White Bass?

[Envenomation09]

Thinking about going to UL to catch some white bass I hear it might be pretty good? Should I go or try somewhere else? If I do go where on the Lake will they be?
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[BHuij]

Disclaimer: I've been white bass fishing once in my life and I got skunked.

Here's what I've heard though:

Utah Lake is THE place to catch white bass in Utah. The helpful guys at the Sportsman's Warehouse in Provo told me that when the water is cold like this, you'll have better luck finding them near inlets because the water coming in is warmer.

Someone more knowledgeable will correct me here if I'm wrong I hope, but I also read that they are more likely to be in open water, and especially deeper water, so I think looking for them from a jetty is going to be more productive than standing on shore.

The State Park area in Provo contains both a jetty and the Provo River inlet, so I'm guessing that's a good bet. That's where I went my first time trying to find the white bass, but the wind was blowing really hard and evidently that moved their food source to the opposite bank and they followed it, so I didn't get anything.

Soft plastic minnows are a good bet. Next time I go I want to rig up a tandem rig and fish two of them simultaneously on 1/16 and/or 1/8 oz leadheads. I also kinda want to try flashy Kastmasters if I'm not feeling the love from the jigs next time I go.

That concludes my theoretical knowledge of white bass fishing. Best of luck and be sure to report back!
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[albinotrout]

[quote BHuij]:

Utah Lake is THE place to catch white bass in Utah.
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If that doesn't work try Mona Reservoir
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Mona Reservoir?

When was the last time you caught any there? Or have first hand info that any were caught? Or are you relying on DWR species listings?
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[albinotrout]

I know someone who lives in Salem and he mentioned that they were in there. Now since the lake is devoid of any boats whenever I go by I cannot substantiate the report.[angelic]
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[wagdog]

The white bass will be around food and potentially warmer water. As to specifics...well, you got me. I don't know. I haven't been out. However, if the weatherman is right and we get some lows in the teens the harbors may ice up soon. It doesn't take much ice for the water clarity to improve and the white bass to show up in droves to clean out the area of food. I remember a few years ago when we had a cold snap in late November. I hit one of the harbors and it had maybe an inch of clear solid ice. I just stood on the docks and punched a few holes with my auger. I finally found a concentration of white bass and it was fish on every drop for about a half an hour. Then they moved. So I moved. Found em again.

As far as other places with white bass, I seem to remember someone mentioning that Bountiful Pond had some. Not sure how many or if there is still a population worth going after. Utah Lake and the Jordan River are where I go to catch white bass.
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[Fin-S-Fish]

White bass moved in a month earlier than anticipated then dispersed again after one week. Haven't found any since. They may move in again, but after ice remains for more than two weeks it's done until open water next year. White bass fishing is poor during midwinter except in one remote area lol. I won't say where that is lol.

Have not heard of whites in Mona and for sure Salem doesn't have any significant number. Fished it a hella lot and never saw any in there.

At utah lake prime time is when there is 1 3/4" to 2 inch of ice. After 4in of ice I quit entirely. I can time the exact day when the ice is ready lol.
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