As of December 11, 2009 the lake level at Sam Rayburn is 162.51 which puts the lake about a foot and a half below full pool. Rayburn and December are synonymous for the words, “Rattle Trap.”  Winter time fishing on Rayburn can be absolutely phenomenal for numbers one day and size the next day depending on the weather. I would start each day by throwing a ½ oz. chrome black or chrome blue trap on the outer edge of the grass. Once the bite begins to slow I would start criss-crossing the top of the submerged hydrilla still throwing the same traps. Later in the afternoon I would try targeting the inner edge of the hydrilla and the outer edge of the pepper grass. If it is a cloudy day I would probably at least try a ½ oz. double willow spinner bait in white and chartreuse with a nickel blade in front of a gold blade. If the spinner bait does not produce I would switch to either a gold trap or a crawfish colored trap. Ripping a trap through hydrilla all day is tough work for anyone but you have to remember that the technique can result in the catch of a lifetime. To make trap fishing a little easier I prefer to throw my trap on a PG104-7’6” with 15 lb. fluorocarbon on a seven to one Pflueger reel.
Good luck on the lake.

Thanks,
Danny Iles