White bass run should get going heavy in couple of weeks
Like a high country spring oozing water from a lofty mountaintop, the annual white bass run typically begins with a late winter trickle then gradually turns into a springtime flood. Between now and the end of March, thousands of the brawny sport fish will fin their way upstream from major reservoirs to spawn the next generation of white bass.
It is a biological phenomenon that varies in timing from one year to the next, based heavily on river flows and unstable weather conditions that can drive water temperatures up or down like a seesaw from one day to the next.
Through the years, I have seen the spawning run get underway as early as Christmas on East Texas hotspots like the Sabine, Angelina, Neches and Trinity rivers. In a normal year, however, the real show doesn’t get under way until sometime in early or mid-February, lasting throughout much of March and some seasons into April.
It’s tough to say when the curtain will drop on this year’s spawning run. But judging from recent reports gathered from area tackle shops and fishing guides, the best fishing isn’t far around the corner.
Veteran Sabine River fishing guide Jane Gallenbach likened the current scenario on her home water to a stick of dynamite with a short fuse. Once the fuse is lit, the fishing will explode.
“The main thing we need right now is water — that will get things popping,” says Gallenbach, who owns a lakeside fishing camp in Panola County called River Ridge (riverridgetx.com). “The river came up about 5 feet a couple of weeks ago, but then it dropped 3 feet real quick and it is continuing to fall. It’s just like pouring water out of a coffee cup going into Toledo Bend. We’ve got a few fish beginning to show up, but it’s nothing like it will be in a few weeks.”
Gallenbach says launching a small boat is not a problem at most ramps between Joaquin and Deadwood, but getting around can be a little dicey because of stumps and other obstructions hiding just beneath the surface. “You need to take it slow out there right now,” she said. “And I sure wouldn’t try it in a big boat. Not until we get some water to bring the river up.” Gallenbach’s website posts regular fishing updates.
A similar scenario awaits on the Angelina River at the upper reaches of Sam Rayburn. The lake is currently 8 1/2 feet below full pool. Every ounce of water that rolls down the river channel is quickly gobbled up by the thirsty reservoir.
A few reports of anglers reeling in some decent catches on white bass and crappie over last couple of weeks have trickled in, but the common thread is that the best fishing is still ahead.
“The whites are ganged up and ready. Now we just need some steady rains to keep the river stable,” local angler Dick Tubbe said. “If that would happen, you would have to hide your hook to keep from getting bit down there.”
Tubbe says river levels have been sporadic over the last few weeks as the result of intermittent rains. River levels rise for a few days following a good rain but quickly recede once the fresh water passes through.
“It doesn’t take long for the water to drop when you have a big hole the size of Sam Rayburn to fill up,” Tubbe said. “What we need is a good rain about once a week. That would keep those sloughs full and the fish would come piling up there. The bite would be on big time.”
Good as the fishing can be on the Sabine and Angelina, it can be even better on the Trinity River. And this appears to be one of those seasons.
The big river that feeds Lake Livingston has been on fire for big white bass since Christmas thanks to relatively stable water levels that ran low and green until big rains muddied things up a couple of weeks ago.
Trinity River guide Steve Barclay of Kennard recently had a banner afternoon bank fishing from some property he owns near the Texas 7 bridge. He was accompanied by his daughter, 75-year-old mother and girlfriend.
“Those girls literally wore out the whites, and me too,” said Barclay. “I had two jigs tied on each line and they were catching two at a time for two hours straight. The fish were going crazy. The must have caught close to 600. All I did was take fish off hooks the whole time.”
Barclay says the whites are crushing assorted baits, but a white grub rigged on a red jig head is working particularly well.
“That red head is the ticket,” Barclay said.
Mike Collins of Centerville says Barclay’s report is right on the money. Collins owns Lock ’n Dam Marina on the north side of the Texas 7 crossing west of Crockett. He says hard rains upstream in mid-January temporarily slowed the fishing, but the water has since cleared and the bite is picking up daily.
“We’re seeing lots of limits caught from the bank — some big ones, too,” Collins said. “I’ve seen several fish around 18 inches that are weighing upwards of 3 pounds and lots of fish the 2 1/2 -pound range.”
Lock ’n Dam Marina sits at riverside. The facility offers bait, drinks, camping supplies, snacks, camp supplies and cabins for rent. Collins posts updated fishing reports at lockndammarina.com.
The Neches River above Lake Palestine is still seeing little action so far, according to fishing guide Ricky Vandergriff.
“The river is still running pretty low,” he said. “There are a few males beginning to show up, but for the most part the big migrations of females won’t take place until mid-February. That’s the way it is every year.”
Vandergriff says the best access point is a primitive ramp off Texas 31 east of Chandler. He recommends fishing from small aluminum boats using Roadrunners, small jigs and in-line spinners for bait. The best fishing usually takes place south of the ramp, towards the Lake Palestine bottleneck.
Matt Williams’ e-mail address is mattwilliams@netdot.com.
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