Water levels on Rayburn continues to fall and have fallen about 5 inches since last week and now stands at 162.45 feet with full pool being 164.4 feet. Both turbines are running 12 hours each day with a release of over 9000 cubit feet per second when operating. Surface water temps also are dropping and are running in the low 50s. The lake is in pretty good shape with some areas having grass dying off and thinning but still a good bit of grass in many areas.
The outside of the grassline has been the most consistent area to
target for active bass (8 to 11 feet) and the mid- morning to mid-afternoon have been the best times. As cold as water temps are (low 50s) the fish will be more active later in the day. The Trap (Rat-L-Trap) bite is still on my list and I am using braid and heavy mono (17 and 20 pound test) to slow the rate of fall as I rip the bait out of the grass. Since the water got into the 50s, I am having a hard time getting bit on a Trap without first hitting grass. Most, I'm sure, are reaction bites but I will take them.
Also, a slow-rolled Stanley Big Boy spinnerbait (double willow/one ounce) is getting a few good bites and most are on the deeper(outside edge) of the grassline but at noon I occasionally can get get a bite near the inside edge of the grass which is now about 4 feet. There is still a pattern on the weightless worm rig when using a dead-stick approach with a Senko, Gulp! Sinking Minnow and Fluke my favorites for this pattern. I am using 12 and 15 pound test Berkley Fluorocarbon for this technique and am using a 2 ft leader and swivel. Ya gotta slow down! Merry Christmas!!