Overview
Lake Sam Rayburn is a roughly 114,500-acre reservoir on the Angelina River in Jasper, Angelina, Sabine, Nacogdoches, and San Augustine counties in deep East Texas. Formerly McGee Bend Reservoir, the dam was completed in 1965 and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District for flood risk management, hydroelectric power, water supply, and recreation.
At conservation pool the lake has about 750 miles of shoreline, an average depth near 20 feet, and a maximum depth of about 90 feet. Piney woods, national forest shoreline, flooded timber, creek arms, and broad open water create one of the largest and most structured bass fisheries in Texas.
Sam Rayburn is nationally known for largemouth bass tournaments and also produces crappie, catfish, and white bass, with fisheries managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Corps parks, marinas, and public ramps around the Angelina National Forest shoreline support heavy year-round use.
Water levels are managed by the Corps around a conservation pool of 164.4 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with flood control storage to 173 feet. Immediately downstream on the Neches, B.A. Steinhagen Lake reregulates Rayburn releases, so monitoring Sam Rayburn levels is important for boating, fishing, and dock access throughout the year.
Current Conditions
Lake Sam Rayburn is currently 8.09 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.34 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.84 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Sam Rayburn is a 114,500-acre reservoir on the Angelina River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District.