Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Sam Rayburn: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Sam Rayburn Reservoir is set in San Augustine County, Texas. The land about it is dry hill. Around 174.6 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. There is far more edge than the surface area suggests, thanks to the arms. It is the biggest water on our San Augustine County list. Sam Rayburn sits 13 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Jasper is 22 miles away, with Huntington at 23 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Sam Rayburn Reservoir

  The basin has been measured to about 84 feet. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Records collected within a few miles name striped bass, black crappie and blue catfish. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. On Sam Rayburn Reservoir the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 47°F in January to roughly 82°F in July. The surface stays open the year round. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Anyone fishing Sam Rayburn Reservoir regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public ownership means the bank is normally open to anglers. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Boykin Spring Lake, 9 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Sam Rayburn Reservoir for certain.