White Bass

Description

White bass are a species of temperate bass, more closely related to saltwater striped bass than largemouths or smallmouths.  They are more deep-bodied than stripers, but closely resemble them in patterns, with black, unbroken stripes on their sides.  These fish often live in lakes or reservoirs, but every spring make a spawning run into feeder creeks.  These runs are often incredible.  I have heard stories of upwards of 50 white bass being caught in half a day.  In reservoirs, they often bust baitfish on the surface, creating freshwater bait blitzes that happen quickly, but provide the same opportunity to catch incredible numbers of fish.  They can be confused with hybrid striped bass, or wipers, but these fish's lines on their sides are broken, whereas those on the white bass are not.

Size

White bass do not reach very large sizes.  An average from 1 to 2 pounds is frequently seen, and the world record lies just under 7 pounds.  Size really doesn't matter with these fish as much as their pugnacious fight and the ability to catch dozens when the timing is right.

Habitat

White bass live in fairly temperate water.  Most temperate bass function well in water temperatures ranging from 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.  They can be found in reservoirs and lakes, and usually make spawning runs into feeder streams or creeks.  They can also often be found in rivers.

Food Sources

White bass will strike at anything bright or flashy enough to get their attention during their spawning run.  In lakes and reservoirs, they tend to strike at baitballs or small schools of shad.  Shad and other minnows are their main forage, as white bass tend to be an open water schooling fish.

Techniques

During the spawning run, white bass hit anything.  Fishing clousers, wooly buggers, or any bright streamer swung, stripped, drifted, you name it, can probably catch a fish.
White bass busting bait on a lake or reservoir require some more skill.  You can either fish these fish with small poppers to replicate dying baitfish or you can throw a weightless baitfish imitation that just sinks enough to get into the main school.  You need to have your sizing spot-on during these events
or you might not get any strikes.

Equipment

Rod: Any basic rod will work.  I prefer using my all-around warmwater rod, which happens to be a 9 foot 6 weight.

Reel: These fish fight well, but don't run enough to require a nice reel.  Just make sure you have a decent disk drag that has a small amount of stopping power. (My 6 weight reel costs about $40)

Line: This is where you have to decide for yourself.  On larger river systems during the run, a sinking line is almost required.  On creeks or smaller bodies of water, a floating or intermediate tip line would do just fine.  It all depends on how deep the fish are and how you like to fish for them.

Leader: These fish aren't super line shy.  Fish whatever leader you want.  I usually use a 9 foot leader that tapers down to 8-10 lb tippet.  Fluoro and mono both work, but you should have a mono leader on if you're fishing for them on the surface.

Flies: Anything resembling a baitfish will work during the run.  Many have had luck with clousers and wooly buggers in such outlandish colors as chartreuse, cotton candy, bright yellow, and many others.  The brighter, the better for white bass on the run.  In the main reservoir, flies that match baitfish well will often catch fish.  Poppers may work, but if not, you may have to switch to subsurface streamers.