This is Artificial Lure with your Sam Rayburn fishing report for Saturday, May 3, 2025.We woke up to classic springtime conditions in East Texas, with the sunrise cracking the horizon around 6:30 AM and sunset expected just before 8:00 PM. Weather is holding mild and comfortable, water temps right around 73 to 74 degrees, and the lake level sitting just above normal pool, so fishing patterns have been steady and consistent this past week. The water is stained but still plenty fishable, and we are seeing a typical post-cold front bite with bass and panfish making moves.Bass fishing has been good, but the shallow bite is still a little tough after recent weather fronts. Most of your better quality largemouth are coming from 8 to 14 feet of water, with ledges and humps off the main lake holding fish. The hot ticket is working a big worm on a Texas rig or Carolina rig around old timber. There’s not a lot of grass or pads popping up yet, so focus on that wood and submerged structure. Some anglers are picking up good fish on points with Carolina rigs or rattle traps as well. Numbers have been steady, with several anglers reporting limits, and a few 5 to 7 pounders weighed in over the last few days, mainly in the mid-lake section and at Five Fingers[1][3][5].Crappie are in a classic spawn pattern. They’re up shallow and also scattered in deeper water, but the prime depth is running 4 to 12 feet. Minnows under a cork around trees and brush piles are catching baskets of slabs, especially early and late when they’re up shallower. Reports from around Jackson Hill and the 147 bridge have been especially promising, with plenty of limits caught most mornings[1][3][4].Catfish are a solid bet right now, too. Blues and channels are roaming shallow to deep, following their spawn. Cut bait and minnows fished in the 4 to 12 foot range near trees or around creek channels are putting cats in the box. The bite is steady all day, but picks up as the sun warms the water[1][3].For lure selection, you can’t go wrong with big dark worms for bass, with green pumpkin and June bug the top colors. Carolina rigs and Texas rigs are both catching fish. Rattle traps in shad or craw patterns work for bass on windy points. Crappie anglers should stick to small minnows or jigs in chartreuse and white.Hot spots to hit today are Five Fingers for bass and the brush around Jackson Hill Marina for crappie. The 147 bridge area is also a favorite with both crappie and catfish.That wraps up the report from Sam Rayburn. Get out there, stay safe, and tight lines from Artificial Lure[1][2][3][5].