White bass questions ...

[Tight_Lines]

I am new to this board but have been fishing all my life, and have fished a lot here on Chickamauga lake. I am wanting to fish for white bass now or this spring but have some questions! i will be fishing from the shore line.
- Am I correct in assuming i can find them running below Chickamauga Dam??
- when and where are some of the best places to fish for them?
- Also, i bought a few lip-less crankbaits in different colors. am i on the right track?
- what are some good choices for lures or baits and size that i can use to single out white bass from other fish??
I have heard that once found, one can catch a bunch, but until then they are few and far between. I fished the Coosa River a long time ago and had a ball with them and want to get back to catching them. anyone wanting to throw me a bone or two with answers to my questions would be much appreciated!
thanks in advance!!
Tight Lines to all on the water!!!

 

[rusty50576]

Spring time they will run up tributaries (and the main channel). Below the dam would be a good bet, or up any large creek or river that feeds in, like the hiwassee

 

[SethColeman]

They will follow schooling bait during the winter(usually find them with the diving birds). I would throw a silver buddy, traps will catch them, rigs will catch them. Man when they are schooling below the dam, it's every cast. Sometimes 2 at a time.

 

[porthos33]

Dude they are below chick right now. The baitfish is so thick you could float on top of it. The white bass are everywhere and hitting, crankbaits, traps, small swim baits and spoons. Go to the first boat ramp right below the dam. Walk down and go to the left of the ramp. You won't stop smiling I promise. The white bass are busting shad all over the bank. and I'm talking 2 inches from the shore. I haven't ever seen this much bait up there. Its great action. If you want skipjack which were even bigger than the white bass, then go to the right when you get to the bottom of the ramp. I'll probably be there tomorrow

 

[lafae7]

a top secret lure the old folks won't tell is a white hair jig trailered with a white grub. I've used it all over the coosa river system. When I lived in Calhoun I was able to fish a lot on the Oostanaula River that forms northeast of Calhoun where the Coosawattee River meets the Conasauga River. Good luck!

 

[Tight_Lines]

i have been down there past couple of evenings. i am taking friday off and will be down there alot of the day! you are right! the numbers of bait fish are CRAZY!! hard to bring in a crankbait without hooking bait fish! the shad ( aka. Tn Tarpon) are alot of fun to catch but i really want to get into the white bass! thanks a bunch for the info!! i am super stoked about tomorrow!!! cant wait!!

 

[Tight_Lines]

Thank you all for your gracious info!! I am looking forward to slaying some fish Friday!!
Tight Lines to all!! GO GET 'EM!!!!

 

[Max Cat]

Hard to beat the foley spoon! All we use here below the guntersville dam!! https://youtu.be/08jHsV7Rvsc

 

[Max Cat]

Wrong link my bad. Here you go! https://youtu.be/pj1hLDwRibo

 

[Tight_Lines]

awesome video! ill will be stocking up on several baits this afternoon! am i correct that creel limit for white bass is 15 with no size limit?? just checking

 

[Tight_Lines]

I also talked to some guys the other day that said they were catching some walleye and sauger as well? any news of these? and do i need steel leader? thanks again!

 

[EricM]

No steel leader. Both species have round teeth and will not cut your line.

 

[alicia ayers]

good morning this is Alicia Ayers the lady that catches the "beasty girls in the park" and wanted to say i went fishing or should i say catching yesterday afternoon down below the dam at the old boat ramp behind chatt. state and caught @ 15 skip jacks and white bass mixed big fish had a ball throwing gold spoon @3-4:30pm cold and windy but fun anyway going back today read Porthos report wed. and decided to give it a try

 

[Tight_Lines]

Chickamauga Dam update -

Just got back from fishing below the dam. fished from 9am to 430p. kind of a bummer because the were running 4 or more generators the entire time. I did not catch a single white bass. i think the higher swift water and colder temps scared them off. Though, I did catch about 10 or so " Tennessee Tarpon" oh and what made the trip epic was catching three big blue cats! first one - 8lbs, second one - 10.5lbs, third one - 12 lbs! and i pulled the hook on another! so turned out to be a pretty good day!
Though, i plan to go back when they are not throwing so much water down the river!! still want to get into a mess of white bass!
Tight Lines To All!!