Sam Rayburn fishing

Sam Rayburn fishing is stocked with Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and 6 more on a reservoir. It is stocked about 1.7 times a year since 1965. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass and Striped Bass, dawn, dusk, and night for Crappie and Walleye, and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.

Sam Rayburn
Photo: USACE, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)
Last stocked
2026
Lone Star Bass
Plants on record
104
Since 1965
Species recorded
12
Elevation
159.1 ft

Fish at Sam Rayburn

12 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Largemouth Bass Stocked · 53 plants · last 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked 2025 · 53 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Largemouth Bass species guide
Palmetto Bass Stocked · 19 plants · last 2000

Last stocked 2000 · 19 plants

Lone Star Bass Stocked · 7 plants · last 2026

Last stocked 2026 · 7 plants

Striped Bass Stocked · 5 plants · last 1983 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked 1983 · 5 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Striped Bass species guide
Walleye Stocked · 4 plants · last 1976 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked 1976 · 4 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 3 plants · last 1973 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked 1973 · 3 plants

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide
Warmouth Stocked · 2 plants · last 1966

Last stocked 1966 · 2 plants

Crappie Stocked · 1 plant · last 1965 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked 1965 · 1 plant

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Crappie species guide
Longear Sunfish Stocked · 1 plant · last 1965

Last stocked 1965 · 1 plant

How Sam Rayburn is stocked

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

No plants recorded in 7 years between 1965 and 2026.

Fish stocked in 1965

491,000

Fish stocked in 1966

285,000

Fish stocked in 1967

530,000

Fish stocked in 1973

536,000

Fish stocked in 1974

349,400

Fish stocked in 1975

403,376

Fish stocked in 1976

395,108

Fish stocked in 1977

903,161

Fish stocked in 1978

394,800

Fish stocked in 1979

786,890

Fish stocked in 1980

361,840

Fish stocked in 1981

447,528

Fish stocked in 1982

1,000,000

Fish stocked in 1983

1,038,900

Fish stocked in 1985

1,000,000

Fish stocked in 1987

1,949,530

Fish stocked in 1988

1,100,021

Fish stocked in 1989

1,409,784

Fish stocked in 1990

4,581

Fish stocked in 1991

1,128,424

Fish stocked in 1992

1,391,545

Fish stocked in 1993

1,140,000

Fish stocked in 1994

2,117,326

Fish stocked in 1995

2,692,706

Fish stocked in 1996

1,340,068

Fish stocked in 1997

504,306

Fish stocked in 1998

803,857

Fish stocked in 1999

1,619,134

Fish stocked in 2000

801,725

Fish stocked in 2001

774,190

Fish stocked in 2002

1,066,823

Fish stocked in 2003

1,324,326

Fish stocked in 2004

523,648

Fish stocked in 2005

1,026,943

Fish stocked in 2006

499,858

Fish stocked in 2007

500,033

Fish stocked in 2008

503,986

Fish stocked in 2009

1,662,277

Fish stocked in 2010

500,100

Fish stocked in 2011

952,285

Fish stocked in 2012

1,466,043

Fish stocked in 2013

522,120

Fish stocked in 2014

596,581

Fish stocked in 2015

501,113

Fish stocked in 2016

502,125

Fish stocked in 2017

585,163

Fish stocked in 2018

775,862

Fish stocked in 2019

865,282

Fish stocked in 2020

519,615

Fish stocked in 2021

329,360

Fish stocked in 2022

550,917

Fish stocked in 2023

588,193

Fish stocked in 2024

674,479

Fish stocked in 2025

860,123

Fish stocked in 2026

872,159

Stocking history

Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
2026Lone Star Bass872,159–report
2025Lone Star Bass846,269–report
2025Largemouth Bass13,854–report
2024Lone Star Bass81,235–report
2024Lone Star Bass572,447–report
2024Largemouth Bass20,797–report
2023Lone Star Bass57,160–report
2023Lone Star Bass531,033–report
2022Lone Star Bass532,946–report
2022Largemouth Bass17,971–report
2021Largemouth Bass21,030–report
2021Largemouth Bass308,330–report
2020Largemouth Bass519,615–report
2019Largemouth Bass865,278–report
2019Blue Catfish4–report
2018Largemouth Bass7,843–report
2018Largemouth Bass7,920–report
2018Largemouth Bass760,099–report
2017Largemouth Bass585,163–report
2016Largemouth Bass502,125–report
2015Largemouth Bass501,113–report
2014Largemouth Bass96,250–report
2014Largemouth Bass500,331–report
2013Largemouth Bass522,120–report
2012Largemouth Bass1,466,043–report
2011Largemouth Bass952,285–report
2010Largemouth Bass500,100–report
2009Largemouth Bass377,936–report
2009Largemouth Bass1,284,341–report
2008Largemouth Bass2,604–report
2008Largemouth Bass501,382–report
2007Largemouth Bass500,033–report
2006Largemouth Bass499,858–report
2005Largemouth Bass1,026,943–report
2004Largemouth Bass523,648–report
2003Largemouth Bass291,008–report
2003Largemouth Bass1,033,318–report
2002Largemouth Bass1,066,781–report
2002Largemouth Bass42–report
2001Largemouth Bass273,407–report
2001Largemouth Bass500,783–report
2000Largemouth Bass510,735–report
2000Palmetto Bass290,990–report
1999Largemouth Bass1,329,160–report
1999Palmetto Bass289,974–report
1998Largemouth Bass229,200–report
1998Palmetto Bass574,657–report
1997Largemouth Bass317,729–report
1997Palmetto Bass186,577–report
1996Largemouth Bass276,051–report
1996Largemouth Bass948,017–report
1996Palmetto Bass116,000–report
1995Largemouth Bass232,392–report
1995Palmetto Bass1,469,882–report
1995Palmetto Bass943,903–report
1995Paddlefish46,529–report
1994Largemouth Bass782,966–report
1994Largemouth Bass159,360–report
1994Palmetto Bass1,175,000–report
1993Palmetto Bass1,140,000–report
1992Palmetto Bass1,347,961–report
1992Paddlefish43,584–report
1991Palmetto Bass1,111,683–report
1991Paddlefish16,741–report
1990Largemouth Bass1,000–report
1990Paddlefish3,581–report
1989Palmetto Bass1,130,036–report
1989Palmetto Bass279,748–report
1988Largemouth Bass21–report
1988Palmetto Bass1,100,000–report
1987Largemouth Bass249,660–report
1987Palmetto Bass1,500,000–report
1987Blue Catfish199,870–report
1985Palmetto Bass1,000,000–report
1983Largemouth Bass38,900–report
1983Striped Bass1,000,000–report
1982Palmetto Bass1,000,000–report
1981Palmetto Bass447,528–report
1980Largemouth Bass361,840–report
1979Palmetto Bass571,400–report
1979Striped Bass215,490–report
1978Largemouth Bass212,000–report
1978Striped Bass182,800–report
1977Largemouth Bass60,000–report
1977Striped Bass843,161–report
1976Walleye220,000–report
1976Largemouth Bass60,000–report
1976Striped Bass115,108–report
1975Walleye378,376–report
1975Largemouth Bass25,000–report
1974Walleye349,400–report
1973Walleye426,000–report
1973Channel Catfish110,000–report
1967Redear Sunfish530,000–report
1966Largemouth Bass97,000–report
1966Redear Sunfish1,400–report
1966Warmouth800–report
1966Channel Catfish41,100–report
1966Channel Catfish39,600–report
1966Blue Catfish105,100–report
1965Crappie7,000–report
1965Largemouth Bass364,000–report
1965Longear Sunfish40,000–report
1965Warmouth80,000–report

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Jasper, TX
Facilities
camping, dock, cleaning station

The largest lake wholly within Texas, fed by the Angelina River north of Jasper. Twenty-two maintained access areas ring the reservoir, each with a boat ramp; 13 are Corps of Engineers parks, the rest run by the US Forest Service, TPWD, or county. Corps ramps and campgrounds no longer take cash.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before you go.

About Sam Rayburn

Photo of Sam Rayburn
USACE, via Recreation.gov, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)
Photo of Sam Rayburn
Ricraider, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest lakes

Bouton 11.8 mi last stocked 2019 South Weeks 18.5 mi last stocked 2026 B. A. Steinhagen 20.2 mi last stocked 2024 Javalina Draw 26.4 mi last stocked 2025 San Augustine City 27.4 mi last stocked 2006

Camping near Sam Rayburn

Campgrounds within 15 miles of Sam Rayburn's mapped point, nearest first: Rayburn camping (2.3 miles), Ebenezer Park camping (3.1 miles), Twin Dikes camping (5.8 miles), San Augustine camping (7.2 miles), and Boykin Springs Pavilion camping (8.4 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.

Straight-line distances.

Common questions

What fish are at Sam Rayburn?

Fishing Sam Rayburn usually means Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass accounts for 53 of 104 plants on record, ahead of Palmetto Bass and 10 more. Largemouth Bass was last stocked 2025. Palmetto Bass was last stocked 2000. Lone Star Bass was last stocked 2026. Striped Bass was last stocked 1983. 8 more species are on the stocking report.

When is Sam Rayburn stocked?

Last stocked 2026. It is stocked about 1.7 times a year since 1965. No plants recorded in 7 years between 1965 and 2026.

How do you get on Sam Rayburn?

The nearest town is Jasper, TX. Facilities include camping, dock, and cleaning station. The largest lake wholly within Texas, fed by the Angelina River north of Jasper. Twenty-two maintained access areas ring the reservoir, each with a boat ramp; 13 are Corps of Engineers parks, the rest run by the US Forest Service, TPWD, or county. Corps ramps and campgrounds no longer take cash.

Sources (5) +