Today I was able to partake in the massive Detroit River white bass run.  During May and early June, they migrate from Lake Erie to the Detroit River and St Clair River to spawn and when the bite is hot, it's red hot.  I was fishing off the docks behind my wife's grandmother's house and landed over 60 fish in about 3 hours.  I started with Easy Shiners and the bite was sporadic, then switched to a gold 1/4 oz Little Cleo and man, one after another like clockwork.  Many times I had a fish on as soon as my lure hit the water.  Here's a few of the fish I got.  They fight great on light tackle.

Very nice!

We get a White Bass run every spring in the Ozarks and I always look forward to it;  lots of 3 pounders, even some up to 4.  IMO, they fight nearly as hard as Smallmouth.

And they're delicious, btw. 

I caught a few yesterday on the Nolin River. I considered keeping them briefly.

I got a couple on jig head grubs and one on a crankbait.

White bass are fun for a couple fish, then I'm tired of the spiny things. I do like finding them when I'm looking for catfish bait though. They're real bloody and big blues and flatheads love them. No limit most lakes that have them here, size or numbers, so they're a great option for bait. They're nice when I've got my kids with me though, they put up a perfect amount of fight for them and are always eager biters. 

19 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

White bass are fun for a couple fish, then I'm tired of the spiny things. I do like finding them when I'm looking for catfish bait though. They're real bloody and big blues and flatheads love them. No limit most lakes that have them here, size or numbers, so they're a great option for bait. They're nice when I've got my kids with me though, they put up a perfect amount of fight for them and are always eager biters. 

We have a 25 fish limit.  During April the piers and boardwalks are shoulder to shoulder for walleye in the Detroit River, and during May and early June it's the same for white bass.  Conservation officers are out in full force checking limits and licenses.  

 

https://youtu.be/NOZZm1VmNOI?si=rHXkJgElsLvxCFiS. Much of that segment was filmed down the street from me.

I wish we had officers checking people here. I couldn't tell you the last time I got checked. I'd guess it was before my wife and I were even married, over 15 years ago. 

9 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I wish we had officers checking people here. I couldn't tell you the last time I got checked. I'd guess it was before my wife and I were even married, over 15 years ago. 

They're pretty on top of things here.  I've even been approached in the middle of nowhere.  Last time I was trout fishing in the Jordan River Valley in northern Michigan, a CO came up and questioned me and my friend.  We were certain that we were the only people out there.  Super cool lady and she even told us some nice honey holes.  We sat and talked for a good hour or so and had a great conversation.

A nickel and chartreuse Little Cleo is a banger. So much fun. Time for some fish tacos?

I’m a closet white bass fanatic. When I lived in Minnesota I was in pursuit of the state record. Figured out a great, sleeper lake few if any fished. Got close, within 9 ounces. A friend of mine I took to that lake got within 8 ounces, dude beat me but very happy for him… (below is his monster) 

I live in the Ozarks. They are on fire here every spring. Awesome fighters 

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I wish we had officers checking people here. I couldn't tell you the last time I got checked. I'd guess it was before my wife and I were even married, over 15 years ago. 

I got checked on April 12 this spring while crappie fishing for the first time ever here in MN.

 

I’ve been hunting here for 30 years and fishing here for about 25. I am with you, I would like to see more enforcement out there.

 

As for white bass, I’ve never caught one. Literally not one.

 

 

9 minutes ago, gim said:

As for white bass, I’ve never caught one. Literally not one.

If you like catching smallmouth, whities might be the only freshwater fish that rivals pound-for-pound… and maybe a tad more at least in old water … 

3 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I’m a closet white bass fanatic. When I lived in Minnesota I was in pursuit of the state record. Figured out a great, sleeper lake few if any fished. Got close, within 9 ounces. A friend of mine I took to that lake got within 8 ounces, dude beat me but very happy for him… (below is his monster) 

That’s the biggest white bass I’ve ever seen. Wow!

31 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

That’s the biggest white bass I’ve ever seen. Wow!

And he caught it on my boat, when his reel blew up and I offered to help fix it, while I gave him my rod/reel, had him cast to my spot and he catches the biggun.  Oh well, love the guy anyway. Best men in each other’s weddings 👍

Last time I got into a school of white bass, they were mixed in with drum , blue cats and channel cats. I was bouncing a 1/4 oz  Red Ey Shad in about 10 foot of water on a flat. Gulls gave away their position.

First fish I ever caught was a white bass on a white beetlespin. Second fish I ever caught was a white bass on a .25 oz. orange rattletrap. The white bass have been eradicated from the lake I grew up on by the stripers. Makes me sad.

On 5/27/2025 at 6:50 AM, Tackleholic said:

IMO, they fight nearly as hard as Smallmouth.

 

Agree. They great fun.

SPRO Little John crankbait in the Cell Mate color had schools of them chasing it back to the boat.  Great backup plan when the smallmouth are picky.  Also caught them on a Nichols white spinnerbait until your arm gives ou. 

When I lived in Nashville, my late fishing partner had a spot on Old Hickory Lake where we would absolutely catch a ton of white bass in the mid to late spring. Good times. RIP Richard 

On 5/30/2025 at 5:33 PM, FryDog62 said:

I’m a closet white bass fanatic. When I lived in Minnesota I was in pursuit of the state record. Figured out a great, sleeper lake few if any fished. Got close, within 9 ounces. A friend of mine I took to that lake got within 8 ounces, dude beat me but very happy for him… (below is his monster) 

Wow! A 4 lb white bass would be mighty fun to catch.

52 minutes ago, Fishlegs said:

Wow! A 4 lb white bass would be mighty fun to catch.

Many epic days there, we kind of wondered if we were near a nuclear plant sometimes ~

its a great fish.  Elephant butte used to boil with them.  the feeding frenzy was real.  

 

my brother caught one with a nail clipper he attached a hook to.  they bit everything.  but back in the day, it was the Sassy Shad.  

2 hours ago, Fishlegs said:

Wow! A 4 lb white bass would be mighty fun to catch.

There's no doubt.  I've never caught one that big, but the state record for Michigan is 6lb 7oz and 22".  I couldn't even begin to imagine that fight.  To me, white bass fight just as hard, or even harder than similar sized smallies.  I've had white bass straighten hooks on me before, never had a smallmouth do it, and I live right by some of the best waters for big smallies.