Please help to interpret the graphs. I have come across these graphs quite often. But when I stopped and slabbed them, there is no bites at all.

Please advise which of the following is definitely worth a try. I am trying to target the white bass. Thanks.

They could be but too hard to tell for sure.

Sure looks like to me.

Small school on S/I lower rt. corner.

This time of year , could be several different species . A lot times the sand bass are so small , a slab is too big to bite or they simply mouth the bait, hold for cple seconds and release . My suggestion is tie on small crappie jig or jigs in tandem place split shot above the jig about 14 inches , repeat your efforts . Speed up slow down, pull at an angle, reel from the bottom and so on!

Thank you everyone. I'm new to boat fishing and have been exploring lake Somerville with humps and drop-offs, observing great activity on graphs. However, neither myself nor other boats (maybe it's just me) seemed to have much luck. The sonar graphs are impressive and close to what I've seen on YouTube, especially the sizable fish captured on side imaging, which I thought were Hybrids. But as gborg mentioned, perhaps the slabs are too large for them.

I also tried trolling with a hellbender and kastermaster spoon, managing to catch a few fish around the humps. My issue with the Hellbender is its excessive drag. When using the Hellbender for trolling and placing the rod in the holder, I struggle to detect bites. Many times I can tell there is a fish on only from livescope, not from the rod tip. Therefore, I find it more effective to hold the rod while trolling to feel for any activity. I noticed other boats trolling with multiple rods (4 or 5) behind them. How do they manage trolling with multiple rods?

I am going to say that from what I typically see on side image with the HB, that does not look like a school of fish. It looks like some kind of small structure on the bottom. I have seen so many things that will make you scratch your head, but you never know. Only way to be sure IMO, is I would waypoint the side image location and swing back around and see if it is still there. I have some pretty cool side image screenshots on the Helix, I should post them for entertainment purposes. Keep doing what your doing, and your will learn allot.

Prosise

Tava
I have nearly 40 years experience fishing Somerville, I use Humminbird electronics, and I
do not see any concentration of whitebass in your pictures.
Right now most of the whitebass are up in Yegua creek above the lake (number 1 reason)
Last report I got from friends is water temp is still below 65 degrees,(I haven't been out myself)
fish will be much more active as water temp rises above 65 degrees(number 2 reason)
Your trolling deep with a hellbender rig, most whites are not deep right now (number 3 reason)
Fish are still cold and a little sluggish with cooler temps, they will usually not chase down a fast
moving artificial bait. (number4 reason)
The suggestion of downsizing lures and working them slowly(in posts above)
is a very good idea if you are fishing now.
The whitebass will be scattered after spawning, and it will take a little while for them to gather into
big schools once they return to main lake. I'll see if I can find some old snapshots of what you should
be looking for on your sidescan screen.

first pic right side is whites, lots of them
second picture, you can see um

Mike,

I truly appreciate your thorough explanation. My main issue is not knowing whether it's my method of catching or my method of locating the fish that's off. Fishing forum and YouTube are the main sources of my learning. Your summary of the current white bass situation at Somerville is excellent. I am grateful for your insights and will continue to persevere. I now realize that while my approach should be effective, the timing may not be right just yet. I'll persist in working the lake and gaining more experience.

Just an update, the lake temperature last Sunday was around 65 degrees, reaching even 70 degrees at the north of Welch Park. Seeing people on Facebook showcasing their catches of 20+ fish by trolling has me questioning my fishing methods.

Many thanks.

I fish somerville as well.
Your down and sidescan images show fish but what type??
I too have seen these scattered fish and they don't bite. When water temp is
in the 70's you can troll thru them. Carp ? Hybrids?
But as the great sidescan images above show - THESE ARE SCHOOLS of WB.
Look for the gangs for both hybrids and whitebass. Not the individual fish. Possible carp.
Get you some 3 way swivels and 15ft and 20ft deep diving baits. Get name brand ones so don't spin.
Tie to swivel with 12" leader. Remove the hooks to make it easier but you can keep on.
Tie #13 pet spoon to a 6ft leader on swivel. This works great and not fighting the diver.
You can also tie the #13 right to the front hook hole and use a 12" leader.
Wait till water temps are in 70's to troll as will be much better.[u][/u]

Thanks. I did test many divers on last Weekends in rain. The swivel with crank bait was one of them.
I tried hellbender, mann's 20ft+, manns loud mouth. They all dive similar to the same depth.
The problem is I have to hold them in hand to feel the bite. I can not put them in rod holders to watch for the bite. I can't tell from the rod tips.
The bite was not good on lake and I caught most 8-11 in white bass. I will wait for another couple of weeks.

What are the specs on your trolling rods (length, action, power)? My trolling experience is very little, but I would think you want a rod with good backbone, but a fast action (sensitive tip) so that you can watch for the bite.

Nice thread I learned from it Thank you to all that posted.

Curious - Are these bait or fish on graph? Elite Ti 9” with Total Scan TD on transom. Lake Somerville fishing for white bass, Friday, March 22, 2024 ~9am-2pm.

They could be white bass but first thing I would suggest is turn the fish symbols off on your unit and do some fine tuning on that 2D sonar.You have a little too much going on. Also you should configure a combo screen featuring 2D w/ Down imaging to confirm what you are seeing on that 2D. I`m not sure what the weather has been in your area but I know for a FACT that after heavy rains most lakes will have a lot of trash due to run offs that will cause our units to give false 2D readings!Therefore it requires an adjustment of the unit especially if the Fish symbols are on on the 2D. In the deeper water, with down imaging combined w/2D ,you will be able to see if what you are seeing on 2D is fish or shad with Larger predators mixed in. Shad ,on DI, will appear as a cloud while the larger fish mixed in will appear as a single speck or specks.Having said all that IMHO it looks like the aftermath of a game fish attack on what once was a huge shad ball. They have ripped it to pieces. Maybe someone else will comment I`d like to hear it.

Heavy rain & storms Wednesday night & Thursday day plus more storms Thursday night. Storms cleared out by ~3am Friday. I fished Lake Somerville Friday, March 22, ~8am-3pm.