White Bass

hot weather means white bass on the ‘Croix. After not doing so well the last few times out it was fun to hit a school of these hard fighting fish. noticed a large group of gulls hitting the water in front of Beanie’s around 1:30 in the afternoon yesterday. Armed with a Limit Creek spinning rod and a white beetle spin I went over and started casting. Immediately had my first 15″ fish. tagged 12 more in the next 15 minutes and then they were gone. it was a great way to alleviate some of the frustration of my last few trips out.

They are fun aren’t they Steve…

A number of times (not always) I’ve followed the gulls to silvers feeding on shad ect. When I’ve fished deeper using a count down rap…I’ve pulled in some eye’s….IF I could get past the school of Whities.

I aint too proud. I love chasing them late summer. With a light rod they are a blast. Nothing hits quite like a white.
That 15 incher sounds big. I’m currently on a Croix hiatus that has gone on since June. I can’t get over the traffic out there. I would like to fish by Hudson but the launch fees tick me off. Especially since I have season passes for 2 launches down stream. I’ll start hitting it again late Aug on.

Brian,

they are a blast. I’ve really been having a tough time catching fish out there the last couple of weeks. Turk said he has found a good sauger bite but I am not a troller by nature. Next time I will try a little deeper. good idea.

Suzuki,

I’m a resident so i launch at Lakefront for 3 bucks and they have parking spots designated for residents. I usually get on early and then off mid-afternoon. there has been an awful crusier hatch this year though. Some guys I’ve talked to say it’s the worst traffic they’ve ever seen.

I think it’s because we’ve actually had “Summer” weather this year. last year it was just cold. Water temps are running 79 to 81 degrees. like bath water out there.

that 15″er was one of two I caught in that flurry. I think my biggest is 17″. They don’t get much bigger than that though.

SteveO,

Hey Nice bassin’! I love whities! They get the boat chattering like school boys when they start pounding the lures.
Last weekend we found some eyes and rigged them up! It always helps when you have the world’s best rigging guy on board aka – shale – his IDA handle. First though he’s an ex collage wrestler and a little hard to tame (so no mixed company), but once you unchain him, and get him in the boat, just give him a crawler and point toward the water and say “walleye”, he’ll nod, and that’s about it. The rest of the story is white tips left and right!
Who says fishing is luck?

Turk
I know all you walleye guys think bass are too easy to catch.
Geez, I’ve been having a hard time even catching smallmouth!
The whities kind of pumped me up again.
I need another Flambeau fix and maybe a muskie hunt in the home of the world record muskie: Hayward. Going to take care of that the last two weekends in August.
It sure is tough when you get a hankerin’ for fresh fish and you can’t catch a walleye or a sauger.
You got a little secret spot for an old fishin’ pal?

Quote:

---

You got a little secret spot for an old fishin’ pal?

---

We are listening!

went again Wednesday evening. Lots better. walleyes, smallies and even got bit off by some toothy critter. Fresh fish fix filled. great night. no one around and the fish were biting.

Stevo, your getting me interested in the Croix again. I’ve been fishing the Miss instead. I guess it’s about time I get back to the home water.

I fished the croix today from 6:30 to 1:30. One short walleye, 2 and 4lb channels, a couple good sized sunfish, and a bunch of sheephead. Saw 2 fish netted that were keepers today. Both were caught on cranks. SteveO what worked for you? I used mainly crawlers with a gold blade on a lindy rig. Was pretty slow according to most I talked to today.