White Bass peak

[Ryan Walker]

So, with all this early spring like weather, I decided to go back and look at my James River white bass logs for the past 4 years. Here's what I found:

If you average out the last 4 years, between March 15 and March 30, average was 8.4375 fish per fishing day. I fished 44 of the 64 days ( 2012-2015, mostly weekday mornings and evenings, 4 hours fished was the average). From the looks, the average gets skewed the closer to March 30 you get. Best day was 18, worst was 0 ( a few of those, but we won't talk about that)...

Between March 30 and April 17 average was 17.75 fish per fishing day. I fished 48 of the 72 days (2012-2015), roughly averaged 4 hours per fishing day. The days I did not fish, the water was to high or I had obligations. Best day was 36 fish caught. Worst was 3. Biggest Whitebass I kept was a hair over 3lbs. Biggest Walleye was 24", probably 5 lbs

Noticed the redbuds right around March 24th (25th, 24th,24th,27th respectively). This really only reflects when I was actually paying attention...

Interestingly enough: I've caught 9 Walleye while Whitebass fishing at Taylor/Blunk those 4 years-5 of them on an April 11th, and all of them from the same 200 yard stretch at the top of the shoal to the high dirt bank above the shoal, and most of those from a Hilton-Heated-Indoor-Swimming Pool-sized depression right at the dirt bank. All on a clouser...

Was still catching fish in early May of 2013, right up to the snow on May 3rd. 

All days were wade/bank fishing with a flyrod. Almost half of the days I fished I fished both morning and evening. 

For what it's worth..

 

[fishinwrench]

That's some awesome Intel.   How do you feel about mornings vs evenings ?

Evenings seem better to me but I fish way more evenings than I do mornings so I really don't know.

[ollie]

Thanks for the info.  I like a numbers crunch for a stretch I have only fished a couple of times.  At least that gives you a good start.  I wish I had started keeping info like that on Capps and some of the other creeks I fish.

[Jerry Rapp]

good stuff Ryan.  Numbers do not lie. Everyone tries to get make the make the runs earlier than what they actually are.  Just like the bass spawn. 

[Ryan Walker]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

That's some awesome Intel.   How do you feel about mornings vs evenings ?

Evenings seem better to me but I fish way more evenings than I do mornings so I really don't know.

It looks like I fished the mornings more. But I think the common denominator is low light. All of the Walleye I caught were in the evening.

[Ryan Walker]

1 hour ago, ollie said:

Thanks for the info.  I like a numbers crunch for a stretch I have only fished a couple of times.  At least that gives you a good start.  I wish I had started keeping info like that on Capps and some of the other creeks I fish.

I keep them on Crane, the James and all the Tailwaters. My boys are getting old enough that it will make some sense to them, and it's important to me that they know I did more than work, come home, repeat. They will start adding to it this year ( the twins are 10 and the oldest is 12). 

[Ryan Walker]

1 hour ago, Jerry Rapp said:

good stuff Ryan.  Numbers do not lie. Everyone tries to get make the make the runs earlier than what they actually are.  Just like the bass spawn. 

Yea Jerry, I hear ya. My own mind was made up that it was late this year until I looked back. Seems fairly consistent. Those old wives tales are based on observations of folks that didn't have solunar tables and all kinds of electronics..

[Ryan Walker]

Thought I'd add that after April 17, most years, I was focused on blasting a thunder chicken for a couple of weeks, so there are gaps in my fishing logs..

[Crappie Fisherman]

Did you keep track of water temp?

[Ryan Walker]

5 minutes ago, Crappie Fisherman said:

Did you keep track of water temp?

Randomly. I've started to be more mindfull of that this year. I'll go back and see if I put any notes on it.