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Are these white bass?
#15017330
03/15/24 02:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4
tava
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4 |
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15017360
03/15/24 04:35 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,638
Dennis Christian
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,638 |
They could be but too hard to tell for sure.
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15017384
03/15/24 10:19 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 25,921
T Bird
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 25,921 |
Sure looks like to me. Small school on S/I lower rt. corner.
Okie by birth, Texan by choice. USAF "Thunderbirds" Alumni 1985-1989
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15017547
03/15/24 02:41 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,621
gborg
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,621 |
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!
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15017576
03/15/24 03:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4
tava
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4 |
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?
Last edited by tava; 03/15/24 03:13 PM.
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15017594
03/15/24 03:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,458
prosise
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,458 |
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
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15018605
03/16/24 06:44 PM
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 931
ML56
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 931 |
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.
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15018621
03/16/24 07:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 931
ML56
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 931 |
first pic right side is whites, lots of them second picture, you can see um
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: ML56]
#15018932
03/17/24 01:37 AM
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4
tava
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4 |
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.
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15020237
03/18/24 04:02 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 44
Gofish2day2
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 44 |
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]
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: Gofish2day2]
#15020810
03/19/24 02:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4
tava
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 4 |
I fish somerville as well. .[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.
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15020813
03/19/24 02:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 69
JakeMcD
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 69 |
I fish somerville as well. .[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.
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15020860
03/19/24 04:47 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 168
Robby E
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 168 |
Nice thread I learned from it Thank you to all that posted.
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15025959
03/24/24 05:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 115
JILAS
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 115 |
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Re: Are these white bass?
[Re: tava]
#15026008
03/24/24 06:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,040
Fishbonz
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,040 |
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.
Last edited by Fishbonz; 03/24/24 06:39 PM.
HE aka Fishbonz
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