SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026 · SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIR
Early morning topwater on shallow grass, then dial in the deeper points and drains once the sun gets high.
WATER 82°FAIR 64°FWIND 5 MPH NESEASON SUMMERPOOL -10.1 FT
Water's at 82 degrees and sitting well into the comfortable zone, so bass are splitting time between shallow cover at first light and offshore structure during the heat of the day. The lake is 10 feet low, which concentrates fish on the points and main-lake drains where they're staging around bait. Stained water means color mattering less than vibration and profile, so you can be aggressive with your picks. Pressure is rising after a dip, which can slow things a touch, but the cloud cover and the cooler morning air mean the shallow bite can stretch through mid-morning. Once the sun climbs and the water warms, pull out to ledges and channel swings in 12 to 18 feet where the bigger fish have moved to avoid the heat.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 7:07 AM to 8:45 AM
Shallow grass flats and pencil-reed edges in 3 to 6 feet, tight to any cover you can find. Work the secondary points leading off the main-lake structure.
Topwater walking bait or pencil popper in white or chartreuse, 4 to 5 inches, walk it slow and deliberate across the grass edges and reed lines. Twitch it once every foot or two to hold it near the cover. Move at a pace that lets the fish track it, not a frantic pace.
Low light and cooler air mean bass are willing to look up at the surface. Topwater draws reaction strikes and covers ground fast. The cloud cover helps keep them hunting shallow longer than a bluebird day. Once the sun gets above the treeline, this window closes fast.
MORNING · 8:45 AM to 11:00 AM
Secondary points and inside bends of creek channels in 8 to 12 feet. Focus on the hard-bottom transitions where grass meets open water.
Chartreuse or green pumpkin squarebill crankbait, 2 to 3 inches, 3/8 to 1/2 ounce. Crank it steadily and let it deflect off any wood or structure. Cover water methodically, working the break line where the flat drops off.
The bass are still feeding as the light brightens, but they're beginning to slide deeper away from full exposure. A crankbait covers the transition zone fast and triggers reaction strikes. The stained water means they're not as picky about exact color, so the thump and deflection matter more than a natural pattern.
MIDDAY · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Main-lake humps and channel swings in 15 to 20 feet. Target the places where creeks drain into the main lake and the bottom contour pinches down.
Green pumpkin or watermelon Carolina rig. Use a 6-inch worm or creature bait on a 1/0 to 2/0 hook, pegged with a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce weight. Drag it slowly across the structure, pausing on top of any irregularity. Work it methodically so the bait stays in the strike zone.
By midday, the heat and bright sun push the bass deep to stay comfortable. The cooler, oxygenated water and the shade of deep structure are where they hunker down during the day. A slow dragging rig on the bottom keeps the bait in front of them without requiring them to chase. The stained water and slight pressure rise mean they're less aggressive, so you need to work slowly and stay on the structure.
LATE AFTERNOON · 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Drains and secondary points still in 12 to 18 feet, but watch for bass moving back toward the shallower staging zones as the sun angle drops.
Crankbait or lipless rattle trap in chartreuse or junebug, 2.5 to 3 inches, 3/8 to 1/2 ounce. Crank steady, staying on the drop-off and around any timber. Listen for the rattle to confirm contact with bottom and structure.
The afternoon heat is starting to ease, and bass begin their slow transition back toward shallower feeding grounds. The lipless crank or rattle trap gives you vibration and a call that draws fish in stained water. The rattle matters now because visibility is limited and the fish are keying on the disturbance to find the bait.
EVENING · 5:00 PM to 6:45 PM
Shallow to mid-depth grass edges and reed lines in 4 to 10 feet. Work the pencil-grass stands and the hydrilla lines that run parallel to the bank.
Soft plastic finesse worm, 5 to 6 inches, in green pumpkin or junebug, rigged on a drop shot with a 1/16 to 1/8 ounce weight and a small finesse hook, or a swim jig with a matching trailer, 3/16 to 1/4 ounce. Work it vertically or with short hops near the grass.
As the sun dips and the water cools slightly, bass move back into the grass and shallower cover to feed. Low-light conditions bring on a gentle bite, so downsizing and slowing down works best. The stained water is at its best for finesse presentations now, where the black silhouette and subtle movement draw bites that a big fast bait would miss.
DUSK · 6:45 PM to 7:15 PM
Shallow flats, grass edges, and any timber or structure on the secondary points in 3 to 8 feet.
Topwater walking bait or pencil popper in white, black, or chartreuse, 4 to 5 inches, worked slow and deliberate with pauses between twitches. Keep it in contact with the grass and cover.
The last light of the day is a prime feeding window. Bass push shallow as the sun disappears. Topwater works again because the silhouette is clear in the low light and the commotion draws strikes. The cloud cover means this window may stay productive a bit longer than usual.
NIGHT · 7:15 PM onward
Secondary points, channel swings, and any timber on the main-lake structure in 10 to 18 feet. Focus on drains and the edges where deeper water meets shallower flats.
Black or dark junebug soft plastic worm, 6 to 7 inches, on a Carolina rig with a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce weight, or a black jig with a dark trailer, 3/16 to 1/4 ounce. Drag or hop the rig slowly, keeping it on or near bottom.
Once full dark sets in, bass retreat to deeper water for safety. They feed by feel and lateral line, so dark colors create the strongest silhouette and vibration matters most. The slow, methodical dragging keeps the bait in front of stationary fish without asking them to chase far. Pressure is steady to rising, so patience and a deliberate pace are your edge.
Where to fish
- Secondary Points and Channel Swings — 8 to 15 feet, dropping to 18 to 20 feet on the back side. · Hard-bottom transitions where creeks drain into the main lake, with sparse grass edges and occasional timber.
These are staging zones where bass transition between deep and shallow water. The proximity to deeper water and the bait concentration on these structure breaks make them reliable all day long. - Main-Lake Humps and Drains — 15 to 22 feet · Isolated bottom rises and channel bends where the lake contour pinches, often with shell or hard bottom and sparse timber.
During the heat of the day, bass pull out to these isolated deep structures to escape the bright sun and stay in cooler, oxygenated water. The bait schools around the structure, and bass ambush from the breaks. - Shallow Grass Flats and Pencil-Reed Edges — 3 to 8 feet · Stands of pencil grass, hydrilla lines, and reed edges that run parallel to the bank or intersect secondary points.
Bass hunt shallow cover at first light and dusk, and the grass holds baitfish and shade. Low light brings aggressive feeding, and the cover makes the bass confident enough to strike.
What to throw
- Topwater Walking Bait — 4 to 5 in · White, black, or chartreuse · n/a (Early morning and dusk, in low light over shallow grass in 3 to 6 feet.)
Walk the dog across shallow grass and reed lines at first light and dusk, twitching once every foot or two, keeping it near cover. - Squarebill Crankbait — 2 to 3 in · Chartreuse or green pumpkin · 3/8 to 1/2 oz (Mid-morning through late afternoon on secondary points and channel transitions in 8 to 15 feet.)
Crank steadily over the break line where the flat meets the deeper channel, letting it deflect off bottom structure and wood. - Carolina Rig with Soft Worm — 6 to 6.5 in · Green pumpkin, watermelon, or junebug · 1/4 to 3/8 oz (Midday and night on main-lake structure in 15 to 20 feet, and evening on shallow grass in 4 to 10 feet.)
Drag slowly across bottom structure and humps, pausing and shaking the rig to create vibration. Keep the bait dragging in contact with the contour. - Lipless Rattle Trap — 2.5 to 3 in · Chartreuse or junebug · 3/8 to 1/2 oz (Late afternoon through evening on secondary points and channel swings in 12 to 18 feet.)
Crank steadily over drains and drop-offs, working the rattle trap across any timber and humps. Listen for the rattle and feel for bottom contact. - Finesse Worm on Drop Shot — 5 to 6 in · Green pumpkin, junebug, or black · 1/16 to 1/8 oz (Evening and night on shallow grass edges in 4 to 10 feet, when pressure is rising and fish are picky.)
Drop shot vertically or with short hops near grass edges and reed lines. Keep the weight barely off bottom and work the worm up and down with subtle rod movements.
How to work it
- Deflection Casting — Mid-morning through late afternoon when the sun is high and bass are set up on deeper structure. · Over timber, humps, and channel drop-offs in 8 to 18 feet.
Cast the squarebill or lipless crank at a slight angle to structure so the lure deflects off the contour rather than swims past it cleanly. - Slow Dragging — Midday and night when pressure is high or rising and bass are less willing to chase. · Main-lake humps, channel swings, and drains in 15 to 20 feet.
Keep the Carolina rig or heavy jig barely moving across the bottom, dragging it through irregularities and pausing over any contact. - Grass Edge Hopping — Evening and dusk when bass are transitioning back to shallow cover. · Pencil grass stands and hydrilla lines on secondary points in 4 to 10 feet.
Hop a finesse worm or light jig in short motions just off the grass line, keeping it in the first 2 to 3 feet above the deeper edges.
Pro tips
- At 82 degrees with stained water, don't waste time on subtle natural colors. Chartreuse, junebug, and black-and-blue outperform shad patterns because visibility is limited. The rattle and thump work harder than the profile.
- The pressure is rising, which can slow the bite. If you're getting short strikes or refusals, downsize your bait and slow your retrieve. Work the exact edges of structure rather than casting away from it. Fish are tighter to cover when pressure is high.
- With the lake 10 feet low, old road beds, shallow timber, and hidden structure are exposed. Use your electronics to mark the contours and the timber, then work baits slowly through these tight spots. Finesse presentations pay off.
If conditions change
If a front blows through and the pressure rises sharply, the bite will shut down for a few hours. Shift to the densest cover available, downsize your baits to 4 to 5 inch finesse worms on drop shots, and slow way down. Target the thickest grass and the tightest wood. If the cloud cover breaks and you get bluebird sun, pull out deeper faster, move to shaded structure at 18 to 25 feet, and work darker colors. If the wind picks up from the north or west, the shallow bite may be cut short, so adjust your early morning to the lee banks where the cover is more sheltered. If the water clarity drops and turns darker from rain upstream, go with black or dark colors and maximum vibration. If it clears up, downsize and use more natural patterns on deeper structure.
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