question about the white bass

[Josh]

About a week ago the white bass were just boiling in the shell knob area and I was wondering if anyone knows about how long this typically last for the white bass???

I'm planning a trip the week after Easter and I'm hoping I will run into the white bass and the crappie but… if the whites are not expected to keep doing that type of run then I might try to take a trip just to run into that type of fishing again because I had a blast

[Dutch]

The white bass migration starts as early as January on some of our lakes depending on water temps and flow rates. When they begin to spawn depends on who is doing the talking. Some say as early as 45° and some say 54°.

I have been fishing on a couple of area lakes and am finding about 1/2 of the females to be at least partially spawned out.

When the spawn is over the fish will start migrating back down stream. Lots of them won't go very far as long as there is a sizeable shad population.

You can look for them to hold close to channels and in the mouths of coves. They do a lot of suspending.

If it is windy they will follow the food chain to banks and points.

If you have good electronics, look for large schools of shad and the whites won't be far away.

[Sam]

Josh - The week after Easter ought to be prime time for white bass and crappie in lots of river locations on and around Tablerock and Bull Shoals.

Every year and every trip is different - but I've had good white bass trips at James River, Beaver Creek, and other places all through April and into the first week of May. Crappie fishing stays good even longer - with the pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn bite lasting well into May.

And even after the spawning is over, white bass and crappie limits can often be caught in the lakes all through the summer and fall.

[Josh]

thats the problem... i don't have the electronics to find the shad. we are looking to buy one but we are lost when it comes to choosing a finder...

Last time I just took my boat from shell knob (lost hill area) and headed up to kings river, once i rounded the first bend I started to see some top water action so I casted out and BAM!! white bass all over the place (they were just boiling) i don't know if thats there spawn but i want to fish that again it was a blast.

by the way every fish was full of eggs.

[Dutch]

Choosing a good one can be a chore. I personally, like to have 480X480 pixels. That gives a pretty good image. I am not sure about too many prices. I run a Lowrance X125 on the tmotor. It sells for around $300

[Sam]

Josh - White bass feeding on top isn't just during the spawn, it happens in the lakes through the summer and fall.

No matter if I'm fishing for bass or crappie, I've learned to keep one spinning rig in the boat with a small roostertail tied on. I've also learned to listen for a "waterfall" sound in the distance when I'm fishing - 'cause that's white bass boiling on top.

When you hear and see that, drop everything, gun the motor in that direction, and grab the roostertail rig. Cut the motor before you get too close, and coast to where you can cast into the "boil". It sure is a lot of fun.

Sometimes you'll catch one or two white bass that way, then the surface action will stop. Just wait - it'll probably break out again nearby. I've "chased the boils" that way for as much as an hour sometimes.

Another tip, especially on Bull Shoals - watch for seagulls in the distance. If you see a bunch of them diving and catching shad on top of the water, head that way. Chances are, the shad are being driven to the top by a school of white bass feeding on them from below.

[Josh]

thanks guys, I'm still new to the whole white bass fishing... actually this is the first year that i have really been able to do a lot of fishing... honestly i have always let my work get in the way (kinda became a workaholic for awhile) so now I'm trying to dust off the rods and tackle and remember all the things my papa taught me.