Fly Fishing For Springtime White Bass in The Midwest
Bill Butts
Springfield MO
The availability and catchability of White Bass is very
well-known by thousands of anglers across the country, but
particularly in the Great Plains, Midwest, South and
Southeast regions of the U.S. Their reputation as a hard
striking and fighting gamefish has been experienced and
documented for many decades. The Midwest states of Arkansas,
Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, Tennessee and others provide
excellent fisheries for quantity and size of these great
fish.
Fly Fishing for White Bass, along with their larger Striped
and Hybrid Striped Bass cousins, has been a personal fishing
passion of mine for over 30 years. For years it was a
seasonal pursuit mostly in the spring and some in the fall,
but now it is my focused year-round pursuit.
The White Bass is close to the perfect gamefish
History and Biology
So, how did these prolific fish find their homes in so many
lakes, reservoirs and rivers for us to enjoy? White Bass are
members of the Temperate Bass family and are native to the
Mississippi River and virtually all of its tributaries. Stop
for a moment and think about how geographically widespread
that made them even prior to the construction of many dams
on river systems that include the Illinois, Des Moines,
Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, White, Arkansas, Red
and others. Yes, they once inhabited only rivers.
Today, these rivers still contain resident populations of
Whites as do nearly all the lakes and reservoirs that have
been constructed along their flowages and tributaries. White
Bass are so prolific that some fisheries management
biologists have stated that from their professional
perspective the White Bass is about as close to the perfect
gamefish as they could hope for.
In the spring, White Bass that inhabit impoundments make
their annual spawning run up into the primary tributaries.
The timing of a fishery's run is dependent upon a number of
factors including water temperature and daylight hours. You
can sometimes find Whites in the river mouths or lower river
channels as early as January and February particularly
during stretches of unseasonably warm sunny weather. In
Indiana, White Bass can sometimes show up in early March for
short periods of time. However, when the air temperatures
drop the Whites will retreat to deeper, warmer lake water
temporarily ending the fishing excitement. This activity is
not part of the spawning ritual, but purely the result of
White Bass constantly seeking forage. Knowing what the
primary forage is in the river you fish will help you pick
better times to start your spring explorations. This "roller
coaster" of excitement and water temperature fluctuation
continues until the water temperatures reach the upper 50's
which is suitable for spawning to begin taking place.
It is very important for fishermen that pursue White Bass in
the spring to always carry a thermometer and monitor the
water temps. The peak of the spawning run will occur when
water temps consistently reach the 60 to 65* range.
Years ago, an elderly fisherman on Beaver Creek told me that
he always judged the peak of the run by when the dogwood
trees in the area reached full bloom. At the time, I thought
that was just a good story, but that story proved to be true
every year that I intentionally compared the timing of both.
My advice is still to carry a thermometer.
Many fishermen are familiar with the spawning habits of
trout or bass and panfish species that dig and clean a spot
in the gravel called a "redd" to lay and fertilize their
eggs; however White Bass spawn quite differently.
A female White Bass that is ready to spawn is surrounded by
a small group of males as they swim over a clean gravel area
together. As the female releases her eggs the males release
their sperm and the eggs become fertilized in mid-stream as
they sink to the stream bottom. The eggs contain a slightly
sticky substance that causes them to adhere to the gravel
and stay in place as they continue their development to
hatch. The adult fish have no further involvement in the
process or in protecting the eggs.
White Bass will continue to actively feed up to the very
hour they begin the spawning act, but many fishermen have
experienced the frustration of trying to entice a strike
from a group of spawning fish that are totally oblivious to
anything but sex.
White Bass
Where and How-to
If you live in the Midwest you are not far from an excellent
White Bass fishery. This region is covered with lakes that
have wonderfully healthy populations of not only White Bass,
but also their larger tackle busting cousins, Hybrid
Stripers and Stripers.
Some of the best known fisheries in the Midwest, with their
respective available species are as follows:
Arkansas:
Beaver Lake (all 3 species)
Norfork Lake (all 3 species)
Greers Ferry Lake (Whites and Hybrid Stripers)
Bull Shoals Lake (White Bass)
Indiana:
West Fork of the Whitewater River above Brookville Reservoir
(White Bass)
Ohio River (Striped and Hybrid Striped Bass)
Patoka Lake (Striped Bass)
Lake Freeman and Tippiecanoe River (Hybrid Stripers)
Mississinewa River (White Bass)
Cecil M. Harden Lake (Striped Bass)
Lake Maxinkuckee (White Bass)
Missouri:
Table Rock Lake (White Bass)
Bull Shoals Lake (White Bass)
Stockton Lake (White Bass)
Truman Lake (Whites and Hybrid Stripers)
Pomme De Terre Lake (White Bass)
Oklahoma:
Grand Lake (Whites and Hybrid Stripers)
Hudson Lake (White Bass)
Ft. Gibson Lake (White Bass)
Tenkiller Lake (White Bass)
Kaw, Keystone, Webbers Falls and Robert S. Kerr Lakes, all
part of the Arkansas River system, contain all 3 species
including naturally reproducing Striped Bass.
This is not a comprehensive list of White Bass fisheries,
just some suggestions. However, if you will pick just one or
two of these fisheries and invest the time and effort to
learn how, where and when to find these fish in the Spring
you will be rewarded for your efforts and maybe catch
yourself thinking about and fishing for them all year, too.
White Bass are not usually difficult to catch once you
locate them. Over the years, I have developed a network of
contacts with a variety of tackle shop staff, fellow
fishermen (including local "good ole boy" minnow dunkers),
landowners, fisheries biologists and game wardens for each
specific fishery I pursue these fish. This process takes
time in order to have the right combination of sources for
accurate and timely information. I take the time to meet and
keep in contact with as many of these folks as I possibly
can, always taking and compiling notes from every important
conversation.
This "network" is absolutely critical unless you hire the
services of a guide or know someone that has already
developed a local knowledge of a fishery that will take you
with them.
Additionally, I use a variety of maps and online resources
to continually educate myself. County road maps, DeLorme
Gazeteer topo maps (by state), Google Earth satellite
photos, and several websites for water flow and temperature
data are constantly utilized for their valuable content.
If you will concentrate your initial efforts on fishing just
below the first two or three shoals/riffles above lake
water, these are always great places in which to focus. In
low water years, the majority of White Bass will do their
spawning in the lower stretches of a tributary. In years
with strong and fluctuating flows from spring rains, you may
find Whites in scattered groups literally miles up the river
and not as concentrated.
White Bass do not like to stay in the fastest moving current
in the river, but prefer to hold just off the edges of
current in deeper holes.
If you happen to catch them in faster water it is because
they are moving up or down through that water or chasing
baitfish for a short time.
An excellent time to fish streams is after
a good rain and turns it very murky
So, what does a great White Bass fishing day in the spring
look like?
All the Temperate Bass species are highly photosensitive
(sensitive to bright sunlight). Most of the very best days
of fishing for these species for me have occurred on either
cloudy to very dark cloudy and rainy days, or the first and
last two hours of daylight on a clear day. Night fishing can
be excellent, too.
Water clarity is also a factor that fishermen need to
consider. Some tributaries are extremely clear during normal
flows, but many are never very clear. I have always found
that White Bass that spawn in very clear streams are even
more sensitive to light and to leader size due to the
optimum visibility. I've also observed that these fish do
not spend much extra time feeding in a clear water stream
before or after spawning. This makes timing your fishing
efforts even more critical because the total time they spend
in that particular stream is very limited. It should also
make sense that fishing on low light days or at night are
even more important for success.
Another excellent time to fish these clear streams is after
a good rain raises the flow of the stream and turns it very
murky. Just as the stream is clearing up but is still just a
little murky is one of the best times to fish these waters.
Murky water streams, though perhaps not as picturesque or
easy to wade, hold White Bass longer before and after their
spawning ritual is completed. I believe it is purely due to
their comfort level of not being as visible as in clearer
water. The streams that I fish that have the longest lasting
quality fishing during the spring are all murky water
streams.
Of course, spring rains can keep a stream murky to muddy for
extended periods of time sometimes even ruining the fishing
for weeks. I've caught Whites in virtually muddy water on
many streams, but the lack of visibility for the fish
becomes a limiting factor for success. I'll come back to
this factor, later.
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Fly Tackle
A lot of fly fishermen attempt to use their light trout rods
when first learning to fish for these strong fish and I
think that is a mistake. The tackle that I suggest is
recommended based on many years of experience and helping
others learn to catch these awesome fish.
Fly Rods:
The best overall fly rod I would recommend is a 9 foot 7
weight with a fast/stiff tip (not soft like many trout
rods). If you fish a stream or lake where you never catch a
White Bass over 2# and there aren't Hybrids or Stripers in
that fishery a fast action 6 weight will work for you. Since
a number of fisheries also contain Hybrids and Stripers, you
don’t want to hook a five to ten-pounder of either specie
and not have the rod strength to land it or fight it so long
you can't release it.
You don't have to spend a lot of money for a good rod of the
specifications I've outlined. It is amazing how many great
fly rods there are on the market in all price ranges from
less than $100 to $700. Buy the best total outfit you can
afford and know that it will perform well if you have
followed these basic guidelines.
Fly Reels:
A large arbor style fly reel with a disk drag, capacity for
your fly line and about 100 yards of backing, and enough
combined physical weight to properly counterbalance your rod
is my suggestion.
Your loaded fly reel should balance equally or teeter
slightly to the reel end of the rod when you balance your
rod near the top of the cork handle with your index finger.
If your rod teeters to the rod tip end, you will fatigue
much more quickly during a day of fishing.
Fly Lines:
Using the right combination of fly line and leader for White
Bass fishing is what I believe gives the fisherman the best
chance for success. I've seen fly fishermen with very
similar rigging to what I suggest and fail miserably in
their efforts in very productive water where others are
catching fish.
 For most spring White Bass fishing in this region, the most
important fly line you should have is a 10 to 15' type 3
sink-tip. The most important factor in this line is "type
3". I use a 15' version but the reason I say 10-15' is that
different brands and qualities of fly lines are available
and some of them are 10 and 12' which will work very well,
too. Most economy priced sink-tip lines that I have seen
have 10' sink-tips.
For the past several years, I have experimented with a wide
variety of fly lines from full floating to full sinking and
I still spend at least 80% of my fishing time using the type
3 sink-tip for White Bass.
RIO Outbound Short Fly Line
Additional fly lines that I still find valuable include a
floating line with a heavy front taper like a Rio Clouser or
Bass Bug Taper, and a faster sinking tip like a type 5 or 6
for deeper holes that can't be effectively fished with the
type 3.
If you want to cover all levels from floating to deep
sinking without having to buy several spools and lines for
your reel, I would suggest considering a Rio Versi-tip or
Scientific Anglers/3M Quad-tip fly line. These lines have 4
interchangeable loop-to-loop tip sections that can be
quickly changed to fish the required depth. The lines retail
for over $100 for a set, but the savings over buying
multiple reel spools is considerable.
I think this is the best overall approach to rig for White
Bass fishing, whether it is for river or lake fishing.
Leaders and Knots:
With a sinking tip fly line, the leader system I've found
perfectly adequate and effective is very simple.
On a 7 weight line, I attach an 18" butt section of 15-20#
mono and tie a 1.5" Perfection Loop in the end. The
connection of the butt section to line is done in one of two
ways. Either with a needle nail-knot or a braided loop
splice using 35 or 50# Gudebrod Braided Mono.
To this butt section I attach 2.5' of 3x to 0x tippet with a
double-surgeons loop knot. I rarely use fluorocarbon tippet
for this type of fishing, though I know some who do. If you
decide to use fluorocarbon, you can definitely use 1x or 0x
since it is stronger than mono in the same diameter. I don't
usually find that tippet diameter is much of an issue unless
the water is extremely clear. In very murky to muddy water,
or at night, the tippet size should not be any issue. Use
the heaviest size you can.
I attach the fly to the tippet with a Lefty Kreh Non-slip
Loop Knot to allow the fly the most natural and enticing
action.
Note: When you are constructing this rigging at home,
including making up some extra pre-tied tippets, I highly
suggest that you carefully apply a drop of Zap to each knot
just as you draw it tight. Even if your knot is not
perfectly tied (visibly symmetrical as you draw it down),
the addition of the super glue with make it virtually a 100%
knot. Nice insurance, if you take the time to do this.
Flies:
The most important forage foods for White Bass, and all
Temperate Basses are Threadfin Shad and Gizzard Shad, in
most Midwest fisheries. Threadfins reach a maximum adult
size of 3.5", and Gizzards about 14".
Sure, Whites do like a variety of other baitfish (including
small suckers, trout, chubs, darters, sculpins, perch and
sunfish) and crawfish, but Shad account for the vast
majority of their total forage.
Threadfin Shad
With these forage factors in mind, I tie and fish a variety
of baitfish patterns and color combinations including the
following:
Fly Patterns
*Clouser Deep Minnow
*Half & Half Deep Minnow
*Cowen Baitfish
*Blanton Flashtail Whistler
*Woods SeaDucer
*Bill's Mylar Jig
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Cowen Baitfish
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Color Combinations (top/mid-section/belly color)
*Gray/White
*Black/Gray/White
*Bright Pink/White
*Chartreuse/White
*Chartreuse/Orange
*Chartreuse/Black
*Olive/Orange
*Olive/Cream
*All White
*All Tan
*All Black or Purple (for nighttime and muddy water)
It is more important to have the correct size (length)
baitfish than a specific hook size. If I meet another
fisherman on the water who is really catching fish, I always
ask what length and what color of lure or fly they are
using.
In the patterns I have outlined, I tie them mostly 2 to 3.5"
long for White Bass, except for my jig pattern which I tie
only 1 to 1.5" on 1/80 and 1/64th oz. jigheads. However, I
always carry some the same baitfish patterns in larger 4 to
6" lengths for opportunities to catch a nice Hybrid or
Striper. Always remember that you don't really need large
baits for White Bass since they have relatively small mouths
for their body size and rarely consume large prey.
For hooks, I have tested and continue to experiment with a
variety of styles and brands. Overall, if you have a quality
general-purpose saltwater hook (regular or 1x long) in sizes
6 thru 2 they will work well for these patterns.
There are several good brands like Tiemco and Gamakatsu that
have super-sharp chemically sharpened points, but understand
that they are quite pricey. The best value in this category
of hooks is the Mustad Signature Series #S71S-SS (chemically
sharpened). Probably the most economical quality hooks in
this category are the Mustad #3407 and 34007 (neither are
chemically sharpened).
These hooks are more expensive than regular bronze hooks,
but they are much stronger for the times that you are lucky
enough to hook a larger Hybrid or Striper. If the fishery
you are targeting has only White Bass you can use the Mustad
#3366 bronze hook, though it is not nearly as sharp or
strong.
Clouser Deep Minnow
I highly recommend that you bend down the barbs on all your
White Bass flies, and be sure to sharpen the points on any
hooks that are not chemically sharpened. Barbless hooks
facilitate a quicker penetration hook set, as well as an
easier release that saves wear and tear on the fish and your
fly.
Retrieve Techniques
It's important to point out the need for variety and
experimentation with retrieves for White Bass. There is not
one best magical technique, but one thing I would definitely
suggest to keep in mind is not to get into a rut with the
same technique all the time.
It's important to have an intentional plan for why and how
to modify your technique on the stream. There are a few
basic guidelines I will share with you, most of which will
make sense. Simply, if one technique isn't working, try a
different one until you find what produces strikes.
In clear water that is above 60* you have conditions for
White Bass to aggressively track your fly by sight, and
optimum water temperature for this baitfish-eating machine
to actively and regularly feed. These conditions allow for
moderate to very fast retrieves, when necessary.
In clear water, I will use an erratic technique of short,
fast strips, followed by a long strip or dead pause. Other
times, a moderate pace of long strips (roughly 24-30")
followed by a pause with a couple of rod-tip twitches drives
Whites crazy.
Toward the other extreme, reasons for a very slow to
moderate retrieve include water that is colder than 55*,
particularly in the high 30's and 40's which keeps these
fish in a sluggish mood; and murky to muddy water which
impairs visibility. Another condition for slower retrieves
is when you fish at night.
In poor visibility water and at night, you want to be sure
your retrieve is steady and consistent to allow the fish to
home in on your fly. If the fly is jigged up and down
erratically it makes it more difficult for the predator to
accurately strike.
It is also important to have the proper rod and line control
as you make these retrieves. I keep my rod tip at or just
above the water and pointed almost straight at my line as it
swings in the current. My strip retrieves are controlled by
never allowing any slack line between my casting hand and
where the line touches the water near my rod tip. I maintain
tight control of the line with either my index finger or two
fingers on my rod hand, as well as with my opposite hand, so
that I can instantly and aggressively set the hook. The
angle of the rod at hook-set is about 30-45* which utilizes
the more powerful butt and mid-sections of the rod for a
solid hook-up.
If you want to kick off your spring fishing with some hot
action catching a great gamefish, do your homework and get
prepared for some awesome White Bass fishing in the
Midwestern States with your fly tackle, this year. See you
on the river!
Be prepared for some awesome White Bass fishing!
Bill Butts began his 40 year journey in the sport and arts
of fly fishing on the lakes and trout streams of the
Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks.
Many years ago, he was fortunate to become friends with many
of the fly fishing industry leaders that willingly mentored
him in the skills of fly casting, fly tying, and
photography. Dave Whitlock and Lefty Kreh are credited with
being the most influential.
Bill strives to share his passion and enthusiasm for fly
fishing with anyone who requests his help, from newcomers to
the sport to seasoned veterans. He firmly believes the
sharing attitude that permeates this great sport is the very
foundation of what makes it so great.
Bill was featured in an ItinerantAngler.com podcast entitled
"White Bass & Striper MasterClass", in March 2008, which was
subsequently featured on MidCurrent.com. He also moderates
Temperate Bass discussion topics on the OzarkAnglers.com
forum. He is also an enthusiastic speaker to clubs and fly
fishing events on the topic.
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