A DFW guy's take on Rayburn and Toledo Bend

Living in the DFW area and having a place on Fork I am surrounded by plenty of lakes. Some better than others. Long story short my old partner moved to the Houston area. We decided to fish Champs East this year so we could team up again. Granted I had fished both lakes a few times in my life but all I can say is this year between practicing and actually fishing the events its been nothing but a damn good time.

From the people and the businesses around both lakes to the fact that every single trip the lakes have fished VERY well no matter the conditions. Spent the last 2 days at Rayburn and as I said to some others I bet two guys in a boat could easily catch over 100 fish a day right now. The bite was a blast. Lots of ways to catch them and scary to think how many are moving up as I type this. Found water up to 67-68 late yesterday. Caught so many both days I literally stopped counting. I did not stop and beat an area up really either so I was not out there trying to win practice.....


If anyone is on the fence about giving either lake a try or a trail out that way a try I HIGHLY urge it. Its been fun and I am very glad we decided to do it. Out of 8 days or so on the water on both lakes it seems the bite has been pretty good to crazy good even early back in the year.
Be a fun time to take a kid out there right now and let them catch a ton. The fishing has made the short drive well worth it. It was so good I only fished a power plant lake once back in December.

I love both lakes but I have to admit Toledo is my favorite. Its kind of hallowed ground to me.

I just spent 3 days at Rayburn a week ago and i agree. It is an incredible fishery. The people around the lake that i met were all very nice.

I wish I fished back when I was a kid and lived in DFW. There are some good lakes up that way!

I think you summed it up. Between 3 days practice and 2 days tournament I caught more fish than I did all last year around DFW/Fork. However, I still feel like better chance to get a big one at Fork. I only got a few bites at Fork this week, but caught a bigger one than I did out of all the ones on Rayburn.

I really like the people and places there too. Boykin/Umphrey ramps, The Stump, and Bassbuster/Country Club.

I hope to retire down there someday.

Would love to have a place right between the 2.

That's exactly what we are looking for. Maybe Hemphill area.

I am doing just that. Last May I bought 1.9 acres on the water just off Jesse Low Bay (between Indian Mounds and Mill Creek about 8 miles East of Hemphill. I have deep water cove off of the North side and a shallower cove off the south side. I will start building on it in June. Cannot wait to call it home full time. For now it will be my Lake house. I have a place on the La. side out of Big Bass area I inherited from my mother I will keep, but may rent out on the weekend after the lake house is complete.

I have fished T-bend ever since the lake filled. The trees in middle of the lake still had green leaves on them the first time I went to the lake with my dad.

OH Baby;
Big Sam on March 12 just in time for 300 Bass Champ boats.
Friday night winds to 15mph & Saturday winds to 25mph.
Luckily coming out of the South.
Going will be easy,,,,,coming back will be an adventure.

Gotta love an optimist.

No matter what come March 12 we will be fishing and giving it our best shot. It will be fun regardless of ghow it plays out. Beats sitting home to me.

I miss east Texas and really enjoyed fishing those lakes the last couple months. I would move back if momma would let me.

You just wanna be referred to as a "local"!!

Probably one of the "Beatles" ready for the "Yellow Submarine!"

Mark Perry, does your wife know you are fixing to move again? lol,

I'm going to Tiger with my Yellow Beetle Spin.
"very optimistic"

Thats too far away from kids and grandkids. Best I can hope for is a weekend place.

I guide for a lawfirm exclusively out at Rayburn and Tbend since the oilfield is so slow and I can tell you I hate coming home to fish a few local lakes expect pines due to being spoiled from these lakes. I would move down there in a heart beat if I could.

After living here on Toledo Bend since 1994 full time, I'm still in love with Da Bend. I retired at 56 years old and am 80 now and still fish at least 5 days a week. I leave the weekends for the poor working stiffs.It is a much slower life here and that is the way I like it. I do still like to fish Big Sam every once in a while but don't like not having any stumps ! I too fished both lakes when the trees were green after they first filled up. I think the fishing is even better today.

Come On Down !

Mark, did you get rid of the Ranger?

Got that right! Were gonna wack em!

Nope. Still got it. Best boat I have ever owned. Still looks and runs great.

That's what I thought. Just heard from someone at Fork that claimed to know you,that you sold it and got a bullet.

I sold a Skeeter and bought a Bullet back in 2008 or so for about 6 months. Sold it and went back to a Skeeter. Loved the boat other than the way the wind blew it around when on TM so I went back to what I know.

I hope so Mike. Hope you found the bigguns today.

There is nothing in North east Texas that even comes close to either one.

Pines will hang any day of the week Slim.

30plus fish a day has been usual on a trip. Depending on the anglers and fish targeted. The 5+ pound fish have been seperste from the 2-4# fish for myself. Rickie had 2 fish caught over 7# this last Saturday in the boat. I have the 13th and 19th open. Rickie has a few days open as well. PM me for more details. I'll be running a few half day specials these next few weeks. Give Rickie Y'Barbo or myself a shout. 936 404 9456 or 936 676 6408.

I feel very lucky to live here on Rayburn. I fish 2-3 days a week on average and go over to TB a few times a year. Need to start fishing on TB more but when I have about 2 min drive to the ramp it is tough to drive over to TB.

Enjoy it while it's good. As long as they leave the water in the lake it will stay good. But I'm here to tell you, as warm as this spring has been this summer might be brutal. Rayburn can be a desert when it's really hot even if you know where to look. I always feel like I can catch them on toledo but I'm sure it gets tough also. All that said, when rayburn is on like it is now I can't think of a better place. You can catch them any way you desire and any one could be a monster.

I bet today was a 75+ fish day if yall had a trip. I've heard of several guys catching em good.