I hiked into Newman's Bottom yesterday. I'm not sure why they had the road closed, because it surely wasn't due to rain. The creek actually had more water than I was expecting, although there didn't seem to be a lot of flow. I hiked about twenty minutes downstream and fished some of the deeper holes. In one of the holes I hooked into a Buffalo that must have been 10-15 lbs. I fought it for about 20 minutes until I got it to the surface. Caught another smaller Buffalo and a good size Drum. No Crappie or Bass, but the other fish kept it interesting.

The road to Newman's is closed because they just reworked it and need rain to settle the road bed. It might be closed for a long time waiting for rain

Bass Bonanza Read the report and see the video on my blog

Hi any tips for fishing Lake Somerville where to fish , rigs, and species of fish expected to catch? I would love to do some freshwater fishing, I mainly do saltwater fishing and deep sea fishing. Thanks!

Somerville has good catfish, whitebass and hybrid stripers, crappie and largemouth bass. Right now the fishing can be slow but I'm not sure if it's the fish or lack of fishermen. If you have a boat then the whole lake is yours to fish but there are two floating fishing houses, Overlook marina and Big Creek Marina both can be good for crappie all winter. Almost all of the lakes shoreline is fishable but you will have to wade most of it. I use spinnerbaits and jigs mostly fishing for bass. Most of the shoreline is shallow and structureless so look for areas with changing contours, like humps and hard bottom or rocks. Somerville is a lake that takes a while to learn to fish. I've got almost 40 years behind me and know the lake well but it can still kick my can every once in a while.

Wow-this thread is still here and alive! Ive been on the TexasBowHunter forum for awhile since deer season is here. Wish all yall a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bass Bonanza part two for Tuesday Click Here

Might be some rain in the forecast. Is the gate open to Newmans?

Hoping for some rain! Texas Parks & Wildlife site says the gate is closed through December.

I called the park Wednesday and the gate is closed until we get some rain to settle the new roadbed to Newmans. I might take a hike back to the Yegua sometime over the Christmas break to photograph and fish the creek.

Now that it's rained a little the new road bed material will settle so they might be opening the gate to Newmans this coming weekend. Sure hope so!

Remember last years fishing clinic at Nails Creek?

I might give the Yegua a try tomorrow. I wonder if the gate will be open at Newman's.

I just called the park and they confirmed the gate will not be open until after the first of the year.

Just thought I'd add this...

I was offered a job in Anchorage,Alaska! This will be my last season chasing the whites down at ole Skunkerville.

So Id like to get a chance to meet everyone I did not have a chance to the last few seasons before I head out in May. But will keep visiting this section, keeping up with all my fellow Creek Rats!

Went out to Newman's this morning. The gate was closed as HL&S said it would be. I hiked in and got a chance to check out the improvements to the road. It's not paved, but damn near. If or when there's finally a White Bass run this year the road should not be an issue.

I tried hard to catch some Crappie today, but only caught one using a white jig and bobber. Caught one catfish on the same rig, then switched to a spinner and caught a LM Bass. Caught a few, but the bites were few and far between.

jsinn01 is there running water in the yegua?