White Bass:

Appearance:

White bass look like short stripers. They are silvery-white with five to eight dusky black stripes on the sides. Stripes below the lateral line are faint and may be uneven. Whites are stockier than stripers, with a smaller head, and dorsal fins are set closer together.

Habitat:

White bass are found mostly in the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee river systems.

Behavior:

Male white bass move upstream in big schools to a dam or other barrier in early spring, Females follow, and spawning occurs in moving water over shoals or hard bottoms. Females may lay as many as half a million adhesive eggs that stick to rocks and gravel. White bass eat minnows and open-water baitfish like gizzard or threadfin shad.

State Record:

4.69 lbs. Big Catch: 15 inches or 2.5 lbs.

Fishing Tips and Facts:

Their aggressive nature and schooling tendency make them easy fish to catch. Use light tackle, with flies, spinners, small plugs or minnows for bait. Look for feeding schools that occur toward evening in shallow areas.

Additional Information:

Image Credit: Duane Raver, Jr.