Thread: White Bass Pics 2011

I am a fishing guide on Lake Shelbyville in Illinois. One of the best white bass lakes anywhere. I clean about fifteen thousand every summer as there is no limit and we are encouraged to remove them. Our fish run from a pound up to about two and a half and we generally get a couple a hundred every morning in the first three hours. You can go to my website for more pics and info. Fishing Guide Service | Lake Shelbyville Illinois | Steve Welch

Wow!!!!!!!.

Are they good to eat? How do you fix them? Fried? I got one the other day, but never have eaten one. That's a heck of a bunch of fish...

A couple of weeks ago on Barkley.

Personally, I really like to eat them. They are not quite as sweet as crappie, and sometimes the dark meat can had a stronger flavor, but I just fillet them out, make sure I get the little bones above the ribs, and deep fry them. At least as good as largemouth and not nearly as tough as some striper can get. White perch actually taste a bit better, but their thicker ribs can make them a chore to fillet.

Our white bass fishing was ok at best this year. I cought some nice white bass, but not nearly as many as in years past.
Has anyone else seen this trend, or was it just me, or a local trend?

Originally Posted by barrelslime

Our white bass fishing was ok at best this year. I cought some nice white bass, but not nearly as many as in years past.
Has anyone else seen this trend, or was it just me, or a local trend?

If you've noticed catching more white perch lately, you're in the same situation as a lot of folks.
In many waters around here the whites haven't just declined, their numbers are reduced to the point there's no reason to fish for them. At the same time we're catching lots of white perch where we never caught them before. Theory is the perch are competing them out, but I haven't seen any definitive study that presents solid evidence. Does seem a reasonable explanation though.

Originally Posted by papadave

If you've noticed catching more white perch lately, you're in the same situation as a lot of folks.
In many waters around here the whites haven't just declined, their numbers are reduced to the point there's no reason to fish for them. At the same time we're catching lots of white perch where we never caught them before. Theory is the perch are competing them out, but I haven't seen any definitive study that presents solid evidence. Does seem a reasonable explanation though.

Could you varify what you are calling White Perch? I know there are lots of geographical slang for blugill, crappie, and so-on. Just want to be clear. thanks