Ray Roberts Update - Goodbye June

June is not one of my favorite times to fish Roberts. There is a time where it just shuts down for me like a switch. There always seems to be transition period where I can’t seem to find decent bite and this June was no different. I don’t spend much time fishing below Wolf Island so I can’t speak to the rest of the lake.

I bounced around offshore and never really found anything. However, it did give me a chance to get my 360 and LiveScope tuned in. I can sure find the gar, carp, and drum now. 😐

I did get on a fairly consistent jerkbait and 10# drum pattern. At least it breaks up the monotony…

Anyway, fishing seemed to start picking up last weekend. There is a lot of shad movement on the main lake and all the way in the back of some creeks. All types from little bitty fry to decent schools of threadfin and school of gizzard shad too.

There still aren’t a lot of bass around the shad but starting to see more starting to key on them. All the fish I am catching are very chunky and healthy. Not the typical anorexic looking fish you see this time of year.

I am bouncing from shallow to offshore. I’m doing better in the middle of the day on bites too.

For shallow fish run a squarebill or chatterbait along laydowns. If you see gizzard shad in the area, then I would go with the chatterbait. Otherwise, a 1.5 squarebill seems to work better. This is producing some chunky 2-3# fish which isn’t bad for this time of year.

For bigger bites I am having luck on long points or ridges. Hard bottom is better. I’m not seeing any schools setting up but fish are roaming as schools of shad come by and they take advantage. Keep an eye out as you may see fleeing gizzard shad which will let you know there are some good fish in the area. If I see feeding activity a chatterbait is what I will throw out first. Otherwise, my bites have been coming on a swinghead jig bouncing along the bottom like a crankbait. I’ve tried c-rig and deep cranks on these spots without success.

Still not getting a lot of bites. Saturday was steady with 12 fish and this kicker. However, I went back Sunday and only had one about 3# before I decided to call it quits early.

Nice fish!

Thanks Barn!

That's a goodun...great report out

Lake isn't even close to what it was pre covid. 7 days a week weekend pressure really screwed it up.

The 3 fish bags in the locals tournament Saturday were impressive, over 20 lbs to win on 3… I fished Sunday and couldn’t find a darn fish bigger than 2 lbs to save my life. 3ft deep catch a 2 lbr, 30 ft deep with a 12” worm.. catch a 2 lbr. Giant flutter spoon, you guessed it 2 lbr. Fewest number of fishermen I’ve seen on the lake since January, had free rein of anything I wanted… just couldn’t figure out where big momma was.

I went out Sunday as well and got into this same thing...

This time of year when it gets hot I fish bass early and then switch over and catch crappie during the heat of the day for the freezer. Same thing goes for the crappie, I have been catching them in the same parts of the same trees for many many years. This year post covid pressure I have had to find some very obscure places to catch them. I think we are going to need a good stocking to replenish what has been abused over the last couple of years. Beautiful fish Barn and thanks for the update, I have not been out in a few weeks with summer family and church stuff. I am ready to get back after them!

It's definitely changed things. I have to cover a lot of water to put together a decent day. I've been trying a lot of spots that I think get passed over which hasn't worked out much either. Just a change of scenery.


Sunday was odd. Seemed like a lot of the folks and the fish took the day off.

I was out on Sunday. Kind of started late, about 10:30am and fished til about 3:45. Only managed 1 bass and 1 crappie. Still trying to figure that lake out. Tried finding some different areas up the west arm. Glad I wasn't only one that struggled on Sunday. Thanks for the report and nice chunk

That one fish is worth going for. I sure miss night fishing RayBob. Have you tried that? Find the new moon and I’ll put you on some hawgs at night out there, but you gotta take me with ya. LOL!

Same winners fished Tues night. Only 4 out of 11 boats weighed in fish. 11 lbs won. 2nd place was 7+.

Might bite one day, and the next skunk city.

In short, the lake pretty much sucks for anything consistent.

But it looks pretty in the sticks.