ecently following a guided duck hunt on Lake Livingston, my consumer requested me the large query. “When do the White Bass come up the creeks to spawn? February I answered. “Actually, that early”, he mentioned.

A mix of rising water temperature, transferring water and longer days across the first of February will set off the annual spawn of the White Bass. Lake Livingston White Bass will migrate by the 1000’s looking for spawning grounds in February when the environmental circumstances are proper.

Search for White Bass to spawn on main feeder creeks on higher Lake Livingston. White Rock, Harmon, Nelson and Bedias creeks are the creeks which can be most probably to be loaded with spawning Whites. Shifting water is an important issue to recollect when looking for spawning White Bass. The transferring present of the creek or river will pull White Bass upstream like a magnet. This may have a number of results on the place you need to fish. First, in a dry Spring, the river channel will stay low and should present the one present White Bass will detect. Due to this fact, White Bass will spawn within the river channel by no means transferring into tributary creeks. If it’s a dry yr, you’ll be able to wager the river will unload large catches of 12 – 16 inch White Bass from the Jungle space North and above Bedias Creek. If creeks stay low, White Bass fishing within the creeks can be marginal. Second, following native rains White Bass will then transfer into higher reaches of main creeks by the 1000’s. This fishing will be nice however timing is essential. Whites will transfer as far upstream as they will so long as they really feel transferring water. As the present subsides, the fish will transfer downstream because the water degree within the creek drops. Underneath these circumstances, anglers ought to run up main creeks as far North as they will shortly following a rain. Search for clearing water and begin fishing downstream till you discover the fish. One of many greatest errors fisherman make is ready too lengthy following an area rain to go fishing. 48 hours is just too lengthy. It’s the transferring water that concentrates the fish in small pockets of creeks the place feverish motion will happen.

So far as strategies and sort out for Whites, keep in mind a few fundamental guidelines. Typically, when fishing the river use larger baits, ex. 1/4 oz Rattle Traps. When fishing the creeks, use smaller baits, ex. Tiny Traps and minnow imitation baits. Whites feed extra on minnows up the creeks and shad within the river channel. When creek fishing, I take advantage of 8 lb take a look at spinning gear. One in every of my favourite White Bass lures is a plastic Shad in pearl blue black 2 inch or 1 inch rigged on 1/4 oz or 1/8 oz jig heads. Take a pink Marks-a-Lot and paint the gills. One of many greatest errors that I see folks making when fishing for White Bass is fishing too quick. Sure, White Bass will get aggressive and slam a fast-paced bait. Extra typically, the circumstances would require a slower transferring bait. Contact the underside with a jig and you’ll catch extra fish. I take advantage of what I name “the tickle approach”, very like fishing a plastic worm for Black Bass. Forged out and let the jig settle to the underside then elevate your rod tip and bounce or tickle it barely. Additionally, attempt a sluggish steadily retrieve and cease. The fish will typically hit the falling bait. When the fish are actual aggressive, rip a Rattle Lure and maintain on! Trolling for Whites within the creeks and river is a good methodology for finding fish. As soon as the fish are positioned, come again and solid into the identical place. Usually occasions trolling appears to be the one means you may get them to chew. I imagine that is as a result of boat motor scattering bait fish and the lure contacting close to the underside.

A warming development with rising water temperature, transferring water and a Southeast wind and White Bass fishing in February is bound to bust broad open. A sudden chilly entrance with a drop in water temperature will kill a terrific chew. The fish’s metabolism price slows down with dropping water temperature and so they turn into dormant. A falling barometric stress will at all times encourage aggressive fish and a superb chew. Rising barometric stress behind a chilly entrance and fishing will get robust. I’ve seen White Bass fishing go from a fanatical feverish tempo in in the future to no chew in any respect following a chilly entrance.

Guiding White Bass journeys throughout the spawn is at all times a problem. There’s by no means an “ace-in-the-hole” when fishing for spawning Whites. The secret’s to maneuver till you discover the fish. Maintain your bait within the water and don’t waste time in unproductive areas.

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