Question for Alphahawk and others about White Bass

Can't wait for the White Bass to move up to the dams this fall but I would like the opinions of others with experience on this subject. What water temperature triggers the movement toward the dams and what is the peak season? I have caught them in the winter months extending to early spring but my trips are based on opportunity, not science. Alphahawk I have viewed your video catching White Bass below Nickajack near the barge pillars. I've never thought to fish that far from the dam down river but you sure caught them.
thanks in advance!

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Originally Posted by bwilso

Can't wait for the White Bass to move up to the dams this fall but I would like the opinions of others with experience on this subject. What water temperature triggers the movement toward the dams and what is the peak season? I have caught them in the winter months extending to early spring but my trips are based on opportunity, not science. Alphahawk I have viewed your video catching White Bass below Nickajack near the barge pillars. I've never thought to fish that far from the dam down river but you sure caught them.
thanks in advance!

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As far as water temps go for white bass I don't pay much attention to it. Ideally I guess one would look for the temps in the mid to high 50'S. White bass can show up below Nickajack as early as November. By December if all goes well the bay by the boat ramp will be stacked full of them and they will in all likelihood be there through mid May. To get the bigger fish I go to Battle Creek...that is if they are not letting out too much water for my tiny boat. White bass below Nickajack are not nearly as big as the ones below Pickwick...Wilson....and Wheeler. Some years they're all quite small. But with the gear I use they're all big...LOL. I can also tell you that in January you may see water temps in the high 40's and I have found they do not attack as they normally do with water temps in the mid 50"......so I fish very slow for them then. Hope this helps.


Regards

I’ve caught a few jigging small slab spoons before and that was great fun. A 2 pounder will give a light rod a fit.

they tend to go deep in these parts to the dam area on most lakes until the spring run up the creeks , but in some spots they follow shad schools up the creeks as well .
some spots here have them in late winter in 3 foot of water and we ketch them with floats and jigs .
you might try looking up a good river or creek that feeds into a good white bass lake , we can limit out in a hurry in a few creeks and rivers here when the water gets really chilly .:highfive

I have caught thousands of white bass below Pickwick through the years. We rarely get large numbers until after a big rain or two causes floodgates to open and close in January. They will be in and out below the dam until sometime in April.