First White Bass on Prior

[Pherris]

Was out pan fishing on Saturday on Prior and my buddy caught the first white bass iI have seen out of Prior in 20+ years of fishing the lake.

We did catch some decent pan fish too.

I was disappointed to see people in a few boats intentionally targeting bass. Not like they were even pretending to be pan fishing unless there is a new crappie pattern using Pig and jigs and full size spinner baits.

[mathshop]

Nice catch!

I've actually been on the hunt for the past year trying to target them in there, but haven't been able to find them. Mind giving some tips on how you accidentally found them? I've checked some of the bays, creek inlets, and the channels, that was about a week ago, thought maybe they were still out roaming the basins since the water temperatures were still a low(er).

[Pherris]

Nice catch!

I've actually been on the hunt for the past year trying to target them in there, but haven't been able to find them. Mind giving some tips on how you accidentally found them? I've checked some of the bays, creek inlets, and the channels, that was about a week ago, thought maybe they were still out roaming the basins since the water temperatures were still a low(er).

We were not targeting them and only caught the one. It was in a shallow muddy bay in about 2 feet of stained water. We were using small jigs with plastic about 18" under a small bobber.

[dfricke1010]

There were a few nights last year on prior I was out walleye fishing and caught many of them. They were in with the walleyes. One night we got about 10 of them. We were using slip bobbers and fat heads in the 15 to 20 foot range along weed edges mainly around dark.

[staube3]

They are elusive fish. I lived on prior and had never run into any white bass. But I did see from time to time guys catching them from the shore near the bridge. But it was not very often they were pulled from there.

As for people targeting bass. It was a very common issue I noticed while living there. I also noticed late at night dock thefts from certain bow fisherman out there. All I can say is that it was to bad a few ruin the reputation for many.

[bullhead master]

I'm no expert, but on my computer and with my bad eyes that almost looks like a yellow bass. Does anyone know how to tell the difference?

[staube3]

I'm no expert, but on my computer and with my bad eyes that almost looks like a yellow bass. Does anyone know how to tell the difference?

Now that I looked at it closer I think you are right. a Yellow Bass has a joined dorsal fin where the white bass doesn't. It's hard to see in the photo but I think it is joined. Also the stripes are more distinct on the yellow bass. Look's like your eyes are good bullhead.

[bullhead master]

Now that look at the DNR netting report there is only White Bass in the lake. Maybe we both need glasses

[staube3]

Now that look at the DNR netting report there is only White Bass in the lake. Maybe we both need glasses

lol that's why initially never thought to question it.

[staube3]

It also could be that being we are coming out of the winter months that the lines are more distinct then white bass appear in the summers months

[StillwaterAaron]

It is a white. http://roughfish.com/yellow-bass Roughfish is a great resource of ID.

Yellow bass are smaller than white bass on average also. The profile is also much different.

[derbier122x]

Maybe I'm crazy, but both pics look like the same kind of fish to me

[Schollmeier]

Aaron is 100% spot on. This fish is a White Bass. Very few Yellow Bass in MN, though plenty of them not far away (Iowa). While they are closely related and similar, they look pretty different to the trained eye. Mind you lots of people can't ID Brown Trout vs Brook Trout or Pike vs Musky, or a whole slew of other species. It takes practice to ID fish with confidence. Even then there area some that are a PITA to ID

[bullhead master]

I see that now. What really throws me off is that we get a lot of white bass/yellow bass hybrids fishing Lake Okoboji and they look more like a yellow bass, but grow to 14+ inches. We cleaned over 600 yellow bass this last winter as they are a nuisance and there's no limit in Iowa.You do not want them in your lake.

[DrJuice1980]

Are they tasty?

[bullhead master]

Are they tasty?

Yes they are very good. I just thawed a batch out to cook tonight! When mixed with 'gills or perch you can't tell the difference. However, a majority of the Yellow bass do not get much bigger than 8 inches so it takes a lot to make a meal, but you can catch them all day long on Okoboji. We had a few 100+ fish days where you'd just start throwing 'em back hoping the next fish would be a perch or crappie. They are also a really easy fish to clean. Some people love them, but the walleye and perch fisherman hate them since they overrun a lake and are bait thieves.