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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: jsinn01]
#14325079
03/24/22 05:06 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 12
fishburrito
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 12 |
The fishing God's are on my side. I get to leave work early today and will go to the Steps or Willis. I will hit up Nails tomorrow. Definitely agree on the size difference, there is something special in the Somerville water.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14325158
03/24/22 06:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,848
jsinn01
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,848 |
Lucky you. Good luck out there.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14325478
03/24/22 11:17 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500
fishytx
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500 |
Fished the steps today for 2-1/2 hours, landed 28. Water is super nice. But here's the deal, only about 8 were big enough to keep. But it was fun.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14325842
03/25/22 01:15 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500
fishytx
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500 |
J-Moe, how did the Yegua look, or did you go look? If you mentioned it, then some I how over looked it.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14325886
03/25/22 02:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500
fishytx
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500 |
All signs I see are telling me this years spawn is coming to an end. Sure, you will see good reports here and there, but those days are when an angler happens to be at the right place at the right time. These fish will school up as they start to make their way back to the lake, so if you're in the right spot at the right time you can load up on a limit quick. Go back to same place next day and they will have moved on downstream towards the lake. If anglers will pay attention, this behavior happens ever year. Take notes and you will see what I'm talking about. This is my 50th year to fish a white bass spawn so I do know a little bit about how it all works. When you see reports where a lot of smaller fish are being caught, then the spawn is coming to an end. Small males are the last to return to the lake. Even the bigger fish have lost a lot of weight. That's why you will see these huge fish frenzy attacks in the lake where they chase a ball of shad to the surface and gorge themselves, they are trying replenish their weight loss. These fish have had very little to eat while spawning. It's a cycle that happens every year like clock work. You can even see that the fish become slimmer each week during the spawn. It's the meaty part of the fish I'm talking about, not their fat tummy area with sperm and egg sacks. They burn up a lot of calories during the spawn and their food supply is very limited compared to their norm. But the boaters will also take advantage of this feeding frenzy that takes place in the lake after a spawn. Just a cycle and anglers know when to go get in on the action.
Last edited by fishytx; 03/25/22 05:38 PM.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14325942
03/25/22 02:45 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500
fishytx
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500 |
I also saw illegal activity taking place at the steps yesterday so I texted the game warden. He asked me to take a picture so I did and sent it to him. Guess one of the guys saw me take the.picture because they wrapped it up and got out of there. I had just spoke to the game warden the day before about these folks throwing a cast net on these spawning fish. He said he has busted a few this year already. In the years.past this game warden has showed up when I've called him and I have watched him bust people. But he said he was away off and it would take him awhile to get there. But I let him know they had left. Oh well, maybe next time we'll get em.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14325945
03/25/22 02:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,848
jsinn01
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,848 |
One thing I would add, is the run starts and ends a bit earlier the further east in the state you go. The run in the hill country rivers and streams can go well into April. Places like Colorado Bend and the Brazos & Nolan above Lake Whitney can still be productive through at least mid-April. So next month, if you're still chasing the spawning white bass, head west.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: fishytx]
#14325947
03/25/22 02:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
J-Moe, how did the Yegua look, or did you go look? If you mentioned it, then some I how over looked it. I didn't make it that far.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: jsinn01]
#14325951
03/25/22 02:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
One thing I would add, is the run starts and ends a bit earlier the further east in the state you go. The run in the hill country rivers and streams can go well into April. Places like Colorado Bend and the Brazos & Nolan above Lake Whitney can still be productive through at least mid-April. So next month, if you're still chasing the spawning white bass, head west. But only if there is water flow. Everything west of I-35 has been too dry this year.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: fishytx]
#14325954
03/25/22 02:59 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
All signs I see are telling me this years spawn is coming to an end. Sure, you will see good reports here and there, but those days are when an angler happens to be at the right place at the right time. These fish will school up as they start to make their way back to the lake, so if you're in the right spot at the right time you can load up on a limit quick. Go back to same place next day and they will have moved on downstream towards the lake. If anglers will pay attention, this behavior happens ever year. Take notes and you will see what I'm talking about. This is my fifth year to fish a white bass spawn so I do know a little bit about how it all works. When you see reports where a lot of smaller fish are being caught, then the spawn is coming to an end. Small males are the last to return to the lake. Even the bigger fish have lost a lot of weight. That's why you will see these huge fish frenzy attacks in the lake where they chase a ball of shad to the surface and gorge themselves, they are trying replenish their weight loss. These fish have had very little to eat while spawning. It's a cycle that happens every year like clock work. You can even see that the fish become slimmer each week during the spawn. It's the meaty part of the fish I'm talking about, not their fat tummy area with sperm and egg sacks. They burn up a lot of calories during the spawn and their food supply is very limited compared to their norm. But the boaters will also take advantage of this feeding frenzy that takes place in the lake after a spawn. Just a cycle and anglers know when to go get in on the action. Great Post Makes sense how sometimes you have to keep moving to different spots until you can find them all bunched up. PS: It's your 50th white bass run, not your fifth. I'll keep reminding you of dates and numbers in your old age.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14325955
03/25/22 03:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,848
jsinn01
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,848 |
One thing I would add, is the run starts and ends a bit earlier the further east in the state you go. The run in the hill country rivers and streams can go well into April. Places like Colorado Bend and the Brazos & Nolan above Lake Whitney can still be productive through at least mid-April. So next month, if you're still chasing the spawning white bass, head west. But only if there is water flow. Everything west of I-35 has been too dry this year. Sad but true. Hence the 3-hour round trip drives to fish the Yegua.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14326088
03/25/22 05:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500
fishytx
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500 |
[quote=fishytx] PS: It's your 50th white bass run, not your fifth. I'll keep reminding you of dates and numbers in your old age. Thanks for the fix. I didn't even see that J-Moe. Yes my 50th year of catching whites during the spawn. I did an edit job on that post, so thanks again.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14326143
03/25/22 07:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,140
hook-line&sinker
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,140 |
The run is about done.. Thursday was crazy but Ray reported that the fish were gone this morning...
>)));> 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
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: J-Moe]
#14326224
03/25/22 09:17 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500
fishytx
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,500 |
This doesn't belong here but for those who may read it, Willis creek is on fire with big fish. A friend called me a few minutes ago to tell me about it. Every cast he caught a fish. Even had two break his 4lb test line. He said the smallest one he caught was 12 inches. But remember this, the walk in paths have a lot of down trees on it. And he said the banks are still pretty wet and slippery.
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Re: Lake Somerville
[Re: fishytx]
#14326283
03/25/22 10:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
J-Net
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5 |
The Lurkiest of Lurkers here. Thanks J-Moe, Mr. Tedrick, and all you other Yegua regulars on another enjoyable season of reading the Forum for your whitebass adventures, tips, and tricks. For years I truly have enjoyed reading your posts from you cast of characters (I say this affectionately) before I head out to the creek myself, never to do nearly as well as y'all do. I found this Willis Creek you speak of, fishytx, on the ol' Google Maps! Is it best to park at "Willis Creek Park" and walk upstream from there? Or: someone has marked a "Willis Creek Parking Lot 4" where the creek intersects with CR 348...? Cheers, –Jeanette.
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