WHITE BASS- These fish are still back in the creeks where the water is flowing in. They are spawning. There has been reports of males and females together in shallow water. Several fisherman have seen them traveling together. White Bass do not make nests but scatter their eggs usually on gravel flats or flowing creeks. They are also hard to catch when they are spawning. There are several different patterns working. The most poplar has been the 1/4 oz or 1/8 oz road runner or sea horse. What is this you ask? - a small marabou hair jig with a little spinner on it. White color seems to be the best when the water is clear but with all of the rain the visibility back in the creeks is very poor and the color is mostly muddy.
When this happens- chartreuse, bright yellow, bright green seem to work the best. This applies to all baits for all species. Other patterns to try would be anything that will simulate a minnow or shad. Small spoons, shallow running rebels or rapalas, hot-n-tots, small crank baits, small spinner baits or tube jigs are some of the baits to try. Check out the pictures of catches this week at the link below.

WHITE BASS- This is the most caught fish this week. They are back in the creeks in 1 to 20 feet of water depending on the weather. Most of them have been the smaller males so I don’t think they have spawned yet. There are several different patterns working. The most poplar has been the 1/4 oz or 1/8 oz road runner or sea horse. What is this you ask? - a small marabou hair jig with a little spinner on it. White color seems to be the best when the water is clear but with all of the rain the visibility back in the creeks is very poor and the color is mostly muddy. When this happens- chartreuse, bright yellow, bright green seem to work the best. This applies to all baits for all species. Other patterns to try would be anything that will simulate a minnow or shad. Small spoons, shallow running rebels or rapalas, hot-n-tots, small crank baits, small spinner baits or tube jigs are some of the baits to try.

BLACK BASS- We have had mostly Largemouth and Spotted bass caught this week. A few scattered smallmouth here and there. The Largemouth are very shallow and most guide reports are putting Whites way back in the creeks near the running water, shallow banks and brush piles. We had a nice stringer brought in that was caught on white road runners. Two of the bass weighed over 4 lbs. a piece. The Spotted bass were also in the same spots while the Smallmouth bass seemed to be on the gravel. Patterns to try?

1.- Deep diving long billed suspending rogues and rebels. These come in different sizes and varying actions from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches in length to floating, sinking and suspending modes. These also come in several different colors. So experimentation is the key here. The deep divers can go 10 to 15 feet, some suspend and some rise rapidly. You can alter or change that by weighting the bait, again experimentation is the key. The trick is to simulate a dying shad by working your bait very very slow. Long billed version needs to be cranked fast for 3 or 4 turns to get it down, then you can work it slow back to the boat by twitching your rod or jerking you rod. This makes the bait act like it is dying or in trouble which can look like an easy meal to bass. The medium divers only go 10 to 15 feet of water while the shallow runners go in less that 10 feet. You have to try to find where the bass are that day and use the right bait. Color can make a difference but the old black and silver or blue and silver is usually the best for clear water while the orange bellied ones are for colored water.

2. Spinner Baits- These also come in a variety on shapes colors and sizes. This pattern has also been productive this week with all of the rain and water coming into the lake. The brighter colors are working better because the color of the water. There are different sizes blades and shapes. These are all designed to simulate different vibrations in the water. So again experimentation is the key. What works one day may not work the next or what works on one fish may not work on the next fish. Check out picture link- one of the bass stringers was caught on spinner baits.

3. Jig-n-frog. This is a year around pattern here on Bull Shoals. This has been producing some smallmouth on the gravel flats and chunk rock banks where the water is clearer. This pattern will pick up as soon as the water temp warms up and the crawfish start moving around on the bottom. Same color deal- bright colors or combinations in muddy water while the natural colors work the best in clear water. With the water on the rise this pattern should produce fish in the brush. Flippin the jig in very shallow muddy water should produce some results.

4. Other Crank Baits- Wiggle warts, Poes, Manns and other crankbaits are producing some fish. In the muddy water try the brighter colors while in clear water the naturals are the best. This pattern usually picks up a little better when the water warms up a little. Use this pattern as a change of pace when the action slow down a little. Sometimes a bluegill pattern will stimulate the predator reflex in a bass. I prefer the Wiggle Wart myself. The v37 red pattern or the v 38 mustard color pattern. Again all of these baits come in a variety of colors shapes, different diving depths etc. Experiment until you find what is working that day and that color water.

5. Plastics- These variety of baits are great fish producers but it is still a little early and the water conditions signal better actions on other baits.

6. Spooning- This pattern is productive if you can find bass in 30 to 50 feet of water. You might look at points and channels swings from the creek mouths at the main lake to half way back. Try off of points, drop offs and channel swings where you can find shad balls on your depth finder.

7. Live bait- Not much activity on this pattern reported for bass this week.