texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,580
TexDawg 119,524
Bigbob_FTW 94,903
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,264
Bob Davis 81,523
Mark Perry 72,297
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,853
Posts13,935,648
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 306 of 398 1 2 304 305 306 307 308 397 398
Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14055501 07/08/21 02:32 AM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
Ben and I went to the spillway again this evening. The fishing continues to be great!! I stopped when I got to 50 white bass. Ben caught about the same. We both caught a hybrid as well.

[Linked Image]

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14055802 07/08/21 02:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,131
H
hook-line&sinker Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
H
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,131
JMoe on a nice hybrid..



>)));> Wishin' I was Fishin' <;(((<

“Personnel is the most vital and important aspect of any industry.
If you’re just going to grind them up, it’s not going to end well for anybody.”
SCOTT REINARDY


Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14056269 07/08/21 09:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,844
J
jsinn01 Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
J
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,844
Originally Posted by J-Moe
Ben and I went to the spillway again this evening. The fishing continues to be great!! I stopped when I got to 50 white bass. Ben caught about the same. We both caught a hybrid as well.

[Linked Image]


Awesome sauce! Nice catch. woot

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14060819 07/13/21 09:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 1
K
K_lin Offline
Green Horn
Offline
Green Horn
K
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 1
Hey J-Moe, I saw you caught several dozens of white bass last Friday, but missed how you caught the hybrid. Thank you for sharing the white bass.

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: K_lin] #14060838 07/13/21 10:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
Originally Posted by K_lin
Hey J-Moe, I saw you caught several dozens of white bass last Friday, but missed how you caught the hybrid. Thank you for sharing the white bass.


It's always great to meet another Aggie. Gig'em

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14060857 07/13/21 10:36 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
Ben and I have been out a couple more times since my last post. The fishing continues to be great!! Ben counted 60 fish the first time we went out. Now we just decided it's unlimited so we test lots of flies. Almost everything works on the white bass though, as long as you drift it into the right spot. We haven't caught any more hybrid or stripped bass though; and we're catching a lot more of those smaller 10.5 inch dark colored, thin white bass.

The lake level is at 241.5 or 3.5 ft above normal. The COE raised the flow since the last time we went out. It is now at 1621 cfs. That's about 3/4 open. That makes things a bit tougher with the fly rod and paddling upstream.

I noticed that the crane is no longer on site. Maybe the COE will wrap up the repair work soon, who knows bang

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14062615 07/15/21 02:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
The Video Dude and I hit the spillway again last night. As expected, it was a bit more difficult to fly fish with the higher flow. But with time we able to lock in and catch fish at a decent rate.

Ever since I took the curse off the Video Dude he's been catching fish at a remarkable rate. He's learned his lesson roflmao roflmao

I've also locked into a fly pattern that works great in this faster water. Ben and I have been experimenting a lot. The pattern is called a "Coyote". This one is tied on a size 2 hook with small gold lead eyes, size 12 barrel swivel, size 1 split ring and size one colorado blade. We're still tinkering. A slightly smaller size 0 colorado blade seems to work well. The blade spins freely but I think the flash is the important part. I think the hot pink intensifies the flash and seems to improve the catch rate as well

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
.

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14062811 07/15/21 05:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,844
J
jsinn01 Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
J
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,844
Thanks for the report. And very cool pics! Thanks for sharing.

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14062917 07/15/21 06:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,131
H
hook-line&sinker Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
H
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,131
There are certainly lots of whitebass in the spillway currently and for the most part JMoe has really dialed in on those fish "on the fly".
I've been experimenting with several fly designs and believe I have figured out what works (mostly by watching JMoe catch fish!).
I've learned from experience that even the best fly can be made better (JMoe betta) with just a minor adjustment of the fly and/or presentation.
The two adjustments made lately is one to the fly and the other is the presentation.
Adding that spinner blade to the fly was huge as it increased the catch rate substantially.
The other adjustment for me was in presentation.
It takes a few trips to the spillway before I can figure out the "what, when, where and how" to cast the fly into the best position repeatedly.
It still surprises me just how precisely you have to place the fly (or lure) to hook-up consistently and that is where JMoe excels.


>)));> Wishin' I was Fishin' <;(((<

“Personnel is the most vital and important aspect of any industry.
If you’re just going to grind them up, it’s not going to end well for anybody.”
SCOTT REINARDY


Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14065840 07/18/21 03:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8
C
Crappiefever Offline
Green Horn
Offline
Green Horn
C
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8
J-Moe
Where did you guys park your cars?
Thank you


Originally Posted by J-Moe
The Video Dude and I hit the spillway again last night. As expected, it was a bit more difficult to fly fish with the higher flow. But with time we able to lock in and catch fish at a decent rate.

Ever since I took the curse off the Video Dude he's been catching fish at a remarkable rate. He's learned his lesson roflmao roflmao

I've also locked into a fly pattern that works great in this faster water. Ben and I have been experimenting a lot. The pattern is called a "Coyote". This one is tied on a size 2 hook with small gold lead eyes, size 12 barrel swivel, size 1 split ring and size one colorado blade. We're still tinkering. A slightly smaller size 0 colorado blade seems to work well. The blade spins freely but I think the flash is the important part. I think the hot pink intensifies the flash and seems to improve the catch rate as well

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
.

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14066103 07/18/21 09:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
The dam road is now open. I went out last night and there were 9 people fishing in the spot I have been fishing. frown

Last edited by J-Moe; 07/19/21 05:21 PM.
Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14066768 07/19/21 03:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,131
H
hook-line&sinker Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
H
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,131
Lot of fishermen know the fishing below the Somerville dam can be very good under the current conditions but now that the road is back open and access to the area is easier everybody and their dog will be down there filling the deep fryer and freezer with fish.. That's not a bad thing but the amount of litter and trash left behind is a huge problem... I can't help but wonder why the COE still allows access to the spillway knowing that it will continue to be trashed out even if the rules are fully enforced and littering becomes a "death penalty" offense. The trail of trash leads all the way to the ocean... it's so sad that the only way to stop the abuse is to punish us all for the sins of the few but we seem to be reaching a breaking point with trash and it's all of us not just a few...


>)));> Wishin' I was Fishin' <;(((<

“Personnel is the most vital and important aspect of any industry.
If you’re just going to grind them up, it’s not going to end well for anybody.”
SCOTT REINARDY


Re: Lake Somerville [Re: hook-line&sinker] #14066852 07/19/21 05:16 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
Originally Posted by hook-line&sinker
Lot of fishermen know the fishing below the Somerville dam can be very good under the current conditions but now that the road is back open and access to the area is easier everybody and their dog will be down there filling the deep fryer and freezer with fish.. That's not a bad thing but the amount of litter and trash left behind is a huge problem... I can't help but wonder why the COE still allows access to the spillway knowing that it will continue to be trashed out even if the rules are fully enforced and littering becomes a "death penalty" offense. The trail of trash leads all the way to the ocean... it's so sad that the only way to stop the abuse is to punish us all for the sins of the few but we seem to be reaching a breaking point with trash and it's all of us not just a few...


Yep, I drove down to San Antonio on Saturday to fish a creek. The owner of the property had put a gate and closed off access that had been open to the public forever. That's the 4th spot I've lost in the last few years due to misuse and litter. Now the COE is turning all their lakes into Country Club establishments so we can't even bank fish them anymore.

I guess I'll have to remember to bring a garbage bag with me next time I go down there.

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14066854 07/19/21 05:21 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
The COE dropped the flow to 755 cfs yesterday. They dropped it again to 448 today.

There have been large crowds at the dam and large numbers of fish being removed. I can already see the difference in catch rate. I caught a dozen or so white bass and a couple undersized crappie yesterday evening. With the lower flow the numbers of crappie caught should increase.

Re: Lake Somerville [Re: J-Moe] #14070002 07/22/21 03:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
J
J-Moe Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,541
Lake Level is 240.16 and releasing 972 cfs.

I've been going out to the dam in the morning and evening as often as possible. I usually catch about a dozen white bass or so. When the flow was at 448 the undersized crappie and goo were packed in there and I was catching a ton of them. Not a single keeper crappie though.

Ben and I went out this morning. Several of my buddies in the "Katy Express" have been there in the mornings as well. Since we didn't have a white bass spawn on the Yegua this year it's been a while since I've seen most of those guys. We've been having a great time.

The fish move around alot. Not just up and down stream but also from the top of the water column to the bottom. The shad they are feeding on are tiny. Ben figured out if we sized down even further than normal we can catch more fish during the daylight hours. Match the hatch, as usual. I have no clue how the fish find a size 10 bead chain clouser in 972 cfs of water flow, but they do. I caught 20 this morning to prove it grin

Page 306 of 398 1 2 304 305 306 307 308 397 398
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3