white bass run ??

[holleybob]

I know hardly anyone post on the Lower Taney site but I'm going to ask anyway. Is there a significant white bass run on lower Taney ? I caught a couple down there last summer around Rockaway but was not sure if they were a fluke or if there are many whites in the lower end.  Thought maybe they run up Bull creek. 

 

Jeff

[Phil Lilley]

I don't know - may be someone else does.  I know there's a decent population of them in here but if and when I do catch one it is a fluke.

[trythisonemv]

Might as well just buzz over to swan creek! It's close and has a good run

[MSUFisherBear]

hollybob - Nice to know I'm not the only one. I had started to post an update of my recent trip this past Saturday around that area. Was looking for crappie and/or whites but didn't run in to much of either. That was the first time I had been out on Taneycomo in search of bass/crappie/whites since I was a kid on a vacation. Was in the kayak working a number of things. For whites I was throwing a shad rap and modified Strike King mini king spinner bait. I put a decent sized willow blade on on those and use them in clearer water with a lot of success for various species, especially whites. I was swimming the mini king as slow as possible and using the shad rap like a stick bait. I'd twitch, pause for several seconds, then go proceed again until I had completed the retrieve. Nothing on either. I did have a couple of smaller bass (looked to be LM) turn and follow in clearer water but not much success in getting a bite.

 

Turned my attention to the crappie without much success either. No crappie, and a couple of dink bass. Was throwing a road runner. Started with a curly tail trailer and then switched over to a Lake Fork swimming minnow with the paddle tail. Again, two that have produced for me in the past but didn't today. Not sure if it was the lake or conditions. Did run in to a couple of other guys in the area while out paddling around but, according to what they were telling me, it was pretty slow for them as well.

 

I think I'm going to give it another shot this weekend and possibly run over to Swan creek and give it a shot as well. I'll try and post a report if I get over that way.

[tho1mas]

I have always thought the whites should be above Bull Island in March & early April. Must not be the case or it is a well kept secret. They love current & the warmer water plus the gravel bottom.

Perhaps Ducky or others will come clean on this matter.

[MSUFisherBear]

Tho1mas... Still getting used to Taney. Is Bull island the first island going up river from the mouth?

I will say this much... For anyone who likes carp angling, there were some absolute cows working the big flat there at the mouth. Never been one to really target them but I couldn't help thinking how much fun snagging one in the Yak would be. Would definitely make for a fun ride!

[tho1mas]

MSUFisherBear - the island is where the creek makes a sharp right turn. The next 1/4 mile is rock and gravel bottom (pretty small water after that). Look at Phil's Taney maps on here or Google Earth for Rockaway Beach.

Good luck & let me know if you find any whites up there.

[holleybob]

21 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

I don't know - may be someone else does.  I know there's a decent population of them in here but if and when I do catch one it is a fluke.

Yes, This has been my experience as well although the several that I have stumbled on were pigs! Never caught a small one there, Maybe because I was using bass baits, Dunno. 

[holleybob]

20 hours ago, trythisonemv said:

Might as well just buzz over to swan creek! It's close and has a good run

Probably very solid advice. I've never done particularly well on lower Taney but I do enjoy the water there, the scenery and mostly the solitude that comes with much fewer boats. Maybe I'm getting too old to fight the crowds although I suppose there are crowds for a reason.  

 

[holleybob]

19 hours ago, MSUFisherBear said:

hollybob - Nice to know I'm not the only one. I had started to post an update of my recent trip this past Saturday around that area. Was looking for crappie and/or whites but didn't run in to much of either. That was the first time I had been out on Taneycomo in search of bass/crappie/whites since I was a kid on a vacation. Was in the kayak working a number of things. For whites I was throwing a shad rap and modified Strike King mini king spinner bait. I put a decent sized willow blade on on those and use them in clearer water with a lot of success for various species, especially whites. I was swimming the mini king as slow as possible and using the shad rap like a stick bait. I'd twitch, pause for several seconds, then go proceed again until I had completed the retrieve. Nothing on either. I did have a couple of smaller bass (looked to be LM) turn and follow in clearer water but not much success in getting a bite.

 

Turned my attention to the crappie without much success either. No crappie, and a couple of dink bass. Was throwing a road runner. Started with a curly tail trailer and then switched over to a Lake Fork swimming minnow with the paddle tail. Again, two that have produced for me in the past but didn't today. Not sure if it was the lake or conditions. Did run in to a couple of other guys in the area while out paddling around but, according to what they were telling me, it was pretty slow for them as well.

 

I think I'm going to give it another shot this weekend and possibly run over to Swan creek and give it a shot as well. I'll try and post a report if I get over that way.

Sounds like you were doing everything right. I've had good luck on road runners in the past. Please post a report if you go to Swan. I think lower Taney is just a different animal sometimes. I know some have it figured out but they don't post.