Many wonderful things don’t get the attention they deserve. Overshadowed by grander and more popular competition, these things sit mostly in the shadows. However, they do manage to gain a small, but passionate following, just like microbrews, third-party politicians, and those two houses from Harry Potter.
In the world of fishing, there is no better example than the small but scrappy white bass.
White Bass: what are they?
There is a lack of attention given to these small members of the temperate bass family known as Moronidae (including striped bass, yellow bass, spotted sea bass, and white perch) in a country dedicated to bass. However, the white bass is a hard-fighting, aggressive, and widely distributed species found in lakes, rivers, and streams throughout the country.
White bass, commonly referred to as ‘whiteys’, ‘sand bass’, ‘silver bass’ and ‘stripers’, are typically 12-18″ long and have a weight of 1-2 lbs, though some can grow to more than 5 lbs. They can be found in open water and move in large schools, ranging between 10-25 ft deep. This could explain why they’re less sought after by anglers who usually go fishing in shallow waters or near structures, targeting bigger catches like largemouths, crappies, perch and bluegills.
White bass offer anglers some of their most successful days out on the water. All year round, these fish can reliably be caught, providing fishing opportunities regardless of the season. With a huge range of different baits, lures and even flys to choose from, the options are nearly endless. Whitey’s put up a worthy fight to rival that of smallmouth and they taste great too; they have light, flaky flesh similar to walleye and can be cooked in exactly the same way. Despite this however, very few people ever target them. It may be because they are easier to find than other species if you know how and where – so why not give it a go?
White Bass: Where to Find Them
Boating is the go-to method for catching white bass as they are an open water schooling fish. Utilizing electronics can help you find them travelling in large schools so you know where to aim your efforts within the water column. Even those who stay on land will have success at certain points in the year, but the locations of prime fishing spots change periodically, so familiarizing yourself with their migrations is important for consistent catches.
White bass are spring spawners and closely related to salmon and striped bass. As the water temperatures reach between 54 to 68 degrees, these fish move up into the small tributaries off of big lakes, rivers, and reservoirs to spawn. This is an ideal situation for shore anglers looking to take advantage of the white bass’s mating habits as whole schools can fill a narrow tributary. Thus, it is fairly simple to spot and catch them while they migrate and assemble on gravel bars, shallow weed beds, logs, or rocks to lay eggs. If there are no tributaries present then focus on searching along shallow wind-blown shorelines where spawning also occurs.
The post-spawn season of early summer is an excellent time for white bass fishing, as it presents plenty of options for exciting techniques. During this period, the fish become ravenous and are often seen in large packs. As they hunt their prey – shad, smelt, minnows, and other schooling baitfish – they will aggressively drive them to the surface in a tight bait ball and can even be seen jumping out of the water. To locate these fish, look just above the thermocline in 14 to 28 feet of water. Later on in summertime, white bass migrate to deeper depths of 30 feet or even lower while congregating around structures like boulder piles and underwater peaks – these areas provide cooler temperatures plus plenty of baitfish.
Fishing for white bass in the fall is an exciting time to get your hands on some real trophies! With a new crop of baitfish, these bass will move into shallower waters as the temperature drops. They’re fat and aggressive, which makes them easier to catch with a variety of lures, including jigs, spoons, crankbaits, and jerkbaits. If you look in waters that are 10 to 14 feet deep (or even less), near hard rocky bottoms like islands and points, you should be able to fill up your livewell with some spectacular slabs!
Winter white bassing certainly poses a challenge due to the fish’s tendency to form large schools at the bottom of deep water. To have any chance of success, it is almost essential to make use of electronics in order to cover plenty of water and locate these sluggish groups. Once found, you’ll need to position the boat directly over them before you can even begin to think about enticing a bite; the means of doing so being baits and lures cast directly onto the school. However, if conditions are milder, your chances can greatly improve as there may be some fantastic action on offer!
The best equipment for white bass fishing
In spite of their common label as panfish, white bass shouldn’t be pursued with panfish gear in most places. Despite being small, these fish fight like lions, and trying to land one on a light line and ultra-light rod can be like lassoing a steer with a wet piece of pasta. Instead, try fishing for white bass using the same gear you would for large and smallmouth bass, a medium action rod strung with a braided line between 6 and 10 pounds.
Fly anglers should aim for whites with heavier gear. A 5wt trout rod could suffice, but a 6 or 7wt rod should give you the power to fight the hard-fighting fish while still being able to cast small flies long distances in windy conditions. As white bass typically stick in deeper water, you’ll require a full sink line to get your flies right down to them. It’s also worth bringing along a floating line though, as top-water fishing with a fly rod can bring an exciting challenge.
It’s a good idea to have a variety of lures, baits, and flies on hand. White bass consume a lot of baitfish, so it’s a good idea to bring a bucket full of minnows with you. You’ll also want to remember to bring along the obligatory carton of worms since the fish are opportunistic and can be a bit picky.
The Cast Champ, Roostertail and Beetle Spin are solid choices for small lures and flies, but for bigger fish, the Crème Ultralight, Rattletrap and Square Bill crankbaits can give you a better chance of success. When white bass abound during the summer months, topwater options such as the Cordell Crazy Shad or Storm Cover Pop can make all the difference. If things are a bit slower or colder – in these conditions deep sink jerkbaits such as the 1-3 inch Countdown Rapala could be your best bet – alongside jigs such as Atomic Tube and Crappie Thumper. Versatile patterns that can reach deep into hiding spots should be chosen when seeking success.
It’s best to bring a variety of small streamers for fly anglers. You’ll find that a classic conehead Wooley Bugger in white or black can slam white bass, as well as a Clouser Minnow, Bunny Muddler, or Flash and Grab. Those who like big water thrills can also find a lot of great topwater flies for white bass, such as the Micro Popper, the Airhead, and the Crease Fly, which will crush bait on the surface as the fish hit it.
Techniques for playing white bass
In spring, anglers will find their best luck using live bait when shore fishing. The most straightforward option is a weighted bait rig which stays in place despite tributary currents and windy lake shores, letting the fish run prior to the hookup. Start by tying a casting weight to your mainline then attach a barrel swivel. Follow this up with two to three feet of 4-6 pound monofilament or fluorocarbon and a size 8 to 4 bait hook. When ready, bait the rig with either a minnow through the lips or worm halfway onto the hook–the head (the fat part) should be closest to the band with the point of the hook just beneath it. Then cast your line into the water, reel in extra slack, and wait for a strike.
White bass fishing in the summer involves finding schools of fish and putting the smack down on them with lures and flies. Use your electronics to locate schools of fish that are shallow enough to be easily reached by fishing. Your lure or fly should be brought back to the boat with a fast retrieve as soon as the white bass are within range, varying the depth with each cast until it is smashed. Once the white bass are within range, start casting spoons, crankbaits, and spinners into the school.
It is incredible how exciting it can be to catch topwater bass when they feed on baitfish near the surface. Look for diving birds like gulls or splashing and leaping fish to locate these fish. Once you find a pod of feeding, crashing white bass, smack your topwater lures and flies down onto the school, and retrieve them back to the boat or shore with sharp, rapid pops, making the lure look like a wounded baitfish.
Trolling is an excellent way to catch white bass all year round, no matter their current habitat. To maximize your chances of success, deploy multiple rods set at the depths that are most likely to attract the fish. Using crankbaits or spinners is an option, but I’d recommend a Lindy Rig with either a minnow or nightcrawler. If you also add a heavy bottom bouncer it’ll keep the bait close to the lake bottom which should entice these roving bass to strike.
The Other Bass
Bass fishing is hugely popular in America, with millions of anglers taking to the waters every year. Although they are referred to as bass, largemouth and smallmouth are actually sunfish – closer relatives of bluegill and crappie than true bass species. So, rather than being a bass fisherman or woman, you’re really just on the hunt for some large predatory sunnies!
The few anglers who chase the white bass are some of the only true bass anglers in the country, but most bass anglers overlook and set aside these small, fierce fish. It makes you think that maybe we should give more credit to the overshadowed things in this world every once in a while to see what they’re made of.
Sources: Themeateater
