White Bass like to eat gizzard chad, threadfin, fatheads and golden shiners but will also strike at insects that fall into the water, leeches, worms and crayfish.

Water Preferences

White Bass prefers clear, cool lakes, reservoirs, ponds and pools of small to large rivers. When it comes to lakes, they prefer moderate to large lakes with an abundance of water that is at least 10 feet deep as they prefer deep water. They can also be found in deep rivers and in reservoirs.

Low Turbidity

White Bass prefer turbid free to slightly turbid waters as well as slow flowing conditions. White Bass prefer lake and river bottoms with sand and gravel. Like most bass, White Bass feed early in the morning and late in the afternoon, though they will feed at night if they are located in a heavy traffic area. They group together in schools where they tend to feed.

Food Preference

White Bass like to eat gizzard chad, threadfin, fatheads and golden shiners but will also strike at insects that fall into the water, leeches, worms and crayfish.

When food becomes scarce, White Bass will move to where the food is, though they will avoid moving during the day as they do not like direct sunlight.

White Bass

Common Habitat

White bass are found by ripraps, around downed trees, brush piles and rocky areas and other structures below dams. When it comes to spawning, the white bass migrate into large flowing streams with the males arriving before the females in March and April depending on how far north they are.