Taking Advantage of the White Bass Run

Why do you fish?  It’s something that every angler has pondered from one time.  Some anglers may find they fish for the meat.  Others may fish for the thrill of the chase.  Many fishermen fish to relax.  A few fishermen may fish for bragging rights amongst their buddies. Serious fishermen may fish for tournament prizes and accolades.  I will admit, I’ve fished for all of the reasons just listed.  However, over a span of two weeks in May each year, I fish solely for fun.  This happens normally around the beginning to middle of May, and the fun manifests itself in the white bass run.

 

There is nothing better than a fish cranking on your extra-light gear!

The white bass run happens all over the state as leaves are on the trees, flowers are in full bloom, geese are escorting their goslings around, and most of the traditional game-fish have either finished or are in the process of spawning.  In some places it starts earlier, and in some places it starts later.  From the Maumee down to the Ohio River watershed, you can apply similar techniques I will discuss in this write-up and you will surely find success and a great time on the water.

The first thing you will need to successfully fish the white bass run is the knowledge of when and where these fish will be located.  White bass will typically begin spawning right as the crappie are finishing up their spawning rituals.  So, if you know the water temperature, focus in on the water being 60-65 degrees and you will have the first ingredient to a successful trip completed.

The next variable you will need to figure out is where these fish will tend to spawn.  What I have found is that the white bass will “run”.  So, when you pick a spot to fish, look for areas that have some sort of flow to them.  Maybe it is a channel on the lake.  Other areas could be inlets that run into a lake.  Sometimes, just a river like the Maumee will have an annual white bass run of epic proportions.  Regardless, the common factor is the white bass like a bit of current to begin the spawn.

Notice the water is very stained.  This was taken after a small storm and the flow would not be good to fish for white bass at this point.  See below for ideal conditions for white bass.

Now that you know when and where to fish, you also have to consider the conditions under which white bass will actually be willing to bite.  There is nothing more frustrating than going to a spot that you know should produce, during the time it should produce, and getting shut out.  Carefully watch the forecast, especially the precipitation the week preceding a trip to target white bass.  In large rivers like the Maumee or Ohio Rivers, the white bass will not be as affected by mild precipitation.  However, in their tributaries slight stain to the water will often shut the fish off completely.  A rule of thumb I follow for the smaller tributaries is the four-day rule.  It has to be precipitation-free for four days in order for me to even attempt fishing for white bass.  The flow I fish is gin-clear when there has not been precipitation, and this is a prerequisite for success during the run.

The next factor to consider when fishing for white bass is the tackle and gear you will be using.  What is the correct pound test?  What length, weight, and action of rod?  Do I use live bait or lures?  The best thing you can do to catch white bass is keep it simple.  You do not need the fanciest rods or lures.  These are very aggressive fish during the spawn and they don’t care what your line looks like, or if you have a $250 reel paired up on your tournament bass rod.

Having said that, you do need to watch the length of the rod you bring.  When I first started fishing the run in my area, I decided it would be best to bring a 7’ light weight, moderate action rod.  The only issue I encountered was the 7’ part of that rod.  What you will find is white bass will be stacked up in the smallest streams with the thickest vegetation on the banks as they can find.  This makes it very difficult for the typical bank angler to even cast to catch these fish.  Over the years, I have found that a 5’6” ultra-light rod has suited me best.  Also, fishing from a kayak gives you a distinct advantage because you are not confined to one specific area and you also get away from the brush that entangles your line and rods so indiscriminately.  

 

These are St. Croix Panfish Series Rods.  They provide great sensitivity and the solid hooksets you will need to land the fish.

The appropriate lures to use for white bass are easy.  Roostertails.  A Roostertail is just an inline spinner with a free-swinging treble hook at the end of it.  Each year around September, I go to my local Wal-Mart and stock up on three different colors of Roostertails for the upcoming year.  The colors are white, yellow, and orange.  These three colors will catch you more fish faster than any others in my experience.   The reason I stock up in September is because savvy anglers know these simple lures work and they are often sold out of my local stores until then.  For the weight, I use 1/16^th or 1/8^th oz. Roostertails.  The dominant color is overwhelmingly white.  I use as small of a lure as I can with the blade still spinning.  This is most often the 1/16^th oz. variety.  

These are Roostertails.  They work great for white bass, but as you can see, the hooks are fragile and not well-made.

 Normally, 6lb test monofilament works great, although this year I tried 6lb P-Line fluorocarbon-coated monofilament and I’m sold on its effectiveness.

The technique I use has been refined over the last few years and has proven deadly from a kayak.  I spool up two Pflueger President 6925 reels with 6lb P-Line.  I put these reels on two Ultra-Light St. Croix 5’6” and 6’9” Panfish Series rods.  On one rod, I put a white 1/16^th oz. spinner, and the other I put a 1/16^th oz. orange spinner.  The reason I use two rods is to switch colors.  White bass are very finicky regarding color, and they will turn off immediately, almost crappie-like after seeing the same-colored Roostertail spin by multiple times.    When the white bass are hitting, you will catch them every cast.  My rule is to switch to orange for two to three reaction-strike fish when you have not caught a white bass on your white Roostertail for five casts.  You do not need to vary your cadence or retrieve, and you actually will not get as many strikes if you do.  The white bass like a moderate, steady retrieve.  Be sure to bring at least 4 or 5 of each bait.  These Roostertails only cost about $2 a piece, but they are cheaply made and the hooks will bend and break very easily.

One more extremely important factor is being able to see into the water.  The area I typically fish is only two feet deep, with a four-foot drop.  I can see all of the way to the bottom easily with my Oakley Flak Jacket Shallow Blue Angling Specific sunglasses.  The advantage of this is that I can see the schooling fish.  When casting my spinner, I can see the fish take swipes at it, and I can also see the fish that will actually hit it, and when they hit it.  There are not many things more entertaining than watching a white bass come from ten feet away, and blindside your spinnerbait, flipping itself head over tail because it hit the lure so hard.  This is an advantage because you can get a definite and timely hookset, resulting in very few lost fish.

The main attraction of fishing white bass for me is the rapid-fire, non-stop action you can get into when fishing for this species.  You will often catch fish on every cast.  Last year I caught 56 white bass in a mere 90 minutes.  This year I was able to top it with 100 white bass in a little under 3 hours.  If I would have fished all day, there is no doubt I could have caught in the hundreds of fish.  Not sure why anyone would want to do such a thing, but that is the endearing nature of these fish.  It is the bulldog way they hit your lure, and their innately aggressive nature that keeps me coming back each year around this time.

This is a fish-counter.  I had my first "century night" last week for white bass.

White bass are not only entertaining to catch, but they can be delicious in the fryer as well.  I have held fish fry’s for my entire extended family from one short session of fishing.  Eating crappie and white bass side-by-side, my family actually preferred the white bass.  Prepared correctly, they will not be mushy, and they will maintain their texture and flavor very well.  

Be sure to check out your local flows and inlets this spring to see if they hold any white bass.  Do not overlook these secondary game-fish because they will provide you with hours of fun on the water.