We don't have a huge number of good kayak fishing opportunities here around Bryan / College Station but Lake Somerville is an exception in the winter and spring. The creeks begin to fill up with Crappie and Whitebass starting in late December and gaining numbers as it gets closer to the spawn. Of the eight or so feeder creeks three are best for kayak fishing IMHO, these are Birch, Nails and the Yegua. These three creeks are best accessed through Lake Somerville State Park and Trailway. Nails and Yegua are accessed from the Nails Creek Park unit and Birch creek is accessed from the Birch Creek Park unit.. I have fished all of these creeks for years and each one is productive when the lake is near or above normal pool level (238ft). This year is shaping up to be a banner year for creek fishing because the lake is full and all the creeks are running... To get a head-start on this years creek fishing you might like to attend the 1st Annual New Year Winter Celebration at Nails Creek Park Saturday January 9th, 2010.

Anyone going to the Event Saturday the 9th?

With the weather prediction of cold, cold and more cold for the days leading up to Saturday, it's good to remember that most of the Event will be inside the Pavilion where it's warm.. It's become more of a pot-luck social gathering then anything else.. The BVFF will be tying flys all day and demo rod building, TPWD Inland fisheries will be talking about lake management and whitebass fishing and the Game warden will be there to talk rules and regs and answer any questions.

For those hardy few that are brave enough to fight the cold, TFF's very own "fishytx" Doug Blackstock will be schooling the whitebass and fisherman on the Yegua twice that day and hopefully with help from you catching lunch!

Heart of Texas Kayaks will be there to showcase their kayaks and gear, and the Houston Canoe Club will send some paddlers as well to re-con the area for future trips. We have geo-caching and nature walks not to mention the creek fishing..

So bring the family for breakfast, lunch and or dinner and enjoy a day at the park!

Getting ready for Saturday..

If I wasn't working, that would be cool to visit.

Try fishing the channel between the lake and FP, lots of crappie caught there EVERY year

Raider will tell you the fishing was tough! I have not heard back from fishytx or jsinn01 but last report was promising. The Boy Scouts made the day IMHO.. Once the fisherman and paddlers left the pavilion around noon it was just us and the scouts and we had fun.. Mark your calendar because we are having another pancake breakfast the second Saturday in February and all heading to the creek after eating to float and fish..

hope to go kayaking out there sunday.

Looks like rain.. but that's OK it will put more fish up the creeks

Several of My fishing club buddies will be going every Thursday for the next few weeks to the Yegua or to Nails creek to float and fish.. and I'm planning a pancake breakfast get together every 2nd Saturday of the month at Nails Creek Park. We will depart from the boat ramp @ 9:30 either to paddle up the creeks or shuttle to Newmans Bottom and float back to the park. Either way we will have experienced leaders to guide and teach..

That sounds like a great time. My two roomates and I might be looking to join in the fun if it's open to some 2nd yr newbie yak fishermen! How far do you usually have to paddle up the creeks?

Kyle

We are planning next Thursday to drop in at Newmans Bottom and either float down to the park or float down and then paddle back up.. Depends a lot on what the weather does.. We may paddle up the Yegua from the park too but that is a pretty long paddle and the lower end of the Yegua is not the best fishing.. It takes be about 45 minutes to paddle up the Yegua to where I usually start fishing for crappie and generally further up for whites.. The Yegua is on fire right now with many limits of whitebass coming out from the bank fisherman..

HLS,
Just saw this post. I sent you a pm earlier. The pancake breakfast sounds good. I am working the 2nd Sat of Feb but maybe I can make it in March.
Thanks for all your posts

This Thursday's (28th) paddle trip @ the creek has been cancelled due to the weather. We will try again on the 5th of February.. Sorry guys but wind and rain is not good weather for paddling up the creeks.. even though it is caused by an advancing cold front and will likely trigger a serious morning bite IMHO..

Anymore cool get-together's like this going to happen on Sommerville anytime soon? We tried going up Cedar Creek this weekend but the whole area was so flooded we don't think we ever were actually in the creek. Drove over to Yegua creek and the bridge on 132 but there were a TON of people so we didn't put in, just fished from the bank for a while. Still looking to find out how to really fish these creeks from a yak!

Me too... I have been wanting to try it out...