Select a state to find fishing and boating information:
Get A Fishing License
Get started fishing today, purchase your fishing license online, check regulations and more.
Register A Boat
Register your boat today. Learn how to register your vessel, boating laws and more.
Home > Learn to Fish & Boat > Fish Species > White Bass
They are an excellent light tackle fish that will take a bait or lure readily.
The white bass looks quite a bit like a shortened version of its larger relative, the striped bass. It has the same silvery white sides and black stripes. It differs most noticeably in being shorter and stockier with a smaller head, and the dorsal fins are set closer together. They can be distinguished from the yellow bass, by its more silvery color and regular, unbroken stripes as well as by its protruding, pugnacious looking, basslike lower jaw (in the yellow bass the jaws are about equal). It can be distinguished from the white perch by the latters lack of prominent stripes on the sides (though stripes may be present in very small juveniles).
White bass are widely distributed throughout river systems of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys and the Great Lakes. They are native from the St. Lawrence River in the east, to Lake Winnipeg in the north, and to the Rio Grande in the west. Most abundant in clear lakes and reservoirs, they have been transplanted into the systems of various states including California. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:
The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:
The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:
8 Things to Remember if You Get Stuck Fishing in Bad Weather
Read More
How to Gut a Catfish - And Skin It At the Same Time
10 Ice Fishing Accessories for Hard Water Success
Subscribe to our Newsletter
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Sign-up to receive our monthly newsletter with interesting blogs about fishing and boating. Get fishing tips and tricks and read personal stories from anglers who live and breathe fishing and boating. Learn new fishing skills, boating resources, fishing etiquette, conservation and more.
Please complete the following fields to subscribe to our newsletter.
SUBSCRIBERS PREFERENCES
What information would you like?
Click on your state to find out where to buy a fishing license, types of fishing licenses available, age requirements, fishing regulations and fishing license online options.
Click on your state to find out how to register your boat, requirements, regulations and to get more information.