Pro Circuit on Rayburn

[Quillback]

30 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I never realized how many guys competed in these tournaments.  I always just assumed it was 30-50 boats.  Some have 250 boats right??   That's crazy!!

The very top level like the BPT or BASS Elite, have 80 to 100 boats, it's the next levels down or the amateur Big Bass tourneys that really put the boats on the water.  

[fshndoug]

If you took a boat out in the middle of Rayburn at the dam area and headed north  west you could run about 50 miles on a compass heading and never turn your steering wheel.It is about 4 miles wide at the dam.

 

[Bill Babler]

They also said that it is 3' low and that's at least 14,000 acres gone and probably another 20,000 acres you could not get to, so at this lake level, its not fishing as big as usual. 

[Quillback]

Thought it looked low, several feet of bare gravel on the banks.

Looks to be 4 or 5 guys in the 18-19 range which is good, but not that great for Rayburn.

Michael Neal is one of the guys in the top 5, has 18 lbs.  He had a good year last year, might still be on a roll.  I don't know if you can be more laid back than him.

[Maverickpro201]

Love Sam Rayburn. It can fish really good one day and the next not so good. 

Biggest Big Bass Tournament on there is in April. That would be Bob Sealy's Big Bass Splash. 3 days, 8 hourly payouts, sometimes 1000 to 2000 boats. Huge lake.    

[Quillback]

Day 2 cancelled, due to wind and waves.  NW wind at 30 MPH.  

[Bill Babler]

Mike is right in there. You can't win it on the first day but you can lose it. He is just 7 pounds out of the lead and that is a half of a bite down there. 

Friggin Michael Neal can catch them from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Just does not matter to him, he knows where they live. I really like the guy and root for him every time out. 

Olliverson struggled. He does that for some reason at least one day in these big derbys and then catches a bag.  He is a very good stick and does well, just needs to not have a bad day. 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, Quillback said:

Day 2 cancelled, due to wind and waves.  NW wind at 30 MPH.  

Snow and cold here, tourney cancelled.....  I guess I'll go to Basspro and blow some money.  

[Bill Babler]

Just talked to Mike, he had a good practice, unlike some if the other guys. Had a 6 pounder one day and a 7 pounder the next. 

I did not ask what baits he threw yesterday, but he said he had 12 to 15 keepers. 

You can do what ever down there, but it will come to a big bite. 8-9-10-12 pounder. If your hanging around you have to remember one single cast in that pond is life changing. 

I think its going to be hard to put a limit of 5 pounders in the boat (probably wrong) but it will be possible to catch one of those hog mama's as a kicker to go with 4 OK to decent fish. 

Going to be interesting. Day after a big wind can be hard and 2 days after a windy front can be a bear. It is going to warm up down there, starting tomorrow. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Jim Monagh had a 10 plus in practice.