white bass

[hillbill]

im from mo but have been getting a lot of white bass down on spring river near miami ok. they are delicous!just wondering if anybody else fishes for them?they fight like their tails are on fire!

[hillbill]

we went again today and got another 25 or so white bass from a 1lb to 2 1/4lbs.beer batter fish for supper!

[gypsyman]

hillbill-Took the family out on Lake Erie yesterday. There was thunder over the Detroit area, so didn't want to get to far out in the lake. Didn't make it 1/2 mile out, and seen seagulls diving, and fish jumping. Big school of white bass. Normally go for walleye or perch, but couldn't pass up the oppurtunity. Put about 20 in the cooler, all between 1-2 lbs. Thru many more back. Fileted them baby's out, will batter them up this afternoon, and pick the boys up at school when they get out, and head out for more. gypsyman

[hillbill]

aint no better eating out there! didnt know yu northren guys had them up there.dang they are good eatin!!!!and they fight like stripers for their size.the spawning run is over here but prob in full swing where yu is.have fun!!!

[btmidwest]

hillbill,     I've never really fished for them but one local lake has them.  What's been working for you?  How are you catching them?  The locals here want you to catch them because they compete with the stocked walleye.  Thanks,  BT 

[hillbill]

i like to use small spoons, diveing plugs or rubber jigs that look like shad. watch for them pushing forage fish to the top and attacking them.try trolling with a couple baits at different depths to locate them. a buddy of mine does great this time of year by useing lights at night with minnows for bait.lets us know what kind of luk yu have!!

[bubbinator]

We have hybrid stripers here in central AL, god bless our state fisheries folks. Ihave caught some on crank baits and they fight like a much bigger fish.  I went on a guided crappie trip on Toledo Bend recently in the winter and we went to a place called the "Chicken Coops", below a high bluff with deep water. Janurary/ start temp 32 degrees.  There were dozens of boats lined up, all catching crappie. When the action died down our guide took use not too far away into the trees and we caught full limits of whtre bass and "yellow bass", which looked identical except for their yellow tint. We were using minnow s and jigs.

[LunaticFringeInc]

i like to use small spoons, diveing plugs or rubber jigs that look like shad.

That there is some great advice.  While these fish will hit some larger baits, they very much prefer smaller baits.  Their high metabolism rate can process many smaller baits far faster than a few larger ones, and thats what their horrendous apetites are all about.

I regularly fill my 25 fish limit on these fish and Hybrids just about everytime I target them.  The key to my sucess?  Down size your gear and your lure.  I catch far more Sandies on 1/8th ounce Rattlin' Spots than I do 1/4 or 1/2 ounce Rattlin Spots.  1/8th ounce Road Runner Jigs with Crappie sized solid white tubes work far better than 1/4 ounce RR jigs and 2.5 inch Grubs.  Yeah you will pick up some under sized fish in the process but you will be pleasantly suprised at the number of festively plump 2 plus pounders you will get while your at it.  More than a few times I have found myself rudely interupted by a 6-8 pound Hybrids using these small baits on a light action or ultra light loaded with 4 lbs test, talk about fun!!!


In addition to the afore mentioned 1/8th ounce Rattlin' Spots in Blue on Chrome or Black on Chrome, or 1/8th ounce Road Runner Jig with a solid tube body, is a 3/16th ounce Chatter Bait Jig with a 3 inch Fluke or if they are suspended a 1/4 ounce jigging slab.  If its a school of Sandies or Hybrids its doubtful they will be able to pass it up!

[hillbill]

its that time of year again!ive went to spring river near miami ok yesterday and today.both times full limits of big crappie and white bass.the crappie averaged about 12 inches with some as big as 16 inches. the white bass so far a little smaller than last year but plentiful.cant wait to go again sunday.this year im catching most fish on 1/8 oz curl tail jigs.happy fishin!