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John's Journal... Entry 167, Day 3

SECRETS OF THE TAILRACE WITH JERRY CROOK

Catching White Bass In The Tailrace

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jerry Crook, of Gardendale, Alabama, a veteran Tennessee River angler, has more than 22 years of fishing experience. Crook operates Tailrace Guide Service, which focuses on live-bait fishing and provides anglers with the opportunity to catch several species of fish in a days outing. Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick lakes on the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama has the furthermost range of smallmouth bass in Alabama. Wheeler Dam tailrace is one of the most well-known smallmouth areas in the nation with the Alabama state record for smallmouth caught here weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces. This week, Crook will tell us his secrets for fishing the tailrace that will work in tailraces across the nation for a wide variety of fish.

QUESTION: One of my favorite fish caught almost all year long in the tailrace is the white bass. Jerry, tell me some secrets to catching white bass.
ANSWER: That's one of the most-willing-to-be-caught fish out there. Probably the absolutely best time to catch white bass is in the middle of the summer. They get up on top, and you can catch them with a popping cork and a top striper. A small jig or drifting shiners or shad works well. White bass are usually down below the towers (300 yards from the dam). You'll see them come up on top. You'll see skipjack busting, and the white bass are usually there with them. You can anchor on rock piles and throw popping corks parallel to the current. Or, you can just drift with the current and drift a shad or a small jig. White bass are extremely easy to catch. Any kind of spinner will catch them. When the small threadfin shad hatches out and are plentiful, you can catch your limit every day. The limit is 30 in Alabama but you can still catch and release.

QUESTION: How many are the most white bass you ever have caught in a day up here Jerry?
ANSWER: Over 100 in a day.

QUESTION: What kind of tackle are you using to catch them?
ANSWER: White bass don't get very big. You can catch some up to 2-1/2 pounds. I like to use the lighter tackle to make it as fun as possible. I like the small Ugly Stick light- to medium-action, 10-pound Silver Thread line and a Shakespeare Intrepid spinning reel.

QUESTION: How do you locate the white bass?
ANSWER: Traditionally, the fish congregate in the same areas every day. Be aware of your surroundings, and notice where you see anglers. Look on top of the water. In the afternoon, the fish will gather on top of the water. You'll see fish coming out of the water splashing. Just follow the school around.

QUESTION: When is the best time of year to catch white bass?
ANSWER: August and September is the best time to catch the numbers of just pure white bass with nothing else mixed in with them.

For more information on fishing the tailrace, contact Jerry Crook at 1128 Meadow Drive, Gardendale, Alabama 35071 or call him at (home) 205-608-0933 or (cell) 205-243-6198. You can visit his website at www.alabamaoutdoors.net.

TOMORROW: CATFISH IN THE TAILRACE

 

 

Check back each day this week for more SECRETS OF THE TAILRACE WITH JERRY CROOK ...

Day 1 - Smallmouth in the Tailrace
Day 2 - Secrets To Catching Hybrids And Saltwater Stripes
Day 3 - Catching White Bass In The Tailrace
Day 4 - Catfish In The Tailrace
Day 5 - Largemouth And Sauger In A Tailrace


John's Journal