Lake Somerville - 2020 Survey Report

Prepared byAlice Best and Niki Ragan-Harbison
Inland Fisheries Division
College Station/Houston District, Snook, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 44-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Somerville were surveyed in 2019 and 2021 using gill netting and in 2020 using electrofishing. Anglers were surveyed from June 2020 through May 2021 with a roving creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2017-2021 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lake Somerville is a 11,456-acre flood-control reservoir constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Yegua Creek in Burleson, Lee, and Washington Counties, Texas. Principle tributaries are Middle Yegua, West Yegua, and Nails Creeks. Lake Somerville has a drainage area of approximately 1,006 square miles.

Management History

Important sport fishes include Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and Black Crappie. Recent stockings include Florida Largemouth Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass. Hydrilla was observed in small quantities in 2020 but did not negatively impact recreational access. Water hyacinth was introduced into the lake and eradicated with herbicide applications in 2008; none was observed in 2020.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad, Gizzard Shad, and Bluegill were the predominant prey species in Lake Somerville with populations dominated by small-bodied fish; suggesting adequate availability of prey to larger sportfish.
  
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish were the dominant catfish species, offering good angling opportunities. Blue Catfish, although less numerous, also support a fishery. Catfishes were the fourth-most targeted species group at Lake Somerville.
  
• Temperate basses: Gill net population survey data and angler effort in 2020-2021 for White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass were the highest seen in recent years. Temperate basses were the fifth most targeted species group at Lake Somerville, with 11.3% of total angling effort and represented an important component of the overall sport fishery.
  
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were present, and the size distribution comprised mainly sub-legal fish. Largemouth Bass grew quickly and reached the 14-inch legal length at 1.4 years. The 2020-2021 creel survey indicated that Largemouth Bass were the third most popular species among anglers at Lake Somerville. Participation ShareLunker Program increased during the survey period.
  
• Crappies: Both White Crappie and Black Crappie were present in Lake Somerville and crappies were the most sought species group and provided ample opportunity for harvest-oriented anglers. Combined total harvest for crappies was high and fish up to 15 inches were harvested by anglers. The 2020-2021 creel data indicate a robust and healthy crappie population.

Management Strategies

• Request annual stockings of Hybrid Striped Bass.
• Enhance Largemouth Bass fishery potential with annual stocking of Florida Largemouth Bass.
• Secure funds to replace collapsed bridges on the Nails and Yegua Creeks that allow fish passage.
• Aquatic Invasive Species vegetation surveys will be conducted annually to monitor and identify potential angler access issues.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program