white bass report/question

[jeff788]

I took my family out to the knolls on Saturday. It was our first trip out there and it was a beautiful day. I've been trying to get my 3 year old little girl into some hot fishing, so I was hoping that the white bass would be in close and active.

Being the first time out there, we accidentally turned off a little soon and ended up fishing a little to the north of the knolls. We spent about an hour and a half there without a bite, but a few people around us caught a few cats. My daughter did enjoy watching all of the sheep come down to drink a little ways down the shore from us, but we decided to move on to find another place to fish.

Then we found the actual knolls turnoff and set up on the beach. I saw a few people reel in a WB here and there, but it looked kind of slow. We threw my daughter's pole out with a worm on the bottom so she could play in the sand while she "fished." I tried various jigs tipped with worm under a slip bobber. After about an hour and a half with nothing, and the kids getting tired we were talking about heading out soon. I decided to tie on a crank bait to make a few casts before heading out, and nailed a WB on my second cast. Then another one two casts later. Then one hit the worm rig. Then I broke off my crank bait on a snag, and fished with a twist tail and caught a few more. Many, but not all, of the fish were caught withing 5 ft of the shore. By the time the fish started biting my daughter was tired, cold and ready for bed, so she sat in the care playing "I spy" with my wife and watching me catch fish. We ended up with about 10-15 WB, which made some great tacos last night.

Now for my question. Do you think that the fish were there the whole time and were just not interested in the tube jib below the bobber, or do you think that they just happened to come in and start feeding at the same time that I switched to a retrieved lure/jig? The reason I ask is that I'd like to get my daughter into these fish, but casting and retrieving a crank bait or twist tail is probably a little beyond her capabilities right now. Fishing with something under a bobber or on the bottom would probably be easier for her to manage. Unfortunately, with the exception of the one WB that took the worm off the bottom, all the fish were caught on a retrieved lure. What has been your experience with WB, do they often prefer something with a little more movement than a bobber provides? Any other ideas for how to rig my daughter's pole for WB?

Thanks for all of the information you all provide.
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[FishKillr]

Glad you got a few to keep her busy for a bit.

Do you think that the fish were there the whole time and were just not interested in the tube jib below the bobber, or do you think that they just happened to come in and start feeding at the same time that I switched to a retrieved lure/jig?

The hotter it gets, the closer they come in...in my experience. They move around a ton and it can be helpful to try different locations and depths until you find them. Sometimes they want stuff still or slow, other times they will hit anything. Wind can also be good or bad. I have seen the best WB fishing in light wind and hot temps. If it is cold and windy then they tend to go deep....but sometimes they will do what they want.

I would set her up with a small jig head and curly tail below a bobber and let her cast and reel slow near shore. Many many fish can be caught that way in very little water and with little finesse. Also... tipping with worm may help with the slow retrieve. You will catch more with a moving lure than a still one and will run thru more fish as well.
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[wagdog]

[quote jeff788]
Now for my question. Do you think that the fish were there the whole time and were just not interested in the tube jib below the bobber, or do you think that they just happened to come in and start feeding at the same time that I switched to a retrieved lure/jig? The reason I ask is that I'd like to get my daughter into these fish, but casting and retrieving a crank bait or twist tail is probably a little beyond her capabilities right now. Fishing with something under a bobber or on the bottom would probably be easier for her to manage. Unfortunately, with the exception of the one WB that took the worm off the bottom, all the fish were caught on a retrieved lure. What has been your experience with WB, do they often prefer something with a little more movement than a bobber provides? Any other ideas for how to rig my daughter's pole for WB?

Thanks for all of the information you all provide.[/quote]

I know if you search for white bass posts by TubeDude you'll find his writeup. I don't have it handy or I would send it to you. This time of year I find that I have better success with using something the white bass can chase. Small spinners (like mepps, blue fox, or a rooster tail) can be effective.

I was also at the Knolls on Saturday and had a tandem jig rigged with a red/chart. tube on top and a white/chart. twister on bottom. Both got eaten up but I would say that more fish took the red/chart. tube. I was fishing in water that was from 1-6 feet deep. A lot of fish would hit right when the lure hit the water or on the retrieve within 5-10 feet of where I had cast it originally. I think the fish were there but not as thick as usual. Also later in the day gets you warmer water right now and could have made the white bass more aggressive. I usually don't go with a slip bobber rig until colder months and water is upon us. That's not to say a white bass won't take a bait under a bobber right now it just isn't my preferred method of fishing for them during this time of year.

I've also struggled to come up with a rig that my boys can use easily and catch a fish without having to worry about getting snagged. Both of them can cast and retrieve but reminding them to lift their rod tip when the lure gets shallow is almost as effective as talking to your hand and results in a lot of time trying to retrieve snagged lures. All I can say is keep experimenting until you find what the white bass want and then put the hurt on 'em.
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[jeff788]

Thanks for the replies. I already have a copy of TD's writeup, it has been very helpful.
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[fish_fear_me2]

[
Now for my question. Do you think that the fish were there the whole time and were just not interested in the tube jib below the bobber, or do you think that they just happened to come in and start feeding at the same time that I switched to a retrieved lure/jig? The reason I ask is that I'd like to get my daughter into these fish, but casting and retrieving a crank bait or twist tail is probably a little beyond her capabilities right now. Fishing with something under a bobber or on the bottom would probably be easier for her to manage. Unfortunately, with the exception of the one WB that took the worm off the bottom, all the fish were caught on a retrieved lure. What has been your experience with WB, do they often prefer something with a little more movement than a bobber provides? Any other ideas for how to rig my daughter's pole for WB?

My guess is the whities were there, possibly a little deeper. White bass move around a lot..In and out along the shorline. I would stick with the bobber and a small jig but have them reel in slowly, unless they have the skills to cast a spinner. If that is the case I would opt for a #2 mepps or somthing similar. The one that is silver with pink and blue on the blade has done well this year. Also almost any bright colored sonic spinner. Good luck! eventually the kids will hit them when they are aggressive.
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