Yellow Bass

The yellow bass is a scrappy fighter and a popular species among light-tackle and panfish anglers.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A YELLOW BASS

The yellow bass resembles its close relative, the white bass, but can be recognized by its golden yellow sides and more irregular stripes (of the 6-7 stripes the 3-4 that lie below the lateral line are broken or interrupted toward the tail).

 

WHERE TO CATCH YELLOW BASS

The yellow bass can be found in quiet pools and backwaters of large streams, lakes, and reservoirs from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan south to Louisiana, eastern Texas, and the lower Coosa and Mobile Bay drainages. It is relatively confined to the central Mississippi valley area and has not been extensively transplanted, though it has been introduced to some degree into other areas of the states within its native range as well as Arizona. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

CLIFFS AND STEEP SHORE BANKS    GRADUAL SHORES

INLETS AND OUTLETS             ISLANDS OR SAND BARS

OPEN WATER                     PIERS, DOCKS AND PILINGS

ROCKS                          SPRING HOLES

WALKWAYS AND BRIDGES          FRESHWATER LAKES AND PONDS

HOLES                         INSIDE TURNS AND COVES

LILY PADS                     OVERHANGING TREES AND BUSHES

POINTS AND BREAK LINES        SHORELINE SHALLOWS

SUNKEN OBJECTS                FRESHWATER WEED BEDS

HOW TO CATCH YELLOW BASS

The yellow bass is a scrappy fighter and a popular species among light-tackle and panfish anglers. The flesh is white, flaky and better tasting than the white bass. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

DRIFT FISHING         TROLLING      STILL FISHING

FLY FISHING          BAIT CASTING   SPIN CASTING

YELLOW BASS LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

FLIES       JIGS    MINNOWS   SPINNER BAITS    INSECTS

LEECHES   PLUGS     SPOONS