow bite does not happen I have been backing out to the first break line away from the grass and throwing either a crank bait or a Texas rig. I have been having the most luck with shad colored Strike King Series fives and Norman deep little N’s thrown on either the composite cranker or the PGC170. Please be very careful in navigating the lake as there are many sand bars and other obstacles in the places that most people usually run.  As always, good luck on the lake.
Thanks,
Danny Iles

Johnstons Fishing