Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations White Bass (Sandie) Spawn just about here.

Have to pull myself away from the pond to catch some sandies running up Kickapoo Creek from Lake Palestine. If you catch them at the right time, you can sure fill an icechest. Pretty good eating too.

Plus they are fighters!!

My entire love for fish and fishing can be traced back to my Dad taking me fishing for white bass as a kid.

You couldn't dream up a more enjoyable fish to catch.

I hear they will hit about anything. For some reason they don't find them very good to eat up here. They run up a major river from lake Erie after the walleye are done.

Yes, they're very agressive. They will work their way up tributaries to find riffles in which to spawn. It's not uncommon to catch fish that run 1-2 pounds. They're the perfect kids fish, and adults love them too. Just talking about it makes me want to catch some!

BarO, Kickapoo creek on lake Palestine, too? There is also a Kickapoo on Livingston. They hit anything when when spawning or schooling. Slab spoons deep, Johnson sprites or sidewinders middepth, little Georges, jigs. Most fun on chug bug or torpedoes when surface schooling. I always cut the bloodline out of the larger fillets. Taste fine to an ole country boy.

"I always cut the bloodline out of the larger fillets. Taste fine to an ole country boy."

I was told they are mushy. That tells me they probably aren't putting them on ice right away. I'm sure they are fine, as the hybrids are commercially produced and I have had them, and they were great!

Yes, Cecil's right....and so's burgermeister.

Cut out the blood line on the big 'uns, and make sure to ice the fish right away so the flesh doesn't get mushy. Very flavorful and worth the effort. Dip them in onion ring batter and deep fry them in canola oil. Mmmmm, mmmmm.

As Cecil said, I do remember that flesh can get soft. Havent cleaned any in a while, but usually cleaned them and cooked some as soon as coming in. We had a camper trailer on Livingston for many years, and schooling whites were fun for all.

BM,

Ever fish the white bass run below the dam on Livingston? Before the cable was put up, you could literally fill a boat in no time, plus catch an occasional big striper and big blue. With the cable restraint, it isn't as good as it once was, but is still worth while when its right.

ML, where you been, man? Off on some exotic fishing excursion. Lots of folks on here have been asking if you're coming to the PB conf. I just got cleared and will call today to sign up. Sign up and ride up with me Thurs, if you can work it in your schedule.

I went to the dam to scout a few times, but always lots of people. Never fished, though. Good time to try it.

Burger I look forward to seeing you and I hope ML too.

Burger & ML,

Some of the best sandie fishing was above Livingstone on the Trinity. We fished Kechi and Boggy Creek between Hwys 7 & 21. About 15-25 of us would have a fishing tourney for them .... and usually a BIG Fry with a couple of beers. One year was too good....17 of us limited (400+) on a Saturday and cleaned fish til beer-thirty. Had to go back to work on Monday to rest up for the next weekend.

BarO, do you know if the public still has access to the Trinity River @ Alabama Crossing out of Porter Springs? We used to wade the rapids before there was a limit and our best trip was 300 fish with only three of us fishing. Liked to have never hauled all of them back up the bank to the truck.

FT,
Couldn't tell you.....we used a private boat ramp out of Midway on Hwy 21. There used to be a boat ramp under the Hwy 21 bridge that I believe was public. The ramp(private?) up at Hwy 7 supposedly had a pulley system that lowered the boats down a pretty steep incline, I heard. We even caught some 3# sandies down in that country.

To get where I'm talking about you would continue towards Crockett from Midway turn off of 21 to Porter Springs then turn left in town and continue until the road turns to gravel. When the gravel road takes a hard right just go through the cattle guard and drive right to the river. The county used to maintain the dirt road through the pasture, there's a state historical marker at the sight. The river has a shallow wide rapid area and the whites use to go nuts when the river was low this time of year. No boat needed just park the truck and fish.

Sorry FT.....never made it to that part of the river. We used to use the private ramp of the old guy that had the old gas station on the west side of Midway. He also allowed camping at his ramp site. He died a few years ago and we haven't been back.

FT and BarO,

Good info on the Trinity WB run. I've always wanted to fish that run but never seemed to have time, nor knew anyone who knew exactly where to go.

BM,

I really appreciate the invite and it would be great fun to travel with you...but March and April are pond building/finishing months for me this year. Two to complete by early May and then off fishing.

Come on by on your way, fish a little, take a tour, and drink a cool one. Thanks.