Photo by Ron Sinfelt

To say that 2007 will be another banner year for white bass may be an understatement. Many of our larger reservoirs are hosting good populations of white bass, with fish up into the 2- to 3-pound range. Anglers tangled with a lot of these fish last year -- and there are plenty more to go around.

When conditions are right, white bass start stacking up to begin their annual upstream spawning runs. In reservoirs, males arrive first where rivers inflow and break water for the first few gravel-bottomed riffles where the larger, egg-laden females soon join them. When the run is in full swing, anglers can haul white bass in as fast as they can cast.

Whites can be taken all year long with a little know-how, providing sport right on through the summer and into late fall. But springtime definitely holds out the best odds for limiting out. Show-Me anglers, of course, have to see it to believe it -- so here's the lowdown on where you'll find our best white-bass fishing this spring.

NORFORK LAKE
"In the Ozark Region, I'd have to say that Norfork Lake is the best white-bass run," said A.J. Pratt, fisheries management biologist. "The run is fast and furious up the North Fork of the White River and Bryant Creek during the first half of March and into mid-April. Although river stages and weather impact whether the run is earlier or later, the majority of the fish run up to and above the Udall area. The typical lures and baits work, and since the lake is usually clear, fishing at night can be very effective."

According to Russell Breckenridge of Breckenridge Guide Service, the bass also run upstream into the Brushy, Pigeon and other creek arms. Anglers that can time the run to catch females will find fish reaching up to 4 pounds.

"The whites will usually run up into really shallow, running water in March to lay their eggs and then head back downstream into the lake," said Breckenridge. "In the summer we'll catch them while trolling for stripers with three-way rigs, sometimes from 40 to 60 feet down."

Breckenridge doesn't see the white bass at the surface every year, but when he does, there's no mistaking what's going on. Early on August mornings is the best time to see whites herding shad up to the surface, where the predators can more easily catch them. Surface baits or shallow-running cranks are hot.

The lion's share of the 2,200-acre lake is in Arkansas, but Missouri residents no longer need to purchase a nonresident Arkansas fishing license to fish the Arkansas side. They do need the White River Border Lakes Permit.