Utah has several great spots to target white bass. White bass fishing provides some of the fastest action around during May and June. It seems like they almost want to be caught and will go out of their way to make it happen.
The largest and, by far, most popular spot for white bass fishing is Utah Lake. There are other lakes and rivers with good numbers of white bass, though none can compare to Utah Lake.
Another great thing about white bass fishing is they have no limit in Utah. Fish tacos and cut bait are on order when you catch these pan-sized bass.
whiSeveral freezers around the state are full of white bass waiting to be used as bait for catfish, walleye, and every other predatory fish around.
White Bass Gear & Tactics
Everyone sees the reports in the fishing chat rooms claiming to have a 100 fish day chasing white bass. That’s because these true bass are super aggressive and will bite darn near anything you toss their way.
The truth is that they bite anything and everything in May and June. During the summer, they become a bit more finicky. You can still catch good numbers, but you’ll have to work harder for them.
The most common approach to them is a curly-tailed jig under a bobber or cast and retrieved with varied speeds and some bounces and jerks added in for action.
White, black, chartreuse, silver and pink tails all work well, so change up if you’re not getting bites.
You don’t need a bunch of heavy tackle and expensive gear for white bass. A 4- to 6-pound line with a swivel and 2-3 feet of leader down to a jig or small lure will do the trick.
Rooster Tail spinners in gold, green and white/yellow combos will often be productive. Tip the hook with a bit of nightcrawler can’t boost your success rate.
Fly fishing works with smaller streamers like a pink woolly bugger or a small chartreuse or green Clouser Minnow. Add a split shot to get down to the fish, if needed.
Catch More White Bass
We also have a full guide on the best white bass fishing techniques and tips, including the top lures and baits.
Favorite White Bass Fishing Spots
One of the best things about white bass in Utah is that you don’t have to travel far to find them.
The Jordan River, which cuts through the middle of the Salt Lake valley, has whities in droves. Utah Lake is only 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City and is hands down the best place to go.
Utah Lake White Bass Fishing
Utah Lake is a massive body of water. It’s the 3rd largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and it’s filled to the brim with white bass.
Some of those white bass can get to impressive sizes, including Utah state record of a bit over 4 pounds.
The simple advice is to fish the bays, river inlets, and any rocky structures. But since Utah Lake is so large, we’ll break down the key places to target.
Starting on the northern end, head to the Jordan River Outflow and Pumphouse. There’s a small park that has great access to the outlet and the lake beyond.
April through June are good, with May being the hottest action.
Saratoga Springs Marina is on the lake’s northwest side and has excellent white bass fishing. The small pumphouse in the marina attracts big numbers throughout the spring.
Following along the west side, you’ll come to The Knolls. This area is well known for big catfish, and in the spring, it’s equally suitable for white bass.
Back on the east side of the lake, you’ll first come to American Fork Boat Harbor and the American Fork River inlet.
Both spots are good, though the river inlet is more productive than the marina. There’s also good crappie fishing along the jetties around the marina.
The Linden Boat Harbor is next, with a great mix of rocky and weedy shorelines. Target the white bass along the rocky jetties.
Utah Lake State Park is the next location. It’s got fantastic rocky cover, and the Provo River enters the lake here. A solid current and plenty of cover make this one of the top white bass spots on the lake.
Lincoln Beach is on the south end of the lake and has plenty of open areas to cover while looking for white bass. Fish off the end of the harbor jetties, and you’ll do well.
Around the corner is Lincoln Point, which has three springs. These springs are always must-fish areas if you’re on the south side.
Take along two rods and cast a bit sturdier one for catfish while actively targeting the white bass with your lighter rod. Use white bass meat for catfish bait, and you’ll have double-ups happening in no time.
Utah Lake is vast and brings a wide variety of warm water fishing opportunities, including walleye and bluegill.
Jordan River
The Jordan River flows from Utah Lake in the south to the Great Salt Lake in the north.
White bass live along most of the river, though they are in higher concentrations between Utah Lake and the mid-valley area of SLC.
Float a bit of worm below a bobber and cast into the slower current on the sides of the main channel. Be sure to work the eddies and any slack water you come across.
DMAD Reservoir and Gunnison Bend
These two lakes just outside Delta (about an hour and a half southwest of Provo) hold white bass, though they are often overlooked due to their location. Action can be swift due to the lack of pressure these lakes receive.
Plan on arriving early, just before sunrise. The white bass will start feeding aggressively in the low light right before dawn and continue for a few hours.
The same concept works in the lower light of evening. From just before sunset to an hour after will have the fastest action.
DMAD Reservoir also made our list of best crappie fishing lakes in Utah.
Deer Creek Reservoir
The white bass population in Deer Creek (DC) has been getting smaller every year, at this writing.
Considered an unwanted invasive species in DC, there have been efforts to remove them without having to poison the lake.
If you catch white bass here, don’t release them unless it’s into to your frying pan. The same goes for the bullhead catfish.
The northern end has solid numbers of smallmouth bass that eat the white bass young. Cast along the rocky shoreline on the northwest side by the tracks. If you can’t find the white bass, you’re sure to find smallies and some largemouth.
Deer Creek also is an excellent ice fishing destination and can be a darned good trout angling lake as well.
Community Ponds
Most of the community ponds along the Jordan River have at least some white bass. Fish these near the inlets and along any rocky areas.
There are plenty of white bass to go around in these ponds, so give them a try for some easy fishing close to home.
While white bass take care of themselves in the Jordan River and connected ponds, quite a few ponds in Utah are stocked with their sterile hybrid cousins, the wiper. See our best wiper fishing article for more on that topic.