2-19-08 Fishing report Reel um N Guide Service By Lynn Atkinson 02/18/08 Sam Rayburn is at 160.52 Ft and coming up.. The water temperature has been around 52 in the morning, warming up to around 56 in some of the pockets by afternoon. Some of the pockets have been a little muddy with the rains we have had this week.. We have still been catching some good fish this week. The other day we here fishing and found the fish didn't want to chase anything. We slowed down and started throwing the C/R and snagged a few fish in the creeks. We changed places a few times looking for that big fish and we finally got her at our last spot. It was the biggest fish the young man had ever caught and he was thrilled. That's why I say don't give up! The next spot maybe just what the Dr. ordered . 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. If you catch a trophy make sure you get the weight, some good pictures, quick measurements and get her back in the water. I can't tell you how many people take them home just to show off a dead fish. By putting her back you have the chance to catch her again along with keeping her gene pool going. Besides you can have a replica made of her that will last a lot longer and look just as good. If everyone put their big fish back you could be coming out and hooking up to big fish every time on the lake. Remember the Budweiser Sharelunker Program entries started on October 1 and run thru April 30th. If you haven't heard; it encourages anglers who caught a 13 - pound- plus largemouth bass to lend or donate it to the TPWD for spawning purposes. There are some great benefits doing this and one of them is that the angler receives a fiberglass replica of the bass. There is a 24- hour pager at 1-888-784-0600 Check out the Program rules at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/rules/ along with the Benefits . 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. I'll be taking a test drive in a new boat sometime in March from Coolwater Boats to see how it rides so my Nitro 929 may be coming up for sale. If you're looking for a boat give me a call. If you need to get away for the day and do a little fishing or would like to check out The Bass Class On The Water give me a call. Thanks and God Bless Lynn Atkinson srayburn@rayburncountry.com www.rayburncountry.com Home 936-897-3400 Cell 979-220-0251