I plan on kayaking into Yegua Creek from Nails Creek State Park on Sunday if anybody wants to join me. I plan on getting there around 10:00am.

Well I have to ask the perrenial question. How do you tell the difference between a legal 10 inch white bass and an illegal 10 inch hybrid??

I've heard the undersized hybrids have a bluish tint. I've heard something about a tooth patch on the tongue (not sure which variety has the tooth patch and which does not) I've also something about the continuity of the stripes.

What do the game wardens look for? What are the definitive signs? Thanks and sorry to broach a difficult subject.

They do have a blue tint to them, but the whole tongue patch thing is much harder to distinguish. Its not as cut and dry as the annual booklets make it out to be. I've been trolling with Doug and we've ran into these undersized Hybrids...After a few times you can tell the difference.

When I'm in doubt I release it...two fillets have never been worth it to me.

I'm sure some of the "experts" on here can help you a little better than I did.

Making our way to and from the shortcut on Lake Somerville from NCU, we'll always run over or spook fish that are hanging out on the flats. Anyone know what they are? Would they take a fly?

HLS, I'm sure you've seen what I'm referring to.

The last stocking of hybrids should be well over the 10 inch size by now and the bigger they get the easier it is to tell the difference. It's when they are around 14 inches that you get into trouble. Somerville has some of the most distinctive looking whitebass that show characteristics of hybrid bass with darker yet broken lines above the lateral line. In other river systems that have whitebass but not hybrids the whitebass will consistently look alike with very light unbroken lines top and bottom. Somerville whitebass on average are bigger then those found in other river systems IMHO but I don't have the data to back that up yet..
this first image is what I would have taken as a somerville whitebass and not a hybrid as suggested..



The Hybrid Difference

Well it was a slow, slow drive this morning with thick Fog all the way to NB ...But arrive about 9.am. safely...Fished about an hour in several spots just below walk over Bridge, no luck(water was a lot lower than expected)...Then headed a good ways downstrean, to some deeper water...But bite was slow with only 4 keeper Whites by 3p.m...Got back to car about 3:30, had a sandwich and a cold drink...Went back downstream, about 200 yards or more below low water crossing, a caught 9 more keeper Whites with about 3 or 4 throwbacks from 4p.m. till dark(evening bite a little better, at least for me... )...

Saw 2 guys leaving about 3:30 with about a dozen whites, and another guy a good ways downstream on other side with I'm guessing about a dozen also...

There's fish in there, but you got to work for them...Total catch for me was 13 Keeper Whites-(no crappie)...But not complaining, for 3rd week in January...And hoping for some more rain soon...

I'll post some pics I took tomorrow, of water level...But talked to one guy that said it has dropped a good 2 feet since Sunday...

Few pics of today, at Newman's Bottom...Most of you know the spots...lol

The flow in the creek is very slow and it's low. We need some more rain. I won't go back till we do. You have to walk to far downstream to catch fish that are holding in the deeper holes.

Going to be heading out to NB this afternoon. I'll try and post pics and a report once we get back either tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for the reports! Based on these reports I think Sunday I'll be targeting Crappie since it sounds like the White Bass are really scattered right now.

If there's anybody that has a kayak and would like to join me I plan on getting to NCSP by about 10:00am.

I have talked to the game wardens there, and asked the same question. They told me that when they question which species is a hybrid and which is a white bass, they use the tooth patch as the defining characteristic. The white bass has only one tooth patch. The hybrid has two tooth patches.

The Fish Camp 2013 event at Nails Creek Park Saturday 10am-dark-thirty February 9th is good to go weather willing...

We need more adult volunteers to help with a few of the duties and programs for the day. Just being there on Saturday is good enough but if you can help out in any way it will make the day even better!

Knothead University � all about knots (fishing and otherwise)

Flying Tyers � fly tying demo and workshop (BVFF)

Kayaking � general rigging and fishing

Fish fry 2PM until we run out of fish! (BVFF?)

Hike to Overlook Point leaving at 10:00am & 2:00pm (approx. 3 mile round trip)

Inland fisheries program (TPWD inland fisheries)

Geocache program (hopefully the Brazos Valley Geocachers will help with this)

Park amenities program- Campsites, creeks, trailway, recreation areas, bank fishing access. (TPWD)

Paddle Program - canoe and kayak basic instruction (TPWD & others)

Kid Fish at the pond? (TPWD & others)

Campfire chaos - Fun around the fire! Storytelling and conversation, roasting marshmallows to end the day.

Ended up getting to NB shortly after 3. Walked towards the lake from the bridge. Between 4 of us we ended up with 22 whites and a crappie. Had two whites that went 16 and another that went 15, so although the numbers really aren't there we caught some darn quality fish. Bite is still pretty darn slow. I've got a friend coming up from San Marcos today and we are going to head back out there shortly after noon so we'll see how good we can do again. Second pic is the two biggest from yesterday.

Me and the boys will be launching from the Nails Creek park ramp around 10am Saturday January 26, 2013 if anyone would like to join us to fish Yegua creek you are welcome to do so.. I know the way

directions to Nails Creek Park http://goo.gl/maps/KdbV0

does anyone know if the gate is open at Newmans Bottom or do you have to walk in?