White Bass fishing
Morone chrysops. Gray, charcoal, or green back with silvery sides and a white belly.
White Bass fishing uses a jig or live minnow under a bobber on 6 to 12 lb line, at dawn, at dusk, and at night. White bass are prolific and reproduce naturally once established, so where they turn up outside their native range it is usually the result of a one-off introduction rather than repeat stocking: Missouri credits its Ozark reservoir populations to introductions.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn, Dusk, and Night
- Line
- 6–12 lb
- Hook sizes
- –
- Stocked in
- 4 states
Identification
- Gray, charcoal, or green back with silvery sides and a white belly.
- Five to seven longitudinal stripes on each side, fewer than the seven to nine seen on striped bass.
- Deeper, less streamlined body than a striped bass; typically caught under a pound but occasionally over 3 pounds.
- Common in nearly all larger reservoirs, generally found in large open-water schools.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , ksoutdoors.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Cast into schools along tributary streams during the spring spawning run.
Cast into visible surface-feeding schools chasing shad in the open reservoir.
Top baits
Fished under the schooling baitfish that floating or submerged lights draw in, a strong late-spring through fall tactic.
Sources: ohiodnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , wildlifedepartment.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 6–12 lb
- Rod power
Sources: wildlifedepartment.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Depth by season
Spring
Spawning runs push schools miles upriver from the reservoir into tributary streams and deeper pools.
Summer
Most fish are back in the reservoir, holding in open water and feeding on schools of shad.
Fall
Schools stay in the open reservoir on shad and minnows; lights at night pull baitfish in and the bass feed below them.
Sources: ksoutdoors.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , ohiodnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
White bass are prolific and reproduce naturally once established, so where they turn up outside their native range it is usually the result of a one-off introduction rather than repeat stocking: Missouri credits its Ozark reservoir populations to introductions.
Sources: ksoutdoors.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Common mistakes
- Ignoring flash; white bass will hit just about anything flashy, including jigs tipped with plastic tails, spoons, spinners and live minnows.
- Not following the shad; anglers learn to watch for circling and diving gulls and surface disturbances as sure signs of schooling shad.
Where it's stocked
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 4.44 lbs | Pedro Martinez | Blue Lake (Bent/Kiowa County) | 1963 |
| Michigan | 6.44 lbs | – | Saginaw Bay, Arenac County | 1989 |
| Montana | 2.8 lbs. | Vernon Pacovsky | Missouri River South of Bainville | 2007 |
| New York | 3 lb. 8 oz. | Morgan Fonzi | Lower Niagara River, Niagara Co. | 2020 |
| Utah | 4 lbs. 1 oz. | John R. Welcker | Utah Lake | 1970 |
| Virginia | 6 lbs. 13 oz. | Ron Sprouse | Lake Orange | 1989 |
| Wisconsin | 5 lbs. 3.8 oz. | – | Mississippi River, Vernon County | 2019 |
Common questions
What lures work for White Bass?
Jig, a jig in white and chartreuse: Cast into schools along tributary streams during the spring spawning run. Small spinner, a spinner in silver and chartreuse. Casting spoon, a spoon in silver and chrome: Cast into visible surface-feeding schools chasing shad in the open reservoir.
What bait works for White Bass?
Live minnow under a bobber. Live minnow below a night light: Fished under the schooling baitfish that floating or submerged lights draw in, a strong late-spring through fall tactic.
Where do White Bass hold?
Spring: Spawning runs push schools miles upriver from the reservoir into tributary streams and deeper pools. Summer: Most fish are back in the reservoir, holding in open water and feeding on schools of shad. Fall: Schools stay in the open reservoir on shad and minnows; lights at night pull baitfish in and the bass feed below them. Winter: Fish hold in open water, and may come near shore where water is pumped into an upground reservoir.
How big do White Bass get?
The Colorado record is 4.44 lbs from Blue Lake (Bent/Kiowa County) in 1963. The Michigan record is 6.44 lbs from Saginaw Bay, Arenac County in 1989. The Utah record is 4 lbs. 1 oz. from Utah Lake in 1970. 4 more state records are on this page.