What white bass lack in size, they make up for in numbers.
These fish—which are called “sand bass” by many Texas anglers—travel in enormous schools, often biting indiscriminately on any lure that vaguely resembles a bite-size shad.
Though they spend much of their lives in deep, clear reservoirs where they have been stocked extensively by Texas Parks & Wildlife, the real opportunity to catch these fish is in late winter and early spring, when they head upriver to spawn.
White bass offer one of the earliest fishing opportunities of the year in Texas, which is one reason why so many anglers in the Lone Star State look forward to catching them.
Sand bass start their runs up Texas rivers when water temperatures are still in the low 50s.
In most parts of Texas, white bass start running in February and go steady through the end of March. But a winter warm spell or early arrival of spring rains can get them moving as early as January. In some rivers, the run can last through May.
White bass are similar in appearance to striped bass, but have a more stout body shape, less discernible stripes, and are generally smaller in stature.
Adult white bass typically measure 10 to 14 inches and weigh a pound or two, but fish measuring over 17 inches and weighing 3-plus pounds are possible.
To definitively identify white bass, look inside their mouths. White bass have one tooth patch on their tongues; striped bass and hybrid stripers have two.
How to Catch White Bass
The best lures for white bass tend to be 1/4- to 1/8-ounce jigs tipped with curlytail grubs or paddle-tail shad. Road Runner jigs, which have a small blade attached to the jighead, are very effective. White, silver and chartreuse are generally the best colors.
Small hardbaits, including spinners, spoons and miniature crankbaits, can also be great for catching white bass. Small Rat-L-Traps are excellent when fish are active and feeding heavily.
When white bass start on their spawning run, they do so in stages. The first wave is usually made up of smaller males, with groups of mature females and larger males joining in later on in the season.
Keep in mind that the best places to fish will also change as late winter turns to spring. Fish will stage at the upper end of a lake in winter before progressing farther and farther upstream, eventually returning to the lake after spawning in April or May.
Catch More White Bass
We have a full fishing guide to simple tactics for catching white bass (including top lures and baits) written by someone who grew up fishing for them.
Best Sand Bass Fishing in Texas
What follows are some of the premier white bass fishing spots, especially for the spawning runs into the top Texas rivers.
Guadalupe River and Canyon Lake
Located about halfway between Austin and San Antonio, Canyon Lake is an 8,300-acre reservoir on the Guadalupe River. It’s a solid fishing lake for a variety of species, but the white bass run is one of the most anticipated events of the year.
From summer into fall, white bass will congregate on main lake points and humps, where they chase schools of shad and are easily caught in white curlytail grubs, Rat-L-Traps and jigging spoons.
In winter, they gradually head uplake, staging for the spawn on the reservoir’s main river channel right below the mouth of the Guadalupe River. Most years, they’ll be on their way up the river above Canyon Lake by early February.
Once the run gets going in full force, as it usually does by the time February turns to March, expect the action to be nonstop.
White bass tend to gather in tight schools as they head upstream, stopping in areas where they can rest from the current, or where low water impedes their progress.
Speaking of water, rainfall is a wild card on the Guadalupe River. During a wet spring, white bass move early and go far upriver. But during dry years, they may not make it much past the first shallow stretch. Choose your fishing locations accordingly.
The Rebecca Creek Boat Ramp (sometimes referred to simply as Boat Ramp #11, based on its number on the USAC Map of Canyon Lake) is a popular place to launch on the Guadalupe River just above the lake.
There are numerous access sites farther upriver, including Nichol’s Landing and several unofficial access points at various bridge crossings.
Many years, some white bass will end up stranded farther upriver if the water levels fall while they are spawning, and can be caught from deep pools all summer long.
Parts of the Guadalupe River also are known for Guadalupe bass fishing (state fish of Texas).
More: Complete Guide to Fishing the Guadalupe River
Sabine River and Toledo Bend
Toledo Bend Reservoir, a vast 181,600-acre reservoir on the Texas/Louisiana border, is one of the best fishing lakes in both states for just about anything that swims. But not many anglers target white bass on the main lake.
That’s partly because there are so many other things to fish for, and partly because white bass mostly stay in Toledo Bend’s upper basin, where they chase schools of shad in open water throughout summer and fall, making them difficult to pin down.
But the spring spawn is another story. White bass school toward the Sabine River at the upper end of Toledo Bend Reservoir, and push their way upriver in schools that number in the thousands.
These are some of the biggest white bass in Texas. By the time the hefty, egg-laden females join in, it’s possible to fill your limit with fish that all measure over 15 inches and weigh 2 pounds or more.
The Sabine River is broad and deep as it approaches the upper end of Toledo Bend, and some of those submerged logs may actually be 6-foot alligator gar.
White bass can roam far upstream fairly unrestricted, and they often move from day to day. Fishing from a boat allows you to stay equally mobile, which is a big advantage here.
Look for areas immediately downstream from a current break of some kind. Any place white bass can rest in relatively slack current has potential. Places to try include below a sandbar, at the mouth of a feeder creek, and in the eddies formed by boulders and fallen trees.
The Grand Bluff Boat Ramp, located just off FM-1794, is a great place to launch a boat or fish from shore.
Another great resource is the Sabine Sandbar Paddling Trail, which is made up of several canoe and kayak launch sites up and down the river.
Toledo Bend has a wide variety of great fishing opportunities, whether you like largemouth bass, catfish or some of the best bluegill catching in all of Texas.
More: Complete Guide to Toledo Bend Reservoir Fishing
San Gabriel River and Granger Lake
4,000-acre Granger Lake is a modest-sized reservoir that nevertheless cranks out huge numbers of white bass. Located along the San Gabriel River northeast of Austin, it’s a reliably great place to fish during the spring spawn.
Rainfall and water levels, along with temperature, are major variables that affect the spawn here. Some years, you’ll see the first fish start to head into the river in January; other years you won’t catch any until well into February.
The San Gabriel is a fairly small river, and navigating it in any craft larger than a kayak can be very challenging. Shore fishing is the best bet for most anglers, and there are several quality access sites.
Dickerson’s River Bottom (sometimes referred to as “The Steps”) is a great access site just off County Road 347 with a long stretch of productive shoreline. You can also carry small boats down to the water to hand-launch.
Another canoe launch is located about a mile downriver at San Gabriel Wildlife Management Area, and several US Army Corps of Engineers boat ramps are on the main lake.
The water clarity varies quite a bit on the San Gabriel River. On days when it’s clear, look for white bass in deeper water. When it’s muddy, they’ll be closer to the bank and may bite better on a lure with some flash to it.
Granger Lake is not the only productive white bass lake on the San Gabriel River. A little farther upstream, Georgetown Lake also supports a healthy population of white bass, which run in the North Fork of the San Gabriel River around the same time.
Have your fillet knife sharpened ahead of time, because Granger Lake also is one of the best crappie fishing lakes in all of Texas.
Brazos River and Lake Whitney
Lake Whitney, a 23,500-acre reservoir on the Brazos and Nolan Rivers, is located north of Waco and south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
It’s a powerhouse white bass lake in this part of the state. It produces tremendous numbers of white bass, including many that grow to 13 inches or more.
White bass leave the lake behind and start heading up the Brazos River between February and April. Many also choose to spawn in the Nolan River, a smaller tributary that empties into the Brazos at the upper end of Lake Whitney.
The Brazos River is broad and deep as it feeds into Lake Whitney, and there isn’t a clear point at which the river ends and the lake begins. The best white bass fishing is generally considered to be Kimball Bend and above.
Kimball Bend Park provides boat launch facilities, bank fishing access and campgrounds on this prime stretch of river. There are a couple other parks farther upstream that become more productive as the run progresses.
Another good spot is Nolan River Park, which offers access to the Nolan River right above its confluence with the Brazos.
On both rivers, most white bass are caught along sandy shorelines, and directly below sand and gravel bars.
White bass typically return to Lake Whitney around April, and can be caught all summer long off sandy beaches, submerged road beds, and standing timber along the river channel.
Also worth noting is that the Brazos is another river in which some white bass may stay year-round. This is especially the case if the water falls back to the low flows of summer while spawning fish are still in the system, essentially trapping them in the river.
Fly-fishermen on the Brazos sometimes catch white bass on poppers and streamers in summer while targeting other species.
Among the other species found in these parts are smallmouth bass, and Lake Whitney is one of the best spots in Texas to catch smallies.
Frio River and Choke Canyon Reservoir
Choke Canyon Reservoir is the best white bass lake in South Texas.
Located about halfway between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, this large 25,600-acre reservoir offers opportunities to fill a livewell with these fish practically year-round.
Of course, as is the case in most Texas lakes, the best fishing is during the spawn. Choke Canyon Reservoir’s main source is the Frio River, and white bass run up the river in vast numbers.
This far south, the white bass run is usually going strong by the end of January. Early rains or an unseasonably warm winter can get it going even earlier.
Regardless, you can count on white bass congregating along the Frio River Channel toward the upper end of the main lake throughout December and January.
Live minnows, Rat-L-Traps and jigging spoons are effective while the bass are still in the lake.
The San Miguel Boat Ramp inside the James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area, is a great place to launch or fish from shore on the Frio River. The Highway 99 Boat Ramp is another option, right around the spot where the river meets the lake.
San Miguel Creek, a smaller tributary that feeds the Frio River right before it enters Choke Canyon Reservoir, also gets a significant number of white bass in late winter.
You can access the San Miguel Creek from a small parking area just off FM-3445 where the road crosses the creek.
Choke Canyon Lake also is one of the very best largemouth bass fishing lakes in the San Antonio area.
Yuega Creek and Somerville Lake
Somerville Lake is an 11,000-acre reservoir on Yuega Creek. It’s located about 90 minutes east of Austin and about the same distance driving northwest from Houston, making it a favorite sand bass fishing hole for both cities.
The lake has a huge white bass population, and the spawning run usually takes place in stages between January and April.
As in many rivers, the earliest waves of the run are made up of smaller males. The fishing really gets into gear when the bigger spawning females enter into the fray, and you can expect most of the fish you catch to be over 12 inches.
Mid to late February is usually when the run is at its best in Yuega Creek, and the bite can be downright frenzied on a good day. Anglers clean up using Road Runner jigs, curlytail grubs and small crankbaits.
Yuega Creek is a fairly narrow stream, and the best way to navigate it is in a kayak. There are several launch sites on the lake, of which the Nails Creek Unit of Lake Somerville State Park is the closest to Yuega Creek.
The park also includes the Somerville Trailway, a footpath that extends along the creek and provides bank fishing access. Road access to Yuega Creek is available at Newman Bottoms.
Prior to the spawning run, the area of Somerville Lake just off Welch Park is known as one of the best white bass spots on the main lake. Keep an eye out for surface disturbances that indicate white bass corralling a school of shad.
Somerville Lake also is a very good bass fishing lake near Austin, and as mentioned it’s also within reasonable driving distance for Houston bass anglers as well as catfish aficionados.
Sulphur River and Wright Pratman Lake
Nestled in the northeast corner of Texas, Wright Pratman Lake is a 19,000-acre reservoir on the Sulphur River. It’s one of the best white bass lakes in this part of the state.
Wright Pratman Lake produces impressive numbers. Catching white bass on back–to-back casts during the run is the norm, and they get big too.
This fertile lake supports a tremendous shad population, and white bass commonly hit 10 inches by the end of their first year.
Wright Pratman Lake is farther north than most Texas lakes, and the spawn typically takes place a little later. Expect to see most fish in the Sulphur River from early March through mid April.
The river and the upper end of the lake tend to be very turbid, especially in early spring. A lure with some flash to it is definitely the way to go. Slab spoons are popular, and shad-imitating swimbaits will also do the trick.
Malden Lake Campground, located at the upper end of Wright Pratman Lake near the mouth of the Sulphur River, is a great place to begin fishing the lake for white bass.
The campground is one of several Corps of Engineers access sites on the lake, and includes a boat launch and fishing pier. It’s located right below the TX-8 Bridge, where the bass must funnel underneath as they make their way into the river.
Once white bass return to the main lake after spawning, they typically congregate over humps, along the creek channel, and off the end of main lake points. When fishing the main lake, keep an eye out for white bass blitzing shad on the surface.
Rowlett Creek and Lake Ray Hubbard
A favorite spot in the Dallas Metro Area, Lake Ray Hubbard spans over 21,000 acres, and supports a large population of white bass just 20 minutes east of downtown.
The lake is primarily fed by the East Fork of the Trinity River, but it’s actually some of the smaller tributaries that offer the strongest spring white bass run.
Rowlett Creek, which flows through the community of Garland before entering the west side of the lake, is arguably the best.
White bass start staging on main lake flats, humps and points in 20 to 35 feet of water as early as January, and the spawning run is usually going strong by mid- to late February.
John Paul Jones Park is a good launch site on the Rowlett Creek Arm of Lake Ray Hubbard.
Once the fish make their way farther upstream, the entire lower 4 miles of Rowlett Creek can be productive. That said, it can get crowded with anglers when the run is in full swing.
There’s some good access to the creek at Woodland Basin Nature Area, and at various bridge crossings in and around Garland.
Focus on deep pools, where the fish will pause to rest in the slack current as they work their way upstream.
During parts of the year when white bass are in the main lake, look for them above brush piles, where they often share real estate with crappie.
They also chase schools of shad off main lake points, and may gather around the Lake Hubbard Generating Station’s warm water discharge in winter.
Lake Ray Hubbard has excellent all-around fishing opportunities, including having some of the best largemouth bass angling and catfish fishing near the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Neches River and Lake Palestine
Lake Palestine is a 25,000-acre reservoir near Tyler in East Texas that has historically produced some of the most abundant white bass runs in the state.
It’s under a two-hour drive that many in Dallas are likely to find worth the trip in good fishing years.
The lake’s main tributary is the Neches River, and anglers come from all over the state to fish here in spring.
White bass stage around the islands and points in the Neches River Arm of the lake in late winter before eventually surging upriver.
The area around the railroad bridge that crosses the arm is a good spot in late winter, though it requires a boat to access it.
For bank fishermen, the best bet is Chandler River Park, a large public green space along the Neches River that offers nearly 6,000 feet of open river frontage for fishing. The park also includes a boat ramp just south of the Highway 31 Bridge.
Anglers along the Neches River usually start catching a few white bass in early February, but only when temperatures and water levels rise does the run get going in full force.
By the time the calendar switches to May, you can expect a steady flow of bass headed upstream.
Once the spawn is over and most of the white bass have returned to the main lake, focus your efforts on Lake Palestine’s lower basin. Deep structure from the dam up to the TX-155 Bridge offers the best fishing from summer into fall.
White bass in Lake Palestine suffered a major fish kill in 2018, but the event doesn’t appear to have had any lasting impact on the fishery.
Lake Palestine has multiple fisheries, including being one of the best catfish fishing spots in Texas.