White Bass.....it's About To Begin!

[duckydoty]

Heard some rumors yesterday about the James, so I went down there today to see what I could find. Put in at Blunks around 1 p.m. and there were 4 other vehicles in the parking lot. Worked our way down stream fishing white sliders the whole way. Picked up a 17 inch walleye along the bluffs just below Blunks Hole. Hit a few small bass and small mouths on the way down. Finally just past McCords Bend, I caught a nice white up against the mud bank. Three other boats in the area and saw a few get caught, but not many. Talked to one fella that had 10 of them and he said that he had got there just before the wind started blowing hard. That is when he caught most of his fish. He said he witnessed two others leaving with limits. This morning was the time to be down there. Got into a little early action this year. I'm afraid this cold front coming in will push them back down. Did land a nice small mouth also. Fun day to be out and get some sun.

[Wayne SW/MO]

My belief is that water temps are the key and a short cold spell won't affect the lake that much.

I know the bulbs are early, probably because the ground is warmer than usual.

[duckydoty]

I forgot to mention water conditions. I dont know what the temps were but the color was a nice green with about 2 1/2 foot visability. Water levels are alot higher than last year. We had no problems launching a bass boat at blunks and motoring down. No real curren at Blunks or further down. The gravel bar across from the launch is under water. Looks like Taylor Shoals will be the hot spot when it happens.

[Ham]

Thanks for the report.

[gotmuddy]

I am gearing up for whites, it is the only time I fish the lake. I selectively harvest them for my freezer

[tho1mas]

Ducky - What road do you take to Blunks? Is it a ramp or just the river bank?

[ollie]

I'm thinking about heading down there this weekend. Would someone shoot me a pm on the better spots around Blunk? Just asking cause I have never been down there fishing before. Lived all my life in SW MO and never really fished the James. Grand Lake is so much closer, but have to fork out the cash for out of state license and all. Wanted to go last year, but things didn't work out. Thanks

[duckydoty]

Just go down steram from the launch at the end of Blunks road. Look for the boats and that's where the fish are

[fishinwrench]

That situation (having other boats stop and fiish the same area just because they assumed I was "on fish") would drive me crazy. Id almost pay a small fleet of 3-4 boats to anchor down about a mile above where I was catching them.

I know the fish are plentiful and fellowship is cool and all...but still.

[Fishslayer88]

if you are on foot fishing at blunks there is a trail at the edge of the upper parking spot follow it down until you get to the chunk rocks/bluff from there on down both sides of the river is pretty good fishing, there is also a high line going across the river there right under it is where i catch all my bait fish when i am running lines and i usually hit that spot when i am fishing for whites.