White Bass

1/16-1/2 ounce lipless crankbaits (Rat-L-Trap in Electric Silver or Tennessee Shad Chrome), shallow-diving crankbaits, 2-3 inch curly tail grubs on 1/16-1/4 ounce jigheads, paddletail swimbaits, marabou jigs, Road Runners, inline spinners (Rooster Tail in Hammered Silver White), and topwater lures in shad patterns.

Clouser Minnows, Woolly Buggers, and Finesse Changers in white, chartreuse, and shad patterns.

Target during pre-spawn (late winter through early spring when water hits 50°F), summer, and fall periods, avoiding spawning times in mid-March through early May. They spawn in spring when water temperatures reach 50-55°F, typically from mid-March through early May.

Use steady retrieves except when vertical jigging, which involves dropping spoons or slabs to bottom and lifting repeatedly. Focus efforts at creek and river mouths where tributaries enter main lakes, dam riprap during morning and evening hours, and open water areas adjacent to transition zones.

Shad form the cornerstone of their diet. They also consume minnows, crayfish, aquatic insects, zooplankton, and various invertebrates, making them visual feeders that readily strike live bait and lures.