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Rayburn - First timers
#12814067
07/02/18 11:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 648
Do-Nothin
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 648 |
Headed down with my family to Zavalla to spend some time together and do some fishing. We have never been on the lake before and were curious about running the lake and how it is fishing. Any pointers are greatly appreciated! Also, any good places to eat within a reasonable drive would be awesome! Thanks in advance!
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814152
07/03/18 12:25 AM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,737
GIG'EM AGGIES
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,737 |
Mr. Jaret Latta should be along shortly to help, he practically lives on the lake. I can tell you that it's fairly open on the south end but the farther north you go it gets pretty tight and there are no marked boat lanes. Really no need to go that far anyway plenty of fish on the south end. Best places I know to eat are in Jasper but I'm sure there are closer places. You'll fall in love with the lake, everyone does. Good luck.
I am a Senager. (Senior teenager) I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 50 years later. I get an allowance every month. I have PU truck and a bass boat, I am blessed. Conscience never acquits, it either accuses or excuses.
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814199
07/03/18 01:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559
Jarrett Latta
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559 |
Get the boat lanes chip or watch Ken Smith vids on running it. Lake is pretty wide open from caney to the dam and up to buck bay. No marked lanes. I'd be fishing deep...
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814202
07/03/18 01:08 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559
Jarrett Latta
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559 |
Best restaurants are close to Jasper but zavalla and broaddus have a couple decent places. Nothing special...but there's also a grocery store in zavalla if you wanna cook
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814210
07/03/18 01:14 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008
BigDozer66
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008 |
There are a couple really good places to eat in Zavalla and a couple in Huntington about 10 miles away. From Zavalla you will be at the 147 bridge and everything South of there is open as Jaret said. It is also the deep end of the lake where most everyone will be fishing this time of the year. We normally put in at Hank's Creek which is a little over halfway to Zavalla from Huntington.
2016 Ranger RT188 Charcoal Metallic Dual Console 2017 Yamaha 115 VMAX SHO (VF115LA) SS Prop Minn Kota Ultrex i-Pilot Link 45" 80 lb. Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BalZout Console Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BBT Bow Mount Trick Step
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: BigDozer66]
#12814261
07/03/18 01:40 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,284
Neches
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,284 |
There are a couple really good places to eat in Zavalla and a couple in Huntington about 10 miles away. From Zavalla you will be at the 147 bridge and everything South of there is open as Jaret said. Hmmm, no its not. You must be one of the guys I saw running through the Black Forest last time I was there.
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Neches]
#12814301
07/03/18 02:04 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008
BigDozer66
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008 |
There are a couple really good places to eat in Zavalla and a couple in Huntington about 10 miles away. From Zavalla you will be at the 147 bridge and everything South of there is open as Jaret said. Hmmm, no its not. You must be one of the guys I saw running through the Black Forest last time I was there. In the boat lanes yes. I don't run through the timber North of the bridge either but there are people that do it. It's all mapped and I'm not going to chase idiots down that do.
2016 Ranger RT188 Charcoal Metallic Dual Console 2017 Yamaha 115 VMAX SHO (VF115LA) SS Prop Minn Kota Ultrex i-Pilot Link 45" 80 lb. Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BalZout Console Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BBT Bow Mount Trick Step
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814311
07/03/18 02:15 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9,200
the skipper
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9,200 |
Follow Latta's advice. North of Caney there are a couple of forest so unless you have the boat lanes chip I wouldn't go there my first time. The fish are deep and really starting to slow down so plan on hitting a lot of areas. May find some hydrilla in places which could hold a few fish to flip on. If you see a pile while idling around stop and throw on it a few times. They usually hit pretty quick but on my 3rd or 4th cast I soak it in there pretty good. Nothing by the 9th or 10th cast I'm usually moving
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814345
07/03/18 02:34 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 364
Bryan O'
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 364 |
Actually it fished pretty well for me this weekend. Think deep ~ 16 to 24 feet. Find brush piles. Not hard any more, they're everywhere. Drag a worm or jig through them. REAL early there's a decent bite along the hay grass - small but they are fun. Will eat a Pop R. I suspect there is a good night bite, but I like to sleep too much.
You'll have a hard time finding a better hamburger than at Lakeview-Hotel-Store-Camp. It's just (west?) of the bridge on 147. As far as running around it's not that bad. Below the bridge stay on either the side lake till Caney or Veech. Above the bridge, same go to either side. Into Phophers or up towards Jackson Hill and you'll be fine. Beyond that you need to be careful. If in doubt, duck in behind someone. Good luck.
Bryan O' Total Recreation Products Inc. Commercial Park and Playground Products and Services totalrecreation.net Ranger Z521c 250ProXS V8
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814387
07/03/18 03:27 AM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,502
Flooringit
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,502 |
Watch for the speed trap going into Zavalla
2013 Phoenix 920xp
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814431
07/03/18 05:03 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 593
Outlaw Outdoors
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 593 |
You got some wild info here.
First off, Jaret is correct about running the lake. Draw a line from Caney to Veach and youre safe south of it all the way to the dam. There are two different forests between Caney and the 147 bridge. There are NO boat lanes through either forest. You need to know how to go around both of them to do it safely.
Theres only one restaurant in Zavalla now. Its decent. For a burger, like Bryan O said, its hard to beat the deli at Lakeview Motel and Store just on the Zavalla side of the 147 bridge. If you want to cross the bridge, the Dairy Mart is good in Broaddus.
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814549
07/03/18 12:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559
Jarrett Latta
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559 |
The lane is basically a straight line from Calhoun point to Harvey boat ramp. I've never seen the boatlanes chip but I'm guessing that's the path on there as well. Lake level is getting to where areas look open but lots of trees just under the surface in that area. Remember, as stated above, there are zero marked lanes anywhere on Rayburn
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Jarrett Latta]
#12814578
07/03/18 01:11 PM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 593
Outlaw Outdoors
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 593 |
The lane is basically a straight line from Calhoun point to Harvey boat ramp. I've never seen the boatlanes chip but I'm guessing that's the path on there as well. Lake level is getting to where areas look open but lots of trees just under the surface in that area. Remember, as stated above, there are zero marked lanes anywhere on Rayburn Yes, that is basically the lane, but I wouldn't suggest someone on their first trip to Rayburn try to run it. Play it safe and stay on the outside of the forests close to the bank. Better than that, stay at Caney or south. There is everything you would want to fish in Caney, Fire Tower, Coleman, Norris, Five Fingers and Farmers.
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814849
07/03/18 04:29 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 648
Do-Nothin
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 648 |
Thanks for all of the responses, I'm doing my best to piece all of this together to make sure we have a safe trip! Been looking over the navionics web app this morning and plan on getting my hands on a paper map ASAP. Again, thanks for the information, just looking to stay safe and get on some fish! If anyone thinks of anything else, we will take all we can get!
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Re: Rayburn - First timers
[Re: Do-Nothin]
#12814862
07/03/18 04:35 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 348
saibling
Angler
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Angler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 348 |
I'm fishing Saturday morning out of Monterrey, follow me to a couple holes and have at it. bite early is lights out. If your new to Rayburn with no starting point then its hit and miss.
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