White bass are popular game fish throughout much of the United States. Lakes and reservoirs are typically stocked to counter heavy fishing and a low rate of survival of wild spawned fry to adulthood. White bass can present a challenge for fishermen, which adds to their appeal as a sport fish. Although white bass are usually not more than 2 or 2.5 lbs., they are highly sought after for food. The meat is white and firm; it freezes well without getting mushy. White bass are true bass fish, unlike largemouth and smallmouth bass, which are in the sunfish family.
Feeding Habits
White bass are schooling fish, so a great to catch them is to scan for them visually. Also, they feed by sight rather than smell, so look for them in clear water. They like open water in lakes and large rivers. Warm water areas around power plants attract them. White bass feed on microscopic crustaceans, insect larvae and smaller fish. Larger bass look for larger food. In the spring, look for gulls and fishing birds as a clue to the location of white bass schools. The birds and bass will be feeding on the same smaller fish.
Spawning Habits
When the time for spring spawning comes, white bass move to rivers and streams that feed lakes, and to tributaries that feed larger rivers. Anglers can trace their migration each year as the white bass return to their native spawn grounds. Schools of males may move to spawning areas up to a month before the females arrive, so spawn fishing may cover an extended period of time.
Depth Finder
Electronic depth finders are helpful locators in warmer summer waters, when the bass move to deeper, cooler waters. Look for white bass where the lake bottom is sand or gravel. On cloudy days and at dawn, the schools move to cooler surface waters to feed, returning to deeper water as the temperatures rise. A good depth finder will help you track the movements of the schools as well as tell you how deep to set your bait.
Jigs
Bait movement attracts white bass, so use flashy spinner lures, reflective lures or flies with streamers. Medium or light tackle is sufficient, due to the relatively light weight of white bass. Try placing more than one flashy lure along your line at 18 inch intervals. Schools of white bass are constantly on the go, and using multiple lure methods enables you to catch more fish from the school before it moves on.
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