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Prof. Salt

Each year I make time during the Spring White Bass spawning run to get into a river above a lake and enjoy the carnage. The fish are seeking shallow rapids over sand or rocky bottoms, so fishermen do well to seek out the same features in the rivers. White bass lack size, with most in the 11-13" range, but they are tasty on a plate and readily bite a lure. The best way to catch these fish is on fly, and even if you only have a heavy fly fishing outfit for reds in the salt, you can take it for some fun in the river during a time of year that typically leaves us wishing for more water on the flats. My first year of doing this, I used my 8wt and caught a LOT of fish. Of course, if you have a smaller fly rod it will result in more smiles.

I went up in February and caught 163 on a Friday and 80 more on a Saturday (weekend crowds tend to turn the bite down). After a long few weeks finishing a report for an accrediting agency, I again got a chance to play with these fish last Wednesday. I launched and paddled upstream in the dark and began fishing at daylight. By 2:00pm I had landed 311 fish and was ready to quit and find a burger for lunch. Saturday I returned one last time, and managed to catch another 361 before 2:00. A limit of 25 fish takes a while to clean, but they really are tasty little fish, and worth the effort.

I've studied these fish for several years, and every year my fly design develops a little more to be more effective. Lately I seem to have it dialed in.

The fish clearly prefer a white fly, and the pattern I'm tying is simple. Size 6 hook, XS copper dumbell eyes, medium white cactus chenille, and some white EP fiber for the tail. For years the flies would be destroyed after +/-30 fish but I have figured out how to make them a bit more durable. Wendesday all 311 fish came from one fly, and Saturday all fish were also caught on a single fly. It was a great diversion, and I'm ready now to hit the flats for reds again.

CaptinAcademy · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 2:47 pm Post subject:

Hi Salt,
Yes! I do miss that up on the Pedernales and South San Gabriel.
If I may ask, which river are you fishing?
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Steve-O
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My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it. ~Koos Brandt

Prof. Salt · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 3:18 pm Post subject:

I was in the Nueces above George West, but it's not usually very boat friendly. Logs and rocks combined with limited visibility in the water means lots of boaters have difficulty getting in and out of the area. If you have a kayak and are willing to paddle that far, it can be an amazing place to fish.

CaptinAcademy · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 4:19 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I hear ya, best White Bass spots I usually find a way to walk to... They like super skinny water to spawn.
Pedernales was OK to get a boat up to a point, but had to watch out for massive Cypress stumps just under the water sometimes..
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Steve-O
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My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it. ~Koos Brandt

ziacatcher · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 9:31 pm Post subject:

Nice job Glenn. Enjoyed your report. Awesome!

Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1114

Yes, they have started here, I call them taco fixins. My preference is a small silver spoon or short white bucktail. It's like fishing for Spanish Mackerel in a way, cast out and rip it back. I flatten the barbs so they are easier to unhook.

I just wish the wind would settle down. Gusts supposed to be 40 mph with 30 mph sustained this afternoon.

Prof. Salt · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:37 am Post subject:

Ray · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 2:06 pm Post subject:

That is an amazing number of fish, even for white bass!
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Ray

Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1114