White Bass

[Sam]

I just heard an unconfirmed friend-of-a-friend report here in town. Two guys said that at Point 9 there were lots of shad on the surface and white bass busting into them all afternoon yesterday. They caught white bass until they got tired of it, and left with the fish still biting.

I think I'll go check it out tomorrow. Has anyone seen that going on, at Point 9 or anywhere else?

[Bill Babler]

Sam, we have been fishing that area hard for K's the last 10 days, and I have seen no Whites. Good to hear however. I have not been out there in the evenings.

Point 9 and Railroad Cove are always good places to look for them this time of the year. I am guessing as soon as the water gets in the low 60's to mid-50's they will get going.

Been a pretty good topwater bite for Bass the last 3 weeks. For me it starts at 6:30 and is pretty much over by 7:30. I can then catch a few suspended on a dropshot. For some reason they think my 1/2 oz spoon stinks!

Good Luck

[Sam]

We finally got around to checking the Point 9 area for white bass yesterday. There's a WHOLE lot of them there, and I don't doubt the report of those guys who saw them busting on the surface last week. Trouble is, when we were there the white bass were deep and not feeding.

According to my Humminbird, white bass are all in that area in the deepest channels - 150 to 165 feet of water, and the fish were from 47-48 feet on down, just thick. It looked like big bunches of bait down there too. I caught one by trolling a plug, he must have come 'way up for it. We tried spooning for them, as did several other boats, with no luck. We left about 3 p.m. and they might come up later in the day, I don't know. I'd say there's lots of white bass to be caught there, but you've got to be there at the right time.

We soon switched over to casting and trolling crankbaits near the banks, on points, and flats. The bass kept us entertained - lots of short spots and a few largemouths and smallmouths. We had a few keepers (released) of all three species. It was a good day, but nothing for the skillet.

[Billfo]

Ive been looking specifically for the Whites. By your post, I gather that this time of year, the Whites usually dont come up in the shallower covers (30') ? I have NOT seen one in Indian Creek to Baxter... Maybe its me?

We finally got around to checking the Point 9 area for white bass yesterday. There's a WHOLE lot of them there, and I don't doubt the report of those guys who saw them busting on the surface last week. Trouble is, when we were there the white bass were deep and not feeding.

According to my Humminbird, white bass are all in that area in the deepest channels - 150 to 165 feet of water, and the fish were from 47-48 feet on down, just thick. It looked like big bunches of bait down there too. I caught one by trolling a plug, he must have come 'way up for it. We tried spooning for them, as did several other boats, with no luck. We left about 3 p.m. and they might come up later in the day, I don't know. I'd say there's lots of white bass to be caught there, but you've got to be there at the right time.

We soon switched over to casting and trolling crankbaits near the banks, on points, and flats. The bass kept us entertained - lots of short spots and a few largemouths and smallmouths. We had a few keepers (released) of all three species. It was a good day, but nothing for the skillet.

[Bill Babler]

Guys it is still a little early and the water is way to warm for the whites to start.

Did hear that Rick LaPoint found them and toasted them one day, but reports are that was a very special day.

Yes there may be a smatttering of surface chasers, but for me I want them zoned in and locked on the bottom in the 45 to 60 ft. range, on the channel humps and main lake swings.

Last year it really started early at just after Thanksgiving, and extended until February surface temps were in the low 50's range. Most years it is around Christmsas.

Yesterday when I finished my bass trip out of Shell Knob, surface temp was 71.7.

I have seen some quick blowups, and I'm sure there are some being caught in the right situation, but locked on the bottom for me is when the fun begins, and that is just not here yet.

[ozarksfishin]

Here is a pic from my graph taken two weekends ago. They are all white bass, my son and I caught thirty or so in about and hour and a half. This school is doing what Babler said, they were tight to the bottom at 60ft. and when you would catch one, the graph would come alive. My son would catch one and as he was reeling it in, I would reel my spoon up to get the net. Very seldom did I get the net in time because as I would reel mine in, I would get a fish on. The trick in catching them right now is getting the school started in feeding. Once you catch one, you can catch a bunch.