Whenever I go white bass fishing i see people taking home bucket fulls of them. Is this why we dont ever see any get really big or is it just there is so many it really doesnt matter?
White bass are the second most abundant species in Utah Lake after the common carp. They are very prolific spawners. Large females can lay up to 500,000 eggs. We have had several years in a row now where the water levels have been high enough for good spawns. There are bigger white bass in Utah Lake than the typical 10-13 inchers you see but right now that size is the most prevalent. There is no limit on white bass in Utah Lake. Just ask Fishkillr. He almost got into a knock-down drag-out fight with some dude down at Lindon one day over whether or not a limit on white bass had been imposed at Utah Lake. Taking home large quantities will not hurt the population.
2011 DWR Proc
http://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2011_pdfs/2011_fishing.pdf
BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:
White bass No limit
I always carry a proc in my truck just in case [;)][;)][;)]
Nope, no Limit. The more that are harvested, the larger the average size that will be taken out of there will be. Certain areas can get fished out for a period of time, but the lake is far from being in any danger of over harvest of White Bass. If you can eat em’, feel free to take them, if not let em go.
That guy was funny! I got it on tape too!
which part of the lake would be good for a float tube or kick boat to go for white bass? and what is the best way to fish for them?
The best way to catch white bass is to hit them in May, when they go to spawn. Fish elbow to elbow with everyone and their brother at any tributary. Throw anything that moves (jigs, spinners, spoons, worm, etc.) and catch as many as you want. Some days will be better than others (calm sunny days seem best to me). I know the elbow to elbow part doesn’t sound that amazing, but there are only so many water sources coming into the lake (and it’s not that bad, since usually everyone is catching some fish.). Don’t get me wrong, they can be caught all year, and all over the lake. Between ice off and the spawn, I would recommend launching a float tube or kick boat where ever you can, and slowly cruise the shoreline just out of casting range. Cast towards the shore with pretty much any jig, spinner, spoon, rapala… and just work the shoreline. When you start getting some hits, cast around that area until the school smartens up. Other than that, basically find a school and have a blast.
Hope that helps.
thanks that was perfect to know thank you [;)]
depending on weather and if i have drill this weekend i may just have to float it and try it out ill make up another post if anyone else would like to join my floating bass expedition.
Then on that note, does anyone have any good white bass recipes?
be carefull in a tube i have done this it does not end well white bass are spiney little thing and like to poke holes in tubes and i dont know about you but i sink when my tube goes flat i know i went swimming then and lost my car keys
As said before, anywhere where there is water coming in or structure like rocks or brush. The key is locating them, once you do it does not matter what you use. They will bite a plain hook…no joke, when they are schooled up. I would wait a month or so until it warms up, then you can slay them until ice up…and even after that, just not in a tube.
Thanks for the heads up
I launch mine at Lindon. I then either fish south towards the bubble-up or north around the Battle Creek inlet. There are not always white bass around, but there are almost always some willing catfish. There have been very few times when I have not caught at least a few white bass at the bubble-up. AF harbor is also a good choice. Fish along the east side inside the harbor. That way you stay away from the bank fishermen and the docks.
I don’t know if its good or bad, but no lake have the fish got bigger from keeping them in Utah.. It takes time for all fish to grow…
But the white bass in Ut lake only seem to get so big..
I fished a lake in NM that had Whites over 4lb and a limits of 20 white bass…The fish an game of that state said a limit was put on so they had time to grow, before limits was in place they only got to 12" to 13" with only a few over that..
there is a feed problem in utah lake and this is why they are so small just like the strippers in powell if you have noticed even the walleye are averaging small and i remenber the time when you could go to east bay and catch 3 pounders these fish need to be thined out
Yeah, I have caught them in other states as well…Much bigger. But as mentioned above, in UL there are good #'s , but food is spread thin among all of them. If we can get the numbers down a bit and the lake cleaned up a bit (less carp), then I think that a limit would have its place and we would see the #'s and size come together. But for now, 9" - 10" WB are the norm.
as mentioned above, in UL there are good #'s , but food is spread thin among all of them. If we can get the numbers down a bit and the lake cleaned up a bit (less carp), then I think that a limit would have its place and we would see the #'s and size come together. But for now, 9" - 10" WB are the norm.
This is true, true, true. Amazing to still see people who don’t understand the basics of carrying capacity. If you have only so much food, you can only have so many POUNDS, not numbers of fish. Given all the** time** in the world, any fish living with just barely enough to eat, will not grow as big as his genes say he could.
If UL had 20% fewer WB in it, the average WB would be bigger at the same age.
Keeping them helps, not hurts size. Same with Perch in PV, and smallmouth in Jordanelle.
The more white bass fisherman keep the better. The lakes ecosystem make it totally necessary to keep large amounts of white bass.
White bass prey heavily on carp when carp are small of course that is very beneficial. Nothing will stop a hungry school of whities once they have discovered a large carp-fingering-munch-opportunity. They will chase small carplets into water only one foot deep if they can get away with that. Oh brother do they get aggresive! But too many white bass and they are too small. No matter how large the carp-young-of-the-year fish there seems to be…bummer.
I use to fish Utah Lake all the time from '86 to '87 and recall there being population explosions.
They are a total threat to the endangered June Sucker. June Suckers being clumsy swimmers when they are fingerlings are an all-time-favorite of white bass, as you already probably know. So reducing these fish is not only a great idea but a necessity. They are not native to the lake.
This year was healthy snow fall so you can bet that we need to start harvesting these fish as soon as possible to prevent an overpopulation.
I have been reading all about the white bass catching here at BFT and I would like to thank those BFTers for reducing the white bass population.
You will see me this year fish Utah Lake for whities. I hope to keep only a few. But I will assure you I can catch LOTS of them! I know the very very very very best methods there is…enough said.
i would also say ever since they closed the numbers of walleye in the lake has risen and the size has drop on average 2 pounds and these fisn do the most damage to the june sucker population in the lake my opion they should open the trib’s back up and ticket hevier for snagging i remenber seeing people hanging for trees snagging them