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White bass in Texas: where, when & how to catch them
White bass, or 'sand bass', school up, bite artificial lures readily and are good eating. They're best known for their spring run up rivers and creeks, but you can catch them all year once you find the schools.
Also called sand bass, barfish, streaker, silver bass.
How to identify white bass
- Silvery, shading from dark gray or black on the back to white on the belly, with several incomplete horizontal stripes on each side.
- The dorsal fin is clearly double, split into spiny and soft-rayed parts. The head is fairly small and pointed.
- Young striped bass look similar. Striped bass have two tooth patches on the back of the tongue and two sharp points on each gill cover; white bass have one of each.
Sources: TPWD: White bass; TPWD: Bass identification.
Where to find white bass in Texas
In Texas, white bass are native to the Red River drainage and are now common in reservoirs across much of the state. Adults travel in schools and feed near the surface, mostly on gizzard and threadfin shad. They spawn early in spring: schools run up rivers and creeks to running water over gravel or rock, with the males arriving as much as a month before the females. From January through April, big schools concentrate in the far upper, riverine ends of reservoirs. TPWD research found that white bass spawning success rises and falls with springtime inflows to the reservoir, so wet springs tend to produce more fish.
Sources: TPWD: White bass; TPWD: White bass fishing in Central Texas.
Lakes we cover where TPWD lists white bass
These are lakes on Texas Lake Report where TPWD's lake page lists white bass among the main species, with today's percent full. Each page has the current water level, boat ramps, weather and sun & moon times.
- Amistad Reservoir · 46.5%
- Lake Athens · 96.9%
- Belton Lake · 96.9%
- Lake Buchanan · 95.8%
- Caddo Lake · 49.1%
- Canyon Lake · 97.0%
- Cedar Creek Reservoir · 73.0%
- Choke Canyon Reservoir · 20.9%
- Coleto Creek Reservoir · 74.7%
- Lake Conroe · 93.1%
- Lake Fork · 80.1%
- Grapevine Lake · 91.7%
- Lake Houston · 97.8%
- Jim Chapman Lake (Cooper Lake) · 65.4%
- Joe Pool Lake · 91.6%
- Lake LBJ (Lyndon B. Johnson) · 97.8%
- Lavon Lake · 79.5%
- Lewisville Lake · 82.4%
- Lake Livingston · 92.2%
- Medina Lake · 28.2%
- Lake Meredith · 44.6%
- O.H. Ivie Reservoir · 41.1%
- Lake Palestine · 87.6%
- Possum Kingdom Lake · 90.0%
- Lake Ray Hubbard · 84.1%
- Ray Roberts Lake · 94.0%
- Richland-Chambers Reservoir · 89.9%
- Sam Rayburn Reservoir · 62.1%
- Lake Somerville · 88.8%
- Stillhouse Hollow Lake · 97.0%
- Lake Tawakoni · 89.9%
- Lake Texoma · 95.5%
- Toledo Bend Reservoir · 84.9%
- Lake Travis · 94.2%
- Lake Whitney · 91.2%
- Wright Patman Lake · 100.0%
White bass month by month
General Texas patterns. Timing shifts by a few weeks from north to south and from year to year, and fronts, rain, wind and water temperature move fish day to day.
| Month | What fish are typically doing |
|---|---|
| January | Two winter patterns: schools on deep main-lake structure (channel ledges, humps, points) taken by vertically jigging spoons and tail spinners, and night fishing around lighted docks and marinas. Fish also stage in the upper ends of reservoirs near major tributaries. |
| February | Like January. Fish stage in the upper ends near the rivers and creeks, and the first run fish can show up in tributaries. |
| March | The spring run: whites in the rivers and major creeks. Small jigs and small crankbaits; trolling small crankbaits in the channel. Old-timers say the run is on when the redbuds bloom. |
| April | Often one of the most consistent months, as spawned-out fish feed heavily on their way back to the reservoir. |
| May | Fish return to the main lake. Good schooling at creek mouths and main-lake points; watch for birds over baitfish. |
| June | Early summer schooling continues, then fish move to main-lake structure near deep water. Look for schools at dawn and on cloudy days. |
| July | Summer pattern: deep main-lake structure. Good electronics make the difference. |
| August | Like July. Slab spoons and tail spinners on deep schools; surface activity early. |
| September | Early fall fishes like summer; keep searching for schools with electronics. |
| October (now) | As water cools, whites feed on the surface more. Creek mouths and major points; cloudy days with some wind are best. Stripers often mix in. |
| November | Good surface schooling on many lakes, then fish start sliding toward deep winter structure. |
| December | Winter: deep structure with spoons and tail spinners, and lighted docks at night. |
Proven baits and techniques
- Small jigs: Twister-tail and hair jigs during the river run, cast into schools, and around lighted docks at night.
- Small and medium-running crankbaits: Cast or trolled in the river and creek channels during the spring run.
- Jigging spoons and tail spinners: Vertically jigged over deep schools in winter and summer.
- Topwaters and lipless crankbaits: For surface-feeding schools in late spring and fall.
- Night fishing with lights: Floating or submersible lights draw baitfish and white bass in spring and winter. TPWD also notes that bottom fishing at night with live bait can be very productive.
Sources: TPWD: White bass seasonal patterns; TPWD: White bass.
Texas white bass limits (statewide)
| Daily bag | 25 |
|---|---|
| Minimum length | 10 inches |
Statewide limits valid Sept. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027 (checked Oct. 20, 2026). Some lakes have their own white bass rules, and they override the statewide rule. TPWD is the authority, and limits can change. See our License & regulations guide for licenses, tags and how to check a specific lake.
Sources: TPWD: Freshwater bag and length limits; TPWD: Lake-specific exceptions.
Spring run spots TPWD names
TPWD's Central Texas white bass guide singles out the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake, the Llano and Colorado rivers above Lake LBJ at Kingsland, and Yegua Creek above Lake Somerville (for white and hybrid striped bass) among its spring-run spots. Some of the best spring fishing is from the bank or wading in the upper tributaries. Always get the landowner's permission before crossing private land.
Gear for white bass
A 6'–7' light or medium-light spinning rod with 4–10 lb line handles small jigs, spoons, tail spinners and small crankbaits. Step up to a medium rod if stripers or hybrids school with the whites on your lake.
Examples from our comparisons (specs and dated manufacturer prices are on the comparison pages):
- St. Croix Triumph (spinning) · Check current price on Amazon for the St. Croix Triumph (spinning)
- Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo · Check current price on Amazon for the Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo
- St. Croix Panfish Series (spinning) · Check current price on Amazon for the St. Croix Panfish Series (spinning)
Some links are affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See our affiliate disclosure.
White bass FAQ
What is the white bass limit in Texas?
Statewide, the daily bag is 25 white bass with a 10-inch minimum length. Some lakes have their own rules, so check TPWD's lake-specific exceptions.
When is the white bass run in Texas?
TPWD says that from January through April, large schools of white bass concentrate in the upper, riverine ends of reservoirs, and in spring (March–May) they're in the rivers and major creeks. April and May are often the most consistent months as fish head back to the lake.
How do I tell a white bass from a striped bass?
TPWD says striped bass have two tooth patches on the back of the tongue and two sharp points on each gill cover; white bass have one tooth patch and one point. Adult stripers also have bold, unbroken stripes and grow much larger.
More species: Largemouth bass · Crappie · Catfish (blue, channel & flathead) · Striped bass · Red drum (redfish) · Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) · Southern flounder · Black drum