Sam Rayburn Reservoir Fishing
Ramps, live water level, TPWD species ratings, lake records and the limits that apply on 114,500 acres in Jasper County.
- 114,500acres
- 80 ftmax depth
- 20boat ramps
- 16.8 lbrecord bass
Photo: Ricraider, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas at a glance
Impounded in 1965, Sam Rayburn Reservoir spreads across 114,500 surface acres and reaches 80 feet at its deepest point. It sits in Jasper County in the Pineywoods part of Texas. It lies on the Angelina River; dam is located in Jasper County approximately 15 miles north of Jasper..
The fish to target, going by TPWD ratings: largemouth bass, catfish and crappie as excellent, with sunfish rated good.
The lake record largemouth weighed 16.8 pounds and was caught in 1997.
Water clarity is usually ranges from relatively clear in the lower lake to off-color in upper lake consumption advisory in effect; vegetation includes primarily hydrilla, american lotus and pondweed. a variety of other aquatic plants is also established; water level fluctuation is described as average 7 feet annually.
Controlling authority: US Army Corps of Engineers (409) 384-5716. Sam Rayburn Reservoir facts from the TPWD lake page, checked October 2026.
Water level at Sam Rayburn Reservoir today
Current Sam Rayburn Reservoir reading from TWDB. A minus sign means below full pool.
Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, reading dated 2026-10-08. Retrieved Oct 9, 2026 5:07 am ET. 30 day chart on TWDB.
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
What bites at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
How TPWD fisheries surveys rate Sam Rayburn Reservoir for each species.
Scale used for Sam Rayburn Reservoir: excellent 4, good 3, fair 2, poor 1.
Species you are most likely to catch: Largemouth bass, Crappie, Catfish, White bass.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir lake records
Record fish from Sam Rayburn Reservoir, heaviest first.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Length (in) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alligator gar | 283 | 72 | 2023-09-02 |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 81 | 44 | 2001-05-19 |
| Flathead catfish | 74.09 | 45 | 2010-04-18 |
| Bigmouth buffalo | 58.75 | 40.75 | 1994-01-29 |
| Blue catfish | 53 | 2006-03-06 | |
| Longnose gar | 46 | 66 | 2014-09-28 |
| Common carp | 27 | 36.5 | 2004-04-18 |
| Largemouth bass | 16.8 | 28.75 | 1997-05-31 |
| Bowfin | 13.65 | 32 | 2017-12-08 |
| Hybrid striped bass | 11.58 | 27.25 | 2005-04-06 |
| Channel catfish | 6.69 | 24.5 | 2001-05-26 |
| Freshwater drum | 6.67 | 23.75 | 2024-03-16 |
Sam Rayburn Reservoir records: TPWD water body records, list updated October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 2026.
Boat ramps and access on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
TPWD lists 21 access points on this lake, 20 with a boat ramp and 0 with a marina.
Marion's Ferry
Four lane ramp; no fee; parking. (409) 384-5716
Etoile Park
Four lane ramp; no fee; parking. (409) 384-5716
Ewing Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; parking, camping.
Shirley Creek Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, cleaning stations, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking. (936) 854-2233
McAllister Park
Four lane ramp; no fee; parking. (409) 384-5716
Townsend Park
Four lane ramp; no fee; parking. (936) 897-1068
Jackson Hill Park
Four lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (936) 872-9266
Ayish Bayou Ramp
One lane ramp; no fee; parking.
San Augustine Park
Four lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (409) 384-5716
Mill Creek Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, live bait, ADA Accessible, parking, courtesy docks. (409) 384-5716
Powell Park
2 lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, ADA Accessible, parking, weigh stations, boat gas. (409) 584-2624
Bayou Recreation Area
One lane ramp; no fee; parking, weigh stations, boat gas. (936) 897-1068
Rayburn Park
2 lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, camping. (409) 384-5716
Caney Creek Park
Two lane ramp; fee charged; restrooms, parking, camping. (936) 897-1068
Sandy Creek Park
Two lane ramp; no fee; parking. (936) 897-1068
Overlook Park
No fee; restrooms, parking, picnic areas. (409) 384-5716
26 mapped points from the TPWD access layer; ramp notes from the Sam Rayburn Reservoir page at TPWD, checked October 2026.
Limits that differ from statewide rules at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
These exceptions replace the statewide limit for the listed species on this lake only.
| Species | Rule at Sam Rayburn Reservoir |
|---|---|
| Catfish | For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag and possession limit = 50 in any combination, of which no more than 5 may be 30 inches or greater in length. |
Limits for Sam Rayburn Reservoir from the TPWD Outdoor Annual, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027), checked October 2026.
Fish stocked in Sam Rayburn Reservoir
| Year | Species | Number | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lone star bass | 872,159 | Fingerling |
| 2025 | Lone star bass | 846,269 | Fingerling |
| 2025 | Sharelunker largemouth bass | 13,854 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Lone star bass | 572,447 | Fingerling |
| 2024 | Lone star bass | 81,235 | Fry |
| 2024 | Sharelunker largemouth bass | 20,797 | Fingerling |
Sam Rayburn Reservoir stocking: TPWD stocking by water body, retrieved October 2026.
Tournaments on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Tournament dates for Sam Rayburn Reservoir from each organizer, retrieved October 2026.
Shops and guides near Sam Rayburn Reservoir
- Need More Tackle StoreBrookeland, 2 miles east of the lake, (409) 698-9430
- Ann's Tackle ShopJasper, 9 miles southeast of the lake, (409) 384-7685
- Bass Strike TackleZavalla, 20 miles west of the lake, (936) 897-2436
- Six Mile MarinasHemphill, 23 miles northeast of the lake, (409) 579-9898
- Anderson Bait DistributorsHemphill, 23 miles northeast of the lake, (409) 201-2158
- Shirley Creek MarinaEtoile, 24 miles northwest of the lake, (936) 854-2233
- Harborlight Marina and Resort, 30 miles northeast of the lake
- Scott Soisson – Lake Sam Rayburn Fishing GuideFreshwater guide, (409) 383-2044
Shop and guide sources for Sam Rayburn Reservoir: OpenStreetMap, store locators and guide websites (October 2026).
Lakes and towns near Sam Rayburn Reservoir
B.A. Steinhagen Lake
19 miles south, 10,687 acres
Toledo Bend Reservoir
32 miles east, 181,600 acres
Kurth Reservoir
44 miles northwest, 726 acres
Lake Pinkston
47 miles north, 523 acres
- BrookelandSabine County, 8 miles northeast
- JasperJasper County, 11 miles southeast
- PinelandSabine County, 14 miles northeast
- HemphillSabine County, 24 miles northeast
- Jasper CountyFishing access across the county
Questions about fishing Sam Rayburn Reservoir
How big is Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
Sam Rayburn Reservoir covers 114,500 surface acres and is 80 feet deep at its deepest point, according to TPWD.
When was Sam Rayburn Reservoir built?
The reservoir was impounded in 1965 on Angelina River.
What is the Sam Rayburn Reservoir record largemouth bass?
The lake record largemouth bass weighed 16.8 pounds and measured 28.75 inches, caught 1997-05-31, per TPWD water body records.
What other lake records does Sam Rayburn Reservoir hold?
Alligator gar 283 lb; Smallmouth buffalo 81 lb; Flathead catfish 74.09 lb.
What fish are best at Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
TPWD rates largemouth bass excellent; catfish excellent; crappie excellent; white bass fair; sunfish good.
How many boat ramps are on Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
TPWD lists 20 boat ramps on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and 8 of them charge no fee.
How do I check the water level at Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
The Sam Rayburn Reservoir level box on this page refreshes hourly from TWDB and shows the gap to full pool.
Does Sam Rayburn Reservoir have special fishing regulations?
Yes. TPWD sets lake specific limits here for Catfish. See the limits table on this page for the 2026-27 rules.
Is Sam Rayburn Reservoir stocked?
Yes. TPWD stocked 872,159 fingerling lone star bass in 2026, and 6 stocking events are on record since 2024.
Are there fishing tournaments on Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
Upcoming: 2027 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Battery Tender on 2027-01-14, run by B.A.S.S..
What town is closest to Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
Brookeland is 8 miles northeast of the lake center, in Sabine County.
Where can I buy bait near Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
Need More Tackle Store in Brookeland is about 2 miles from Sam Rayburn Reservoir, one of 7 shops listed above.
Heading to Sam Rayburn Reservoir?
Every Texas lake on this site has the same ramp, record and limit details.