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Yellow Bass

Yellow Bass

Yellow Bass are rare in Oklahoma, documented in only a few counties including Wagoner, Muskogee, McCurtain, Le Flore, and Sequoyah in the southeastern portion of the state. These small temperate bass are native to the Mississippi River system.

Scientific Name: Morone mississippiensis

Physical Characteristics:
  • Yellow Bass are characterized by their golden-yellow coloration, 5-7 dark horizontal stripes (with the lower stripes being distinctly broken or offset), and typically weigh under a pound with most measuring 6-12 inches long.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native to the Mississippi River system.
  • They prefer deeper, cooler waters most of the year, similar to crappie habitat, and are typically found in quiet pools and backwaters of streams, lakes, and reservoirs with little vegetation and low turbidity.

Key Locations

  • New Spiro Reservoir in Le Flore County, Robert S.
  • Kerr Reservoir, and Sally Jones Lake in Sequoyah County where documented populations exist.

Specific Spots

  • Target areas with hard substrates like rock, sand, and gravel, and fish the edges of deeper water transitions.
  • Fish 6-20 feet deep around submerged structures, rocky points, and creek channels.

Yellow Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Yellow Bass in Oklahoma?

Small jigs (1/32-1/8 oz) with soft plastic trailers like curly-tail grubs, small tubes, and minnow-shaped swimbaits. Cricket lures, crappie tubes, and small u-tail grubs work well when they're feeding on insects.

What flies work for Yellow Bass in Oklahoma?

Small patterns including Clouser Minnows in sizes 2-6 (natural sculpin or white/chartreuse), Woolly Buggers in olive or black, and small poppers (sizes 1-4) when fish are feeding on the surface.

When is the best time to fish for Yellow Bass in Oklahoma?

Best during spring (March-May) when they're most active and feeding aggressively in preparation for spawning, and fall when they feed heavily before winter. During spawning, avoid targeting them as they move to shallow sandy or gravel flats.

How do you catch Yellow Bass in Oklahoma?

Use drop-shot rigs to target them in deeper water where they typically hold, fishing 6-20 feet deep around submerged structures, rocky points, and creek channels. During their active feeding periods, fish fast with quick retrieves to trigger aggressive strikes.

What do Yellow Bass eat?

They are primarily planktivorous, feeding heavily on zooplankton including cladocerans and copepods, with their diet varying seasonally - spring diets dominated by cladocerans (125% occurrence) while fall diets include more copepods (61% occurrence) and occasional gizzard shad.

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