1st White Bass Outing

[bobreeves]

I got an invite to go white bass fishing this morning. Thought it was just going to be Gene and I, but turns out it was a couple friends of his too. We were on a Bay Stealth I would guess was about a 22 footer with a 200 Yamaha. About 60 mph with 4 of us and gear! The owner of the boat is an avid fisherman and loves fishing for white bass. He lives in Texas City (Galveston Bay) but his true love is fishing Lake Livingston. I've caught quite a few white bass by accident when fishing for cats, and always released them. Minimum keeper size is 12", and most I've caught from shore have been less than 12".

We headed out to a 'secret spot' that Jim had punched in on his gps, and within 10 minutes of arriving I witnessed something I've not seen on this lake - an absolute feeding frenzy. There where white bass almost jumping into the boat. Apparently they do what killer whales sometimes do - school up, encircle a bunch of shad, chase them to the surface, then gorge. We were pulling them in one after the other - a couple snagged in the middle, by the tail, you name it. Then all surface activity would cease, but you could still catch them by jigging up and down near the bottom - we could see them on the fish finder. They like structure and drop offs and we were on the edge of a 40 ft hole. We were about to call it a day and were headed back to an on-the-water restaurant for breakfast when we saw another frenzy just ahead. Shut down the motor and caught a bunch more. Most were 13-14", but a couple closer to 16". We brought back over 60 between the 4 of us, cleaned and filetted (sp) them at the dock, and had a fish fry back at the bait shop (using Jim's secret breading). Very good eating, and tons of fun to catch.

I think I might be doing more of this *014*. I see a chest freezer in my future ;D.

PS Up until today, I kept my fishing license in my tackle box as I figured I'd always have it with me when I was fishing. This morning Gene said 'just bring your rod' when we left, and I completely forgot to grab the license. When we got to our spot Jim said 'hope everybody has a license' to which I responded 'oops'. There's at least one game warden on the lake every weekend, and because this is a holiday weekend there were a few. I just figured if we got pulled over, I would try and explain, and if I got ticketed could probably show my license in court and get off, but we lucked out. My fishing license is in my wallet now.

[cheez]

Good deal Bob. We have been doing the white bass thing for more years than I can remember. They are voracious feeders and fight like no other in the fresh water. I have about a dozen quart bags of the fillets in the freezer right now. Glad ya'll got into them. They are truly addictive especially on light tackle. What did you use for bait out there in Texas? We use rattletraps, Little Georges,popping corks and flies and lots of different spoons and inline spinnerbaits. When they are in the feeding frenzy they will attack just about anything that will fit in their mouth.*thumbsup**thumbsup*

[bobreeves]

What did you use for bait out there in Texas?

We were all using small (1 1/2") spoons. They were so thick you could have scooped them up with a net.

[Dave]

Yeaaaaaaaaah, schooling fish are a blast, and white bass are one of my favorite. I remember many days (when stations in Minneapolis) we would travel to the Mississippi River in Red Wing MN, to fish for spring walleye. For a period lasting up to a month, the white bass would move up near the damn to feed on the schools of minnows along the banks. I always carried a couple sleeves of crappie jigs and when the walleye bite slowed, we'd move to the banks and work the schools of white bass. 25 per was the limit and it didn't take long to limit out, even while culling the small one. The small bass put up a noble fight on the ultra light rods spooled with 6# test. As I recall, the bass had unusually hard rib bones. I would simply cut down the shoulder to the ribs and down the ribs to the tail. Not a big fillet for the size of fish but a nice sweet, white slab off the ones over 12 inches.

Next time out, along with your license, take a camera too - I'd really enjoy seeing some of that action. *Cheers*

Dave

[bobreeves]

Next time out, along with your license, take a camera too

I actually had my cell phone, which has a camera, but it was a bit frantic when we spotted the action - everybody just grabbed a rod and started casting. The frenzies don't last long, and I just never thought to snap a few pix. Next time - promise.

[Harry]

Next time out, along with your license, take a camera too -
Dave


Better yet, take a picture of your license with your cell phone, this way if you forget your license and remember your phone, you can show the game warden a picture of your license ....... *laughing**laughing**laughing*

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Better yet, take a picture of your license with your cell phone, this way if you forget your license and remember your phone, you can show the game warden a picture of your license ....... *laughing**laughing**laughing*


*laughing**laughing**laughing**laughing**laughing*

[bobreeves]

Better yet, take a picture of your license with your cell phone

Actually, that's not such a bad idea. Although I have it in my wallet now, which I had better have with me, I always have my cell when I go out and it might be enough to talk a game warden into letting me off should I ever forget my wallet.