White bass, or “sand bass” as they are commonly called, are a personal favorite to fish of mine. They tend to school, and can be fished very effectively on artificials, which can make for a great day of fishing.

Springtime is when white bass fishing season is in full swing. If you fish the right spots you can have a very productive day out on the water. In this post, I will go over where to fish for white bass, the kinds of lures you will want to use, and give some additional tips to help you catch more of them.

Springtime White Bass Movement

In the early spring white bass in the south will start to move out of their winter hangouts. White bass in reservoirs will start to move upstream into rivers and creeks. They are looking for the perfect spawning sites. White bass ideal spawning sites are rocky or shallow areas with faster moving waters. These kinds of waters oxygenate their eggs, which creates a healthy spawning zone.

You can also look for them in eddies along banks or creek mouths. Look for areas with a depth range just over 5 feet deep. They tend to move upstream one section of water at a time, so if the spot you are fishing isn’t working, work your way slowly upstream.

The important thing to remember is that white bass are a schooling species. When you locate one of them, you’ve hit the jackpot. If you catch one, odds are if you continue to fish the same spot you can end up pulling 8 more out.

Lures

In the springtime spoons and spinners can work great for white bass, though white bass are known to bite pretty much anything. Crankbaits, and other lures that resemble shad are also recommended. Just remember that white bass usually don’t get very large, so try not to use too big of a lure or you may not get any bites. Something around 1/16 ounce to 1/8 ounce is a good size.

White Bass Tips

As we stated earlier, white bass are a schooling species, so when you catch one, stay in the same area. In the spring spawning season, they are in a feeding frenzy and you can catch them for hours in the same spot. They typically spawn when the water temperature is between 54 to 60 degrees fahrenheit, so pay attention to the water temperature.

Another important thing to know is that white bass tend to only bite if a lure is above them or at the same depth as them in the water. So you have to remember to keep your lure either above them or at the same level. Bouncing your lure on the bottom can work, but don’t keep it there or you aren’t likely to get any action.

For more information read the full guide on catching white bass.