What do you throw for White Bass?

It looks like the wing dams are full of white bass right now. We caught a couple of large ones yesterday on Dubuque rigs fishing for walleye. I’m surprised we didn’t catch more because the screen was lit up top to bottom with bogeys I assume are the “stripers”. What would you recommend casting above the wing dams in current for them. I’ve had good luck with shallow running shad immitation crank baits and jigs with plastic fished at different depths but am interested what others use. Thought it might be fun to get the kids into them. The two we caught were close to two pounders.

Rapalas, shallow shad raps, spinners….anything with hooks will catch them.

Jigs with plastic. Movies work great. Hold on tight or the rod is going for a swim.

I know the river in DBQ very well and cast anything shiny at those white bass. Like a castmaster or small spoon. You’ll have a blast, good luck.

I like 2/5oz blue and silver little cleos.

i like Berkley pre-rigged swim shad.

A white streamer and a 6/7 flyrod and you will have hoot.

The lure that you have never caught a fish on before, keeping bait size in mind. Experiment with speed.

On Friday we used a 1/8 oz jig with a 3 in Zoom tiny fluke. What a blast!!!!

Finally, my banjo minnow catches fish.

slipperybob wrote:

Finally, my banjo minnow catches fish.

My flying lure works too!

When white bass are schooled and feeding, they’ll bite just about anything. I usually throw a 1/4 hair jig. Minnow profile and no hassle of losing your bait or plastic, or trying to pull treble hooks out.

Anything Chrome with a hook on it

When we find a few together, I always throw on something topwater. Nothing like watching them bust the surface. So much fun! Hoping to get the kids on some soon. Always seem to be out with my dad when we find them and the kids miss out.

Tiny rattle traps.

#3 silver Mepps, a small black and silver X-Rap or a 3″ chartreuse twister tail. Getting into those 4 pounders during the prespawn bite is one of my favorite times of the open water season!

My most versatile is a 3/8 pearl blade bait. Easy to work any depth they are at.

catmando wrote:

A white streamer and a 6/7 flyrod and you will have hoot.

Now you’re talking

Early in the year, we used to(Pool 17/18 Mississippi before I moved here) throw rattle traps when they moved into the backwaters or bays to spawn…50 degree water temps. Cast, sink, rip it along and stop…rip, stop. They used to try to tear the rod out of your hand. Miss that…

The fly rod idea sounds like a blast!

I like the small compact soft Swimbaits on 1/4oz or 1/8oz jighead

Usually anything with a single hook. A jig or a spoon. Quicker to unhook and get back into the school.