With all the rain last week, I had second thoughts about taking the boat to College Station this weekend (had to attend a graduation ceremony).

At the last minute hitched it up and headed northeast. The three branches of Yegua Creek that we crossed on Hwy. 21 didn't look bad at all on Friday. From Caldwell east, the bar ditches were full and fields were full of standing water. The Brazos and Little Brazos were way high and muddy.

Thus, I wasn't sure how Somverville would play out on Saturday, but when we drove over the dam, I was glad that I brought the boat. The lake was about a foot high and clear. Launched with the wife and kiddos at Yegua Park. Trolled a chartreuse/green Rebel Deep Wee R off the point, caught a magnum white. Went over to the point at Rocky, my daughter caught another on the same bait.

I tried the a Hell/Pet combo (first time with the weight modification added). It was digging the bottom in 20-21" depths, but nothing would hit it. Moved over to 27' water in front of the dam, trolling the Rebel and Hell Pet and picked up another on the Rebel. Went over to the hump off Welch, got a couple more trolling the Rebel and another nice one on a trolled Little George that was dragging bottom in 7' of water.

Didn't get to fish as much as I wanted to on my annual trip to Somerville, but the fish didn't disappoint, considering that we were out during the middle of the day and the boat and jet ski traffic was heavy. All fish were keepers yet released.

Back at the ramp I talked to a fellow who, with his partner, caught "about 50" down the Rocky shoreline toward the hump. He said the fish were holding over a tree, and they'd troll their deep diving crankbait with Pet Spoon trailer over the tree and pick up two on each pass.

Thanks for the report SeanH....if you were @ the 9:00 am graduation Saturday morning then you saw me walk across the stage also....anyway I am headed out there the end of this week so I will have another report also...I too was wondering how all that rain would effect the fishin but this week looks good!

Hey fisher03,

We were at the 2 p.m. Friday graduation ceremony. Excellent speaker--Tennet, head of the CIA.

We hit the lake around 10 Saturday and finished up around 2 or 3.

I really dig fishing Somerville, too bad it's a three hour drive from home. When my kiddos are a couple of years older, I'm looking forward to taking them there on weekend camping trips. Lots of primo parks on the lake.

Good luck later this week.

Yea I agree about the good facilities and good place to camp.......being a corps of engineers lake helps too....if I could only figure out the fishin..hehe. I'm goin tomorrow to give it a try. Let ya know how it goes.

How many Ags here that don't have a boat?

I have a boat but would still like to fish and learn from someone more experienced than me......we went to Somerville wednesday and the whites were easy. Stayed from 1 till dark and spent about 4 of those hours fishin. Trolling hell pet combo over hump out from rocky creek park got em good. kept 20 that were 11 and up threw the rest back. Did not see andy topwater schooling action late in the evening or at all during the day. Great day on the lake no one was there. Good luck and Gig 'em

fisher03,

Is the only place you caught at on that hump outside of rocky creek park?

Thnx

I have been known to troll occasionally for hybrids. But I was wondering why people liked trolling for whites so much. I can understand trolling for big Hybrids and Stripers because at least when you get one on he puts up a good fight. But whites basically ski on top of the water and its like reeling in an old boot.

I can even understand trolling for whites in order to locate them (i do this occasionally too) but once you find them why not stop and fish for them. :p Just trying to stir the pot a little... Please edumacate me on the thrill of trolling for the mighty white bass :p

By the way we fished last Sunday and caught about 40-45 nice whites on slabs. Kept a dozen for the skillet. They had just started schooling when the wind picked up and killed the bite or it would have been ugly. No bird activity though.

fisher03--way to go. Looks like you got into them pretty heavy.

unclefish--not sure about whites skiing back to the boat after a hookup when trolling. I put the motor into neutral and fight 'em all the way in. I suppose they'll ski if they're being forced in on a pool cue and 20 lb. test.

But hey, I'm an equal opportunity troller. If a hybrid or striper wants to take my offering behind the boat, you won't hear me complain.

I'm all for trolling to locate concentrations, then anchoring or tying up and casting or jigging for them. But if I can't find a concentration, and only pick up scattered fish while trolling, then I'll continue to troll. Such was the case last weekend. I'd pick up a solitary fish while trolling two rods, then go back through the area a couple of times without a hit. Thus, I kept on trolling to cover more water, hopefully finding the motherlode. Didn't happen for me.

Also, if my kids are on the boat (2 and 4 yearl old), I've found that they have more fun if the boat is moving under power. It doesn't take too long after I anchor for them to become restless, then cranky, then on our way back to the dock. I'm hoping this won't be a factor as the get a little older.

Sometimes, they only way to catch them is via trolling. Don't ask me why, but countless times up the Frio in winter we've trolled Shad Raps through an area and picked up fish. Then we'd tie up to a tree in the area and chunck the tackle box at 'em, working our baits through the entire water column without getting any hook ups. Then we'd go back to trolling and start hitting the fish again. Go figure.

Ahh, the virtues of trolling!

Very true with the kids SeanH. You have to keep them occupied.

unclefish~ yes I totally agree with you about the trolling. See the thing is, that is the only way I know how to catch them. Yes it can get boring and I would rather stop and cast which brings up a question I have. What is the best way to mark a spot? Is there a throw buoy that I could make or buy? One problem I have is that my fishfinder is old and only shows depth, not fish. Makes it hard to stay on top of them, although staying on top of a dropoff in general usually holds fish. I guess it is just a rookies way of catching alot of fish real easy, which also helps when bringing girls or buddies who don't fish much.
whtebassguy~ We also caught some on the dropoff by snake island but that is the only two places.
Just got back from west Tx and ready to hit somerville agin soon!

Yep the best way is to mark them with a buoy if they are stacked up on a hump or point. You can buy marker bouys at Academy or Wally World usually 2 for $5. You have to have pretty decent fishfinder to mark fish and they are getting better and cheaper every year.

Sometimes if you are in a general area where there are fish drifting is a good choice. Alot of times they just come through in schools every so often. When you are catching them every cast that's when I beleive they are stacked up and not moving around much.

Thanks for the tips unclefish. I really am thinking about getting a new fishfinder. It would be a great help especially when fishing for whites or crappie. Can get a decent one for under $300. Thinkin about maybe the eagle 320 or 480. Or Lowrance X-125 or X-135.

Yep those are good units. I have a 240 pixel Eagle and it picks up the difference between fish arches and bait. A good fishfinder will help you become a better fisherman. It sure did it for me.

I go out now expecting to catch a lot of fish where as before I wasn't so sure.

Where is this hump off Rocky Creek we went yesterday and i caught one small white by the small rock island right off the boat ramp there with the big white hellbender w/silver petspoon trailer in the shallow water (8' or so) while draggin bottom, then went out further toward big creek and circled back several times, the white were coming up and hitting the water all over the place we thought we were going to slay them but the slabs and rat'l traps werent' getting it done, they weren't staying in one place very long I guess.

We even tried by the damn but by that time I had taken my hellbender off and used a shallower diver, that may have been where I messed up. Anyone have any advice? We will be there this Memorial Weekend in Yellow Tahoe trying to work it but this is pretty new to me.

Thanks.

I saw two guys in a green jon boat last Sunday anchored off small rock island off of rocky creek just slaying them. I need to figure out how to do that.