Fishing Tournaments

With Lake Sam Rayburn’s reputation as “one of the premier largemouth bass fisheries in the South,” it’s easy to see why Rayburn Resort is a popular destination for professional and amateur fishing tournaments.

Largemouth Bass is king on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. This lake frequently ranks in the top ten national bass fishing lakes. Catfish, crappie, and white bass are also angler’s pursuits. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) deems this a great lake for youth and inexperienced anglers to learn how to fish. The John D. Parker East Texas State Fish Hatchery located in Brookeland, Texas, on the southeastern edge of the reservoir produces five million fingerlings a year for not only Sam Rayburn Reservoir, but for stocking all of Texas public waters.

The financing for this fish hatchery comes from anglers who buy a freshwater stamp when they buy their fishing license. It is a 43.3-million-dollar project. The hatchery produces largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, and forage fishes. John D. Parker of Lufkin, Texas, commissioner of TPWD from 2003-2009, secured funding for the 200-acre site. The hatchery offers tours which are extremely educational. It produces Florida largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, and sunfish. Jasper County, Texas, donated the site for the hatchery, and as of 2008, it had 64 production ponds.

Fishing tournaments are held year-round at Sam Rayburn Reservoir with some interesting names like Whack “Em Outdoors and The Average Joe. The TPWD reports that white bass numbers are limited, but catching opportunities are good in the springtime. Bluegill and redear sunfish are plentiful. Largemouth bass are the predominant species.

We offer packages that include:

• Registration Areas
• Weigh-In Areas
• Room Accommodations
• Prizes & Gifts
• Merchandise for Your Event
• Food & Beverage Packages

Contact our Event & Activity Coordinator at (409) 698-1009 to learn more.