Thanks everybody for the advice. Going to try it Thursday-Saturday. I'm sure I'll start out shallow, I'm more confident with that. But will try to ease out if nothing going on.

will report back, hopefully with good info, lol

http://www.basschamps.com/results.cfm?tournament_id=235&type=team&yearSelected=2016

 

The winner is a member of this forum.  Congrats man, thats a nice stringer. 

Thanks Wesley. We had a great day. Our fish were caught in 15-20 ft on almost everything we threw.  I haven't fished Rayburn much, but it has produced some big ones for me the few times I've been there! What an awesome fishery!

No big Sam reports ? 

We have a HS fishing tourney this weekend, not as familiar with Big Sam as Toledo. Any advice?

I heard the tournament last weekend was won in 15-20 fow on c-rigs

im more of a shallow water fishermen, you can catch some around the flooded grass, but not any size for a tourney.

i need to force myself to fish offshore, may have to go with a guide for pointers. Never tried that.

good luck with your tourney 

I'm right close but trying to learn The Bend. Hadn't been to Big Sam since probably 1993 maybe. I loved it then and hope to return soon so I can answer some questions on here.  Until then, good luck. 

How did the HS tournament go?

y'all get on some nice fish?

There was 473 teams and I think 22 something won HS tournament. I like what they're doing for the young people.  

Little more than 25 lbs won it, they say they caught all their fish on c-rigs in 9-12 fow. They also had a 9 lb kicker.

Has anybody used preacher rays boat ramp if so how is it was thinking of trying that area of lake .  Never fished the Black Forest area

Preachers is a good ramp, very protected and good area. The whole area is good fishing from mud to caney. 

One of the teams from my school got 2nd place with 22 ish lbs. We did decent enough, caught quite a few on a 6xd or 8xd (can't remember) 8-15 fow. Lost 2 fish over 5 pounds and the lure lol. But overall a fun weekend - the weather.

Thanks red 

Well didn't make it to Black Forest ended up staying on south end caught around 15 fish with 7 keepers nothing big.  Maybe next time be able to get up that way

There isn't anything wrong with a 15 fish day any where you go especially in February. I heard that fishing on the south end has been picking up. Most of the tournaments are being won mid lake around 147 area. I think the fish are grouped up right now and if you come across one of those schools( which I have not been able to find) you can have the trip of a lifetime. I'm curious to see what the fish are gonna do with this warmer weather were looking at.

Well I took my mom and my little boy out on Big Sam today. Didn't pull up to our first spot until shortly before 1pm. Fished until dark and boated over 30 fish with the biggest being about 4.5lbs. My mom was throwing a Carolina rig and I was chunking the old rat l trap. Fished mostly shallow water casting to the flooded hay grass, I would say most of our fish come from the 5-12 fow range. Thought I would share with you guys how we caught them today, they were chewing pretty good! 

Sounds like yall had a good outing Red_Ranger!

Went back out again yesterday to do a little fishing. Fished a different area and found some water temps up to 63 degrees, wow. The trap bite is really starting to pick up, guy at the ramp said he was catching them good on jerk baits also. 

I miss this lake I been in Utah for six months and now in Kentucky. I was in Jasper during Christmas holidays and visited the lake a few days but still not enough. And I miss fishing it's driving me crazy 

That last post was me It logged me in through my Facebook. It's been awhile since I been on forgot how the login worked.

Well, I hope you get to fish soon. Big Sam is calling me too. I feel ya, my brotha!  

Got out this past weekend for a couple times, caught several on the red trap, being bluebird skies and bright sun, went with the chrome trap with blue/green back, they was hitting it a lot better. Also did fair on a black 6" lizard with blue tail. All in all had a nice weekend, biggest only around 4 1/2 lbs but had fun!

these warmer nights will help that water temp jump up fast, fishing should only get better from here

My little brother and I plan on fishing the fingers and that area Saturday. I just love that area and its grassy views. I have always had good luck using a grass punch rig with pb&j skirt. I would really like to learn some new tactics. Maybe learn how to fish with a spinnerbait in the grass or around stumps. Any tips to try this weekend just to become a better fisherman and catch more than one or two?

Fished the canyons and popher area today. Boated somewhere around 20 fish. I was flipping bushes with a beaver style bait, caught a lot of smaller buck bass with a few around 3-4 pounders mixed in. Big girls should be moving up any day now!