Rayburn Sizzles with Big Bass, Schooling Whites, and Stormy Skies - July 7, 2025 Fishing Report Podcast By cover art

Rayburn Sizzles with Big Bass, Schooling Whites, and Stormy Skies - July 7, 2025 Fishing Report

Rayburn Sizzles with Big Bass, Schooling Whites, and Stormy Skies - July 7, 2025 Fishing Report

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 Evening, anglers—Artificial Lure here with your Lake Sam Rayburn fishing report for July 7, 2025.

Summer heat’s settled in on Big Sam, but don’t let it fool you—the lake’s delivering strong, classic East Texas action. Today’s sunrise hit at 6:18 AM, and sunset’s tucking in at 8:26 PM. We’re in that thick, muggy July pattern: air temps in the upper 80s by midday, topping 94, with a scattered breeze and mostly sunny skies. Water temps are running between 83 and 86 degrees. Afternoon pop-up storms are possible, so watch the radar if you’re pushing into the evening.

Lake levels are steady, just above pool—water holds that familiar Rayburn stain. We’re not dealing with actual tidal swings here, but late afternoon wind has been stacking up waves and bait along windblown main lake points and pockets. Early mornings brought calm, glassy conditions—ideal for the topwater bite.

Bass fishing is hot, and local chatter says the Florida-strain largemouth genetics have the fish strong and healthy. This weekend’s tournament reports point to big stringers—catch rates are excellent, with several sacks over 25 pounds weighed. Brody Campbell’s winning bags from the latest Toyota Series featured upper-20s each day, with more than a handful of 6- to 8-pounders reported. Big fish are coming from offshore structure—humps, ledges, and brush piles in 15 to 25 feet.

Best lures? Offshore, anglers are scoring with 5-inch Z-Man Jerk ShadZ in smelt, Deps Sakamata Shad minnows on 3/8-ounce heads, and drop shots with 6-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worms in natural colors. If you’re hunting that kicker, a Strike King 6XD crankbait in sexy shad or citrus shad, or umbrella rigs with 3.25-inch Rage Swimmers in Carolina chrome, are pulling up some bruisers. For shallower fish, green pumpkin ChatterBait Jack Hammers and custom swim jigs with bluegill trailers have been heating up, especially around hydrilla and buck brush edges—these have been highlighted heavily in recent tournament recaps and by locals casting at first light.

Early and late, don’t overlook topwaters—walking baits and buzzbaits over submerged grass are drawing ferocious blow-ups. If you’re going old-school or fishing with kids, live shiners and big nightcrawlers pitched to sloping points and dock edges will still put bass (and the odd big crappie or catfish) in the box.

Other species: White bass are schooling hard on main lake flats at sunrise—chrome spoons and small swimbaits are effective. Catfish are steady on cut bait and punch bait off deeper points, especially after dark.

Hot spots? Try the Black Forest for offshore bass and schooling white bass early. Veach Basin’s mid-lake humps are holding big girls in the timber. Mill Creek is a surefire spot for action along grass lines, and Five Fingers is turning out a mixed bag.

Remember to hydrate, pack the sunscreen, and keep an eye on the sky for those rolling thunderstorms. Big Sam’s bass are biting—get after ’em.

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