White bass

[stlaf]

Fished with a couple friends yesterday looking for the white bass. Didn't matter where, we were only able to get 5-6 inchers. Hope to see the females start to run in the near future. As usual, curly tails caught the most.

[Jmorfish]

Same results for me and a buddy on Monday..total 8 caught for us..I let my 6 go, also hooked one of those giant carp..that battle lasted about 10 seconds before my line busted..they must be spawning, thrashing around like crazy up and down the creek...

[MWScott72]

I was there last Tuesday - quite a few WB off the Am Fk boat harbor where the creek flows out. It was windy, so the fish were in the reeds to the N of the creek. Got bored with that and went over to Battle Creek. No fish at the mouth of the creek, but the further up the creek (on the east side of the culvert), the more fish you caught. All still smaller males though. I think the girls will be in this weekend. Hoping to kill a turkey early tomorrow with my boy, and then try out my theory. It has to be soon…

[tktmsa]

I've never caught males this small. Has anyone caught a female over 10 inches this year? Did we lose a spawn year?

[wiperhunter2]

I've never caught males this small. Has anyone caught a female over 10 inches this year? Did we lose a spawn year?

Wasn't there a big die off last year or was that the year before?

[Boatloadakids]

Seems like an odd year for wb. I usually figger the spawn is full on about the first week in May or when the "cotton" flies from the cottonwood trees but not so this year. Catching has been slow and sporadic-- cold water temps?

I fished some favorite spots in Goshen Bay this afternoon (16th) and finally found some bait sized whities. It took me an hour or so to ketch about a dozen; as others have noted, all were small males, about 6 inches, and looked like they were of the same litter and all of them oozing milt. Perfect size for cut cat bait.

When this cold front passes by and the temps warm a bit I believe the love will begin in earnest and the bigger wb will start showing up. The every-other-cast days soon upon us. Fun ahead. 

[doggonefishin]

I've never caught males this small. Has anyone caught a female over 10 inches this year? Did we lose a spawn year?

I've been out a couple of times, and like everyone else, have mainly caught a large number of undersized males.  However, I have caught 1 11 inch Male and about a 9 inch male.  So I would assume there are a few bigger ones to be had.  However, this years dominant class is large numerically and definitely undersized, compared to what we are used to.   I do not know why.  I would also note that most of the crappie that I have caught, or seen caught this year at UL also seem to be undersized as well.  Maybe it is all related to a late spawn last year?  I am not sure, TBH.  

According to my records, the die-off was in 2022.

[tktmsa]

And in a related observation, the channel cats I've caught and seen caught have been above the 24" average, and are chunkier than previous years.

[PACMEN]

I've been thinking of taking a grandson to Utah Lake after white bass. I have not fished there much but we used to fish Lincoln Beach 30+ years ago. One time if a fellow wanted he could have filled a bucket with white bass in short order. I assume it was during the spawn when this took place. Is Lincoln a decent place to fish for em or should I take him somewhere else? I'm not sure if it was during the spawn cause as I recall I was wading in just Levis and the water was not cold.

[Boatloadakids]

The wb spawn is a great time to take kids fishing, the krtchin' is usually fast leaving no time for boredom to set in. The best place to fish is usually the closest place to access. I live 15 minutes from Lincoln and being a retired old curmudgeon, I fish there often. Any inlet area like Battle Creek, Provo, Hobble Creek, Benjamin Slough should be good as well as most docks or any gravelly areas. The Lincoln channel or the points at the end of the channel are good. A piece worm under a bobber is good for kids, a curly tail jig or small spinner good too.

Good luck to you and grandson.

[MWScott72]

The fish were thick at Am Fk yesterday…literally thousands schooling up right at the outlet to the creek. You could catch them every cast (especially with the 3-weight fly rod stripping back a small weighted yellow fly. When my son says “this is literally the easiest fishing I’ve ever done”, that is saying something. Still all males in the 8-9” range, so the hens are still out in the main lake. When the weather warms up, it will be on.

Battle Creek had some fish too…not the numbers as Am Fk though..

[PACMEN]

A thank you to you guys for info. I went up to Lehi and picked up 2 grand sons. Took them down to the lake and we caught white bass. Didn't seem to matter to them that the size was so small. The had fun catching.