Fish Report- 2-4-08 Reel um N Guide Service By Lynn Atkinson 02/03/08 Sam Rayburn is at 159.32 that's a little more water then last week, but still around 5 ft below pool. The spawn should be awesome. The water temperature has been around 49 in the morning, warming up to around 53 in some of the pockets by afternoon. Some of the pockets have been clear to around 3 ft. This week we have had some high winds and rain to deal with but we still got out and caught some fish. In some of the pockets as that have started to warm up. On one of our trips the wind was blowing as we ran out to one of the places that I like; to see if we could catch a few fish. As we pulled up to the ledge and started down it the sun was just breaking over the lake. We hadn't gone far when the first fish picked up the bait, ran to the boat and got off. That's how it goes out there. James said it didn't fight to hard so it had to be a small fish. After a few more casts down the ledge, James hooked up another one and it wasn't fighting to much either. Then it took a little line, then a little more. With a good fight around the boat and under it we finely got it in. With some quick pictures and getting her weight she was eased back in the water to fight another day. Then it hit him! The other fish felt the same way and could it have been a lot bigger then this one? Well this one weighed in at 6.20 lbs, not bad for water temperature in the high 40s. We checked several more good spots hoping to beat that one but it just wasn't to be. We did catch quite a few more fish; just not that big one. The fish have really been holding tight to cover and not moving very much. With the weather predicted to warm up this week we should see some more fish moving in ,and the action picking up. Just a few of the baits we have been throwing are Rat-L-Traps, Crankbaits, Stanley Jigs, C/R and T/R. The colors have been Pumpkinseed, Watermelon Red, Green Pumpkin, and Jug Bug. Remember if you catch a trophy, get some good pictures, her weight and measurements then for goodness sakes put her back in the water. You can always go back there and try to catch her again. Its not just one fish you are killing. It's millions of her off spring and could be the next trophy you catch. I know this sounds like a broken record but we had one over 12 lbs caught a few weeks back. He got her weighed on a certified scale took great picture and measurements then tossed her on ice o take her home. A replica of your fish will look better then the fish and last longer . So why kill a trophy fish ? Catch and release is the best way to keep trophy fish growing in our lakes today. If you think its bull lets take a look back. When "Big Sam" was younger there was a 15 fish limit and they were good solid fish. It's a lot more fun catching fish when you go out than not catching anything. So lets take care of what we have and leave some for our kids. The crappie have been up the river and I mean up the river around the channels. With a few being caught here and there around some of the brush piles. With the little rain we have had I hope to see them start moving back down the lake anytime now. Lynn Atkinson srayburn@rayburncountry.com www.rayburncountry.com Home 936-897-3400 Cell 979-220-0251