I figured the move was job related and I hope everything works out for the best..

Heads up to anybody thinking of heading to Somerville this weekend or next. Parts of different parks will be shut down due to youth hunts.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/lake-somerville

I found out the hard way, today. I may actually head out there New Years Day since that looks like one of the open days. If anybody cares to join me let me know.

Crappie New Year, everybody!

Kicked off 2013 by catching a mess of Crappie in Yegua Creek.


All fish were caught slow rolling black/chart jigs along the bottom.


Go getcha some.

Whats the creek look like water-wise?

hey this is keith,i met up with you a couple weeks back..i was on the bank fishing down past newmans with a couple of buddies...man that was a walk to get down there to those deep holes..i ended up catching some nice size crappie... i appreciate your help leading me to them..i had to work hard to get them from the bank,not much space accesible from bank!! just wondering if you were in the same area today? i noticed last time you must have paddled down stream,didnt see you befor we left,curious as to how you did,and how far you went? after hiking through all that brush ..ive been looking at kayaks ever since,,,pretty sure ill will be gettin one very soon!!!thanzzzz

About the same as when we fished it. The water is still very clear, so I guess not much rain made it to the creek.

Yeah, nice meeting you Keith. I caught a few small ones out of that spot today, but I'm finding the majority of the fish further downstream closer to the lake. The Crappie are really in there thick, the trick has been finding the big ones.

I know most of ya'll are waiting for the rain to raise the creek and lake. So far every drop is just soaking in with very little run-off. Crappie are still in the lower end of the Yegua near the lake but without significant rain few whitebass will be able to make the trip up from the lake.

This time last year the lake was much lower and the forecast was not looking good. Late January thru March the area received more then enough rain to fill the lake and then some.

One good flood event will be enough this year as the lake is only about 2.5 feet low (4-Jan-2013) (see: http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/reports/fish.htm )

Keep your eyes on the Yegua creek watershed from Somerville to Rockdale if any good amount of rain should fall it will raise the lake to near normal level and trigger the whitebass to head upstream. see the Yegua watershed here: http://watersgeo.epa.gov/mwm/?layer=LEGACY_WBD&feature=12070102&extraLayers=null

Where would you park if you wanted to put a kayak in the water and how far would you have to drag your yak?

To get into the Yegua right now you need to park at the Newmans Bottom and drag the yak about a 1/4 mile down the trail to the low water crossing.

notice!
The Park will restrict access to the public on the following dates in order to conduct wildlife management activities.

-The Birch Creek Unit will be closed from Monday, January 28, at 5 p.m., until 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 31.
-The entire Trailway will be closed from Thursday, January 3, at 5 p.m., until 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 6.
-The entire Park and Trailway will be closed from Monday, January 14, at 5 p.m., until 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 17.

HLS thanks for posting its like watching the fishing Chanel, except you can get to this waters.

Or go to Nails, paddle for 600 yds towards the Yegua, then drag your Yak/canoe for 3/4 mile or more in the mud, then if ya have your GPS right you are there.
Somebody, was there near the deep hole by the lake this Sat. Heard them, but could have been some Deer hunters or something. That was from 9:45-10:30 that we heard talking back there from the lake. (Yes, I was duck hunting nearby)

BTW, the point near the new restroom facility at Birch started taking RSVP last week. Don't know if they have been catching WB as yet but they have started to take up positions in earnest there. Brave souls indeed.

This afternoon/evening I made the paddle from Nails Creek State Park into Yegua Creek. It wasn't too bad, maybe 100 yards or so of dragging the yak through the mud and sand. The trick is finding the HL&S shortcut into the creek. He posted a video last February or March called Yegua Tough Guys showing the shortcut. The path is still marked if you know which trees to look for.

The fishing was a little slow today, but still caught 3 nice keeper Crappie.

Rain forecasted for Tuesday & Wednesday.