Anyone else getting started yet? Hit the Neches today looking for any crappie still hanging anround and ended up limiting out on white bass in about an hour and a half. Surprised to be catching females full of eggs on January 6th - pretty early for there. With the warm weather it’s time to start hitting the creeks! Duck season has sucked so it was nice to get on a bunch of fish.

May have to make a run down to the Angelina next week to check it out. Probably my favorite fish to target on ultralight.

Used ta hit the creek running outa Lake Palestine
Around this time. 🎣ing for sand bass.

About the earliest I have ever seen it in the central DFW area is mid February so we still have a ways to go before I will even try.

The Angelina above Rayburn gets pretty wild this time of year.

What the big deal about a white bass run?

I can get on most anylake in the summer and load my boat with white bass, I find them more of a nuisance fish.

I have only heard that from Bass fishermen at Fork. Even then, a guide told me that he can take clients out and if they can't get Bass he can give them some fun with Sandies, as we call them around here.

For many years I would take my wife, son, and a handful of my son's friends to Cooper Lake and load the boat with Sandies. My wife and I do a pretty good job of cleaning them. When I say pretty good job, I mean taking the time to trim the nasty red off the filets. We think that if cleaned right they are almost as good as Crappie.

They are not bad, I will stick with my 2-6 lb Largemouths for eating though.

Brings back memories. My grandad used to take my that way every spring. We’d spend all day looking for them, but when we found them, it wouldn’t take long to return to the boat ramp with a limit.

For me it signals the start of fishing season after a long hunting season. Its kind of like the start of Dove season. I dont really Dove hunt anymore but it represents the start of a new hunting season every year just like the Sandbass run represents the start of a new fishing season.

Think of Crappie except a little more texture. Whatever fish you eat, its only as good as what its seasoned with.

It’s early for Palestine too. It’s usually last week of January/early February before I start catching any scouts. I was extremely surprised.

The tram is one of my favorite places to fish. Shawnee is decent - just something about the tram though. Heck I’ve filled the kayak 30 yards from the dirt ramp there at the tram. Spent a lot of time down there during my SFA days.

I try to stay away from them going after crappie. Hybrids can be exciting on a jig.

White bass are fun with kids and the female types who like to catch rather than fish. Good eating if cared for after being caught and seasoned correctly.

We make a long weekend trip to the Sabine every year, going on about 16yrs now. That is about the best spawning run in the state. Magnum sandies and they'll be up that river for a month or more. We're up to three boats going so far this year. For us, it makes for a great time. Catching crap-tons of fish, playing cards or dominoes at night, eating great. And the River never disappoints, there are stories and memories of every trip I've been on.

It's certainly not unheard of to get a surge this early, But we still have plenty of winter left, they'll need some deeper water again before the big push. It's always nice to be surprised by some action from them though.

Maybe sure you take selfies with your fish or there is no street cred

Sandies for a wife or son would be good

But for me I like Bass, catching a sandbass they just kinda slide to the right and left all the way into the boat like catching a piece of trash. I have hooked some 5 to 10 lbs Hybrids, those things can put up a fight.

Practically grew up on Toledo Bend and man, the white bass used to boil the water at times. Sometimes catch two on a single cast...huge slabs... filled up many a cooler with the whities.

I have great memories catching sandies at Colorado bend, usually around mid March. We’d make the drive several times each year from Brady when the started to run. Lot of fun wading through the river.

I don’t see them as a trash fish but definitely a step below crappie. They fry up fine.

Those large mouths or “ditch pickles” as I like to call them are the real trash fish. They can be found in any lake, tiny pond or ditch….. and I’ll eat them too!

Only fish I have tried to catch but haven’t eaten is a carp or drum. However I would eat them given the opportunity but I’m not going to clean them myself. I’ve eaten gar and it was really good.

Get the red meat off and whites are really good. Stripers too.

They are a ton of fun!

Succulent baby bass.........

Dang look what the cat drug in. A.B