Welcome to the "Annual Sandbass & Hybrid Striper Run" @ Rowlett Creek @ Lake Ray Hubbard & Hickory Creek @ Lake Lewisville and many more!






I'm Carey Thorn. Licensed Professional Fishing Guide. Full Time, Year Round, FULLY INSURED FOR YOUR SAFTEY & MINE. Bass Pro Shop Sponsored and Guiding for over 10 Years at Rowlett Creek and all around the Dallas Metroplex Bank or Boat. My clients and I have landed over 100,00 fish from just one little creek, Rowlett Creek. I will show you how to land these hard fighting fish all on your own. If you just don't get the hang of it, I'll take you out and teach you how to do this on your own with out me, the very next day, for only $100.00 each. Think how much time, gas, lures, and bait you use every trip? $40 on average seem about right? Skip 2-3 days of wasting money on an empty stringer and come on out with us! We will show you how, when, where, and teach you how to do this on your very own. The next day after the trip, you will be catching fish on your own and filling your stringer, and finally posting Hero Pics of your own! And, make sure you text me where your catching them!

White Bass/ Sand Bass: Are freshwater fish that are migratory in nature, like Salmon. They spend most of their lives in the open-water portions of lakes and reservoirs or river pools. But when water temperatures rise above 55-60 degrees F, its usually the peak time to catch them in the creeks and rivers. Between February and May, White Bass migrate up rivers and streams seeking gravel or rocky bottom areas to begin spawning activity. With the end of March being the "Peak Time", in Central Texas bodies of water.

Males arrive at the spawning grounds about one month ahead of females and we call them "Scouts" (5-9 inchers). Rather than build nests, white bass spawn in mid-water. As the males and the female move toward the surface of the water, the female releases 62,000 to 1,000,000 eggs that are rapidly fertilized. During this, you will see a pod of fish come to the surface and boil during spawning. About 10 fish or so will be in this pod of boiling fish, with one female in between the ruckus. A lot of people will cast to the boiling fish, but usually don't respond to their bait, due to they have one thing on their minds at the moment. After the female lays all her eggs, she leaves and goes right back to the lake. The male stay and just wait for more females to arrive, as they come in droves. Sometimes by the 1000's. When they come in thick like that, usually you have less than 2 weeks to catch crazy numbers of them. Sometimes going over 300 landed sand bass in three hours or less. Most are Females that come up by the 1000's, and they will only be there to lay eggs and get out. So again, you will see just great crazy days, then slow to regular for a couple.... then back to crazy. Rain always helps the females push up the creek systems.

These adhesive, fertilized eggs, sink to the bottom and stick to gravel, boulders, or vegetation. The eggs hatch in two to three days, but because the adult white bass do not protect the eggs, few survive. Those that do, however, grow rapidly to 4 or 5 inches in length by the end of the summer and migrate back to open water to join the adults in the main lake. So when you catch a 5-9 inch Sand Bass, 99% of the time, it was born in the very same creek or river the previous season.



( Fly Fishing is deadly on Sand Bass. A lot of times out fishing live bait )

White bass can be easily confused with striped bass, hybrid striped bass, yellow bass. You might want to study how to tell the difference between a Sand bass and a Hybrid Striper. If you don't figure this topic out, the game wardens will help you out after giving you a big fine and possibly taking you gear and impounding your vehicle. Make sure you don't miscount and go over your limit and make sure the fish are 10 inches or over (Sand Bass). I try not to keep anything unless its 11 inches and over. The little fish, 10-11 inches, just are not worth the time and effort to clean. But, the ball is in your court, keep what you want within the law.

The typical weight of a white bass is between one-half and 2 pounds, though they can grow to 3 or 4 pounds. The world record white bass is 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Most grow to a length of between 10 and 12 inches, though they can reach 17 inches or more. Their life span can be as long as 10 years, however, few survive more than four years. Like many fish, females generally grow larger, faster, and live longer than males.

White bass are attracted to small, live bait, such as shad, shiners, crawdads, bugs, and minnows. They are also more than willing to bite an artificial lure, another reason they are popular with anglers. Such lures as small jigs and crank baits, as well as top water lures, have proven successful. Its not uncommon to catch over 50 to 100 fish per outing, Sometimes over 300 on a good day. If you have the right gear and you might get your limit of 25 fish within 30 mins!

Hybrids have only one true way to ID them. Two tongue patches. Very Obvious!






-Even Kids Can Do This!!!



Gear:

Soccer Cleats are very important in the creeks of DFW. They are surrounded my high clay banks and when wet, they are slick as ice. Soccer cleats can be bought cheap 10-20 bucks at Walmart or Academy. Whatever is on clearance. They dig into the clay banks and will save your rear end from slipping down a cliff into the water. Do not stand on limestone or you will fall right over. Cleats and limestone don't mix very well.

Waders- Help you navigate the banks when there are none! Some spots require you to wade to get to a pocket or just to cross the creek. Stocking foot breathable waders are the must have. They have a neoprene bootie that you can use any shoe or boot on. The "Duck Boot' waders are heavy and have no traction on the big boot. Try and get the ones with the most pockets. $100-$150 with the occasional $80 ones.

- 4-6 Pound Fluorocarbon or Mono Fishing Line. I hate braid. Cant stand it unless saltwater fishing or pier fishing. The sandbass are 2 lbs or less on average, so there is absolutely no reason to go over 6 lb fishing line. I prefer 4 lb line and I just double the size of the fish I am targeting. Most of yall are having trouble catching due to your using to heavy on line. Drop down to 4 lb and I promise your catch ratio will go up, -if your fishing where there are fish.

-Back pack to carry everything in.

- Polarized Glasses. $20 pair works just as good as the $500 pair. Don't fish without them! Ever! Its just plain silly!!!!!!!So, why are polarized lenses so awesome? Polarized lenses are coated with a special chemical film that helps reduce glare. Glare is caused when light from the sun is reflected off of water or a solid surface. By neutralizing glare, polarized lenses help you see objects more clearly, and also help reduce the harmful effects of UV light. So that means, you can see the fish! Or, where there are no fish. It helps tremendously with seeing snags under water too!

- 6-7 Foot Medium Action Rod the list goes on and on what rod to use. $20-30 for a Cherrywood rod at Academy or their Classic Addition rods. Great cheap creek rods that hold up nicely. Note: when walking down the trails point the rod behind you. This will prevent hangups and jabbing the rod in a bush and breaking your tip off.

- Spinning Reel to match

- A Cooler With Ice, to Transport Fish. Many places in Texas now, require you to take your fish to your home residence, RV, or campground to process the fish. Some game wardens enforce, this and some don't. I have been warned many times, so we no longer clean your catch. You must bring a cooler to transport the fish home in. Get the ice after the trip. Pay attention!!!!----> don't show up with a small Styrofoam cooler. You have to have a cooler big enough to transport 25 fish that are 12-15 inches long and weigh 2 pounds. Then you have the hybrids that get on average 18-24 inches long and 5-10 lbs each. You can take 5 of those a day plus 25 sandies. Sometimes it happens so be prepared. Id get the ice on the way out at a Sonic if possible, they have crushed ice.

- Stringer 10 ft. preferred nylon not cotton. The cotton will catch on their gills and make it hard to get them off. I poke the stringer through their bottom lip and out through their mouth so they live longer and lay nicer on the stringer. If you go though their gills you will damage them and the fish will die way faster.



( PlanoKeith above having an absolute blast. He told me he had been at the creek flyfishing for a week or so with not one sandie. I finally had some time when he was at the creek, and I called him and we met in the woods and I took him to a spot loaded with fish in 1-2 ft of water. The rest is history )

- Fishing License- Must be on you at all times w/ I.D.

-Small Size 6-10 Split shots

-Size 6 & 8 Eagle Claw bait hooks bronze or nickel. Shiny stainless Steele are best but expensive. Sometimes you can just throw out a stainless hook and catch a limit. (sometimes)

-Small 2 inch Comel bobbers peggable ( Walmart and Academy)

-Glue- super glue (Quick Lock) your jig head to the soft plastic and prevent short strikes or wear and tear on the plastic, making it fall off or slip off the shaft of the hook.

-Soft Plastic Baits: Zoom Tiny Flukes or Fin-S-Shad in pearl, black or red (night time), white, pink, neon green, albino, silver, smoking shad colors w/ 1/32 oz & 1/16 Jig Head ( for deep water and faster current I will bump up to a 1/8th oz jig head ) Color sometimes matters and helps. In stained water, chartreuse & pink are great colors jig head wise. Then white is always a good medium to start with. Also a great jig body is a Funky Monkey Thump Buddy by http://constantpursuitoutfitters.co...ct/product&path=65&product_id=70
Those jig bodies are made out of a beach ball like material and if you glue that to your hook, it will not wear out. You will loose it before that happens.

-Medium Minnows: are a true 2.5-3 inches long. Make sure you get what you pay for.

-Extra Large Minnows need to be minimum 5 inches long. Bigger the better! Make sure you look at them before you spend the money.

- Shad 3-5 inches long are the ultimate baits.

-Also try a live crawdad or just the tail on the bottom for hybrids. Sandies will pick up a crawdad tail too. Get them at Fiesta in the seafood section!


***** When hooking a minnow, hook them through the bottom lip and out through a nostril. This will prevent them from dying so fast. If you hook them through the tail, every time you retrieve the bait, it comes back spinning and the water drag rips their gills and kills them. Hooking through the bottom of their jaw keeps them alive almost all day if nothing bites it. Sometimes you will get bite and the minnow comes back with no eye balls or guts. Those are bluegills eating the minnows soft parts. Move locations due to there probably are no big game fish around that spot.

***** If you get a hold of threadfin or gizzard shad, hook them sideways through their jelly nose. This will keep them alive longest. Once they die, re-bait! Sandies and hybrids don't normally hit dead bait. But sometimes they do, but live frisky bait gets a reaction strike faster then a non moving bait. Hold the bait under the water while on the hook, 2 inches under water. If its moving its good. You can really only tell if its alive when in the water. Sometimes if you hold them out of the water they wont move and you will think its dead.

Carolina Rig the shad and minnows. If your not familiar with this, Google it or youtube.

Cast Net/ Throw Net- can not be over 7 ft. long in the state of Texas. Catching your own bait will save you $100's of dollars a season. Shad, baby blue gills, red tail shiners, creek chubs, and people bait they threw out, will all be in the creek systems.

Now, How to Catch White Bass or Sand Bass in Creeks and Rivers:

White Bass/ Sand Bass start showing up in the creeks and rivers sometime in February on most years. Sometimes a month early or late. When I first start scouting the creeks, I look for them in eddies along the banks. These are spots like little run-ins; bank cave-ins, debris piles, riprap. I look for places where some type of structure deflects the current and forms a small eddy behind (downstream from) it. The fish do not want to exert to much energy so they will hide in the current breaks. Early in the year the white bass school up in these deep holes, waiting to push further and further up the creek systems and river systems. Every time it floods, the fish migrate further and further upstream. I have seen them get on their side in 2 inches of water and flutter up the shallow rapids by the 100's. Truly amazing site to see.

I catch 90% of my fish near bottom. So most of the time I throw my jig right into the hole, then let it fall until my line goes slack meaning its on the bottom, or even sometimes a fish will grab it before hitting the bottom. Once the jig is on the bottom I start reeling it back in, sort of jigging it to maintain bottom contact at the slightest level. You don't want to drag it on the bottom. If you feel a tap on the line, set the hook!

If the pockets are 6 ft. or shallower, I love throwing the Jig & Bobber set up. When the bait lands in the water make sure the bobber is standing straight up. If it lays on its side, your fishing to shallow. Just pull the bobber down 6 inches at a time till it stops hitting bottom. Then with your rod tip, twitch the bobber 1/4 inch at a time trying to keep it in the strike zone as long as possible. Using your rod tip, twitch it making the bobber scoot 1/4 of an inch. 1-2-3, pause. 1,2,3, pause......etc. You need to give the jig time to fall back down of you twitch it. The bobber usually doesn't go under! Remember your already on the bottom. Most of the time you will just see the bobber suddenly twitch or stop. SET IT!!!! Anything you didn't do to the bobber, set the freaking hook before the fish poops out the bait.

Rooster tails and road runner baits also will tear into some sandies. These are cast and retrieve lures. Reel as fast as you thin a small minnow can swim. That's plain and simple. Colors are usually white, chrome, silver, and chartreuse.

Same thing for the jerk baits or small Rapala's that look like a minnow. The problem with small crank baits, you loose one- its probably 5-7 dollars. They work great but costly to loose.

Finessing a Tiny Fluke. Take a size 8 bait hook or octopus hook, and hook the fluke like it has eyes. This is deadly with 4 lb line. Cast it out and start reeling the slack while twitching the rod a 1/4 of an inch maintaining a tight line. This will make the fluke dart around and the sandies cant stand it. They will come from 5 feet away to smash the fluke. See video below.




When a white bass bites your jig or minnow, it'll almost every time SLAM it. When you catch a White Bass from a pocket or spot your casting at, I'll stay there and cast 20 more times. If not bite, Ill leave to another spot. When I walk back, by the spots I got bites or landed a fish previously, I will cast to those exact spots everyday. It's "very rare" to catch just one sandy in a spot. Usually there are 20-100 in the same small pocket. When one fish moves upstream or downstream, the whole pocket/school of fish follow. So don't be tromping around in the pockets that are knee deep. If your Knee Deep, your probably standing of fish! The females start showing up in the creeks and rivers a 2 weeks to a month after the males arrive. The females and more males come up in huge schools mainly at night or during high water after a flood. The peak of the run when most females and males are in the same spots is usually sometime in April. The peak of the run lasts a week or two, to where you can catch 300 sandies no problem in 2-3 hours. To a point you just go home out of boredom catching so many every cast, or your arms hurt! At peak spawn, the females are huge! Usually 15 inches to 17 inches on average if the healthy previous spawns were good.

Fly Fishing:



One of the most



Some days, the fish just wont bite. You can see them, but they just wont bite bait or a lure. The day before a rain, sometimes they get geared up to make a run upstream with the rising water coming and everything is correct with the weather pattern but they just get a bit of lock jaw. Cold Fronts are your worst enemy. The day after a cold front is a beautiful blue bird day usually and the air pressure is probably going to sky rocket. A biologist told me one day, that the Barometric Air Pressure drastically changing, affects their air bladders making them uncomfortable ceasing their hunger while the pressure fluctuates. This is not set in stone. Sometimes they will bite in very high and very low air pressure systems, but not often, even in the peak of the run they will shut down to a complete hault. See this link for that topic and how to read the weather and why the fish might not be biting. ---->http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/8847076/3

Rain systems: If its raining out there, the sandies don't like it. They will hide under laydowns, under-water shelves, under timber piles, under bridges, etc. The don't want to get wet.




The early morning bite and the late afternoon bite is always the best. These fish have come from their winter homes in 30-50 ft of water and they have not seen the sun in 3-4 months. So now they are in 2-10 foot of water. So when the sun hits the water, they freak and find a deep pocket to ride the afternoon out in, find the deepest pockets possible. And most important fish the shaded pockets first. The fish will follow the shade. Fishing from 10 am till 4 pm is usually the slowest time of day to catch them. There will be a certain time of day you will notice they will slow down. Then you will know when you need to be fishing certain spots. Sometimes for three miles of the creek, nothing is happening. But, lower downstream or up might be kicking. You have to move to be successful, or just know where the hot pockets of fish are. Time on water and exploring in the winter months when the water is clear, is imperative. I will know within 10 minutes if the fish are biting when getting to the waters edge. They are either biting or they are not. But then again, I might not be using what they want. Sometimes free lining a minnow with no weight might be the ticket. You just have to play around with the different baits and lures till you find out what they really want that day. The pattern is usually the same throughout the season, once you find out the lure they want. Try and figure out what they are eating in the creek. Minnows, shad, crawdads. Match the hatch, color, and size and things start to fall into place.

Once you get good at catching them, you will actually get a bored at times. Mix it up a bit and give yourself a handicap.






Fishing Regulations and Size Limits:


White bass: 25 per person/ 10 inches minimum

Yellow Bass: NO LIMIT OR SIZE LIMIT

Hybrid Striper: 5 per person/ 18 inches minimum

Crappie: 25 per person/ 10 inches minimum

Black Bass: 5 per person/ 14 inch minimum

Channel and Blue catfish: 25 per person/ 12 inch minimum

Flathead Catfish: 5 per person/ 18 inch minimum






Game Warden Numbers:

Martin- 214-886-4074

Sergio- 972-754-2934







Dangers:

Poison Ivy and Oak

Copper Head Snake's

Water Moccasin's

Thorny Vines that poke holes in your waders

Steep cliffs with slippery clay banks

Gun Range- bullets and bird shot ricochets

Loose boulders and rocks

With all this, if you just don't get it, we are here to help. I have told yall how I do it. You just need to go get them now. If you just cant get it down to a science, I will make your life easy and simple with full stringers everyday you go to the creek. Spend 4 hours with me, and I will have you catching fish within 10 mins of getting there. Make the wife happy with something to show for all the time you were gone. And, take your kids fishing!



Guide Bank and Wade Fishing Trips:

2 People / $200

$75 each additional persons up to 5 people max


-All gear provided except waders and cleats.

If your a single person and need a buddy, please contact me. Texting is fastest.

(from the top of the stringer) ---> The 3rd fish down, on the right side. The fish with broken lines....... White Bass or Baby Hybrid? Just always remember, Sandies have broken lines too. Only way to tell is the double tooth patch. ( where is Jack anyways? ) -And, it's a White Bass by the way.


Identifying Hybrid Striper and a White Bass:

Yall need to get this figured out or you will be slapped with a hefty fine or two.






Hybrid Striper:

Also known as Palmetto or Sunshine bass

Note: For hybrids, all characteristics should be considered in combination, as characteristics in individual fish may vary.

A: Stripes distinct, usually broken, several extend to tail

B: Body deep, more than 1/3 length

C: Has "two tooth patches" near the midline towards the back of the tongue. Tooth patches may be distinct or close together but seperated. This is the ONLY way to tell the difference. Don't go by the stripes/lines. White Bass/ Sand Bass also will have broken stripes/lines.






Its very obvious with the two lines right next to each other. White Bass/ Sand Bass do not have two lines on the tongue. The White Bass/ Sand Bass has a single patch on the tongue.




-Monster Hybrid day. Rowlett Creek in 4 foot of water.



And the Sandie's






White Bass/ Sand Bass:



A: Stripes faint, only one extends to tail. Sometimes stripes may me broken.

B: Body deep, more than 1/3 length

C: Has one tooth patch near the midline towards the back of the tongue








Guide Bank and Wade Fishing Trips:

2 People / $200

$75 each additional persons up to 5 people max


-All gear provided except waders and cleats.

If your a single person and need a buddy, please contact me. Texting is fastest.

Todays report: Didn't kill them but got a limit of quality 13 plus inch fish. Plus some bonus crappie. Fluke with chartreuse head bumped on bottom. Who knows what this front will do to them.

Nick landed close to a limit scouting out new holes, so the fish are everywhere now. One good rain, the females should show up.

Keith needs to laugh more in that video, I don't think he was having a good time

are the sandies running yet???

Very informative thread! Maybe it will help some of those fellow fishermen sharing those creeks.
Nice fish by the way.

Foreal! Folks like this... W/ this type of info.. You better listen & learn point blank!
4 pound test is king in the creek during the run! I used 8 pound for ever and got bit. Switched to 4 pd... =$$! Thanks for sharing

Fantastic post Carey!

Great info

getM Carey!

LOL Gene that was one of the best fly fishing trips i ever had. I am glad it is on video so i will never forget it.
Thanks again Carey two years later

Stop showing off Keith! I fished for 4 days straight and you caught more in the video. Lol.

They are in the creeks now Roy

Was up in Camp Copass LL yesterday for son's stuff and thought I saw you deep in the woods, PlanoKeith. And not Sasquatch

Nice stringer

The beard does make me look like a big foot --LOL-- . Don't know how much longer i can stand having a beard , kind of getting tired of the grizzly look

Snuck by the crowd and when upstream. Went to the deeper holes and Nick and I put a slaughter on. Just because you see us catching fish at One spot does not mean that's where the only fish in the 12 miles or creek. When you have 10 to 15 people casting at the same spot, the fish get super spooked and won't bite. That's why y'all are not catching a lot at the magic honey hole. Five of us when upstream of y'all to the deep pockets a mile up and just absolutely slaughtered them. Even found a little pocket of females. You can catch fish at the mouth of the creek all the way past 78 for a couple miles. I've told you how to find them and what to do so quit piling up in the same spot and start moving. If you start to move when the bite shuts down you can fill your stringer by fishing one pocket at a time quickly. Catch one or two fish in each pocket then move to the next pocket. Shade is your absolute best friend after the sun comes up.



I haven't told one person not to cross my line again, this year. Most of the trips will walk a little bit a ways and get away from people then start fishing. If people are crossing your lines you're too close to other people. There's plenty of fish in the creek system to find your own hole.

If we get this rain in the next couple hours or what not, might flood the creek in the weekend might be difficult. Or it will be amazing.

Any banjo music?

This^^^^^^

Spot filled

Very slow today. Minnows bumped on bottom. The really won't take a jig today. At least this noting the lure bite was dead. Started picking up as we left.

Went to Rowlett Creek yesterday and went above FireWheel Pkwy.
Caught 5 real fast then nothing. Goin 2marr and walking south of FireWheel Pkwy.
Hopefully I do better and tarpon fly you was right bout the soccer cleats.
It's bout an 1 1/2 hour drive for me. My first time to fish for spawning sandies. Fun
Good luck, can't catch them unless you go!!!!!

slow slow. 6 Sandies till 11 am. Now it's a bite or fish every cast.

I always see you where everyone is fishing...common spots where everyone is fishing...there's miles of creek. Please look for a honey hole, hot a common hole.

this is great information, but I have a question.

I fish Lake Fork a lot, but it is fed by small creeks. if I want to catch them on this lake, do I just go as far as I can go up the major creeks?

if you have a small creek that always has water and has current on the north end of the lake it will get a sandbass run. It would be best to walk the banks. Fish usually run up as far as the can get unless there is a log jam or dam that's impossible to get past

Nick filled his waders, so he lost his pictures in his phone as a result. Nice Job Nick, told ya it was deep.

Limits have been flying out and usually we limit before 830 am. Didn't limit yesterday due to my one client said she had enough. 5 year old Bella stopped at 18 sand bass and said her arm hurt. We were only fishing for 25 minutes. Fastest guide trip ever.









The father and I would cast the lure out and she would reel it in. 18 casts, 18 fish.

If you take your kid fishing, and the kid says they are done. Go home. Do not force them to stay or they wont go back out with you or wont want to for that matter. The father was going to fish a bit but the kid was ready to leave and she had her fun. Its about the kiddos when you take them fishing, not you. Need a good rain to bring the females way up. Flukes on 1/32 oz jig heads have been our ticket for limits. Some days minnows are must.

This morning was BRUTAL. Pressure seemed to be on the rise for the better part of the day. Got to the creek around 6am, and we were able to pick 2-3 from each school, but for the most part, lock-jaw had set in. I sat on a couple schools of 50-100 fish, and watched as I continuously drifted a minnow through the school, bumping off of the fish! Not even a nibble....

Went and got some lunch and decided it was too pretty to be sitting at home, so I got back out to see if there were some hungry fish anywhere to be found. After a while, about 5:00-5:30pm I indeed found some hungry fishies. A bunch of big FAT mags. After a few pictures sent, and a phone call to Carey, he decided to join in on the fun. Action was fairly steady until about 6:45-7, and the pressure started to fall, and this caught on fire! Though today was very strange... They DID NOT want anything to do with minnows. All our fish were caught, SLOW rolling a 3" chartreuse w/glitter curly tail, dragging it just along the bottom. Finally glad to be able to get away from the minnows. So much nicer when you don't have to worry about dragging a bait bucket around.

Mr. Thorn's limit..


And mine...

Wow!!! That is a load of fish. Very nice.

I have openings Saturday and Sunday, call or text to book $100/person

Fishing is about to get crazy after this rain, but the run will be over by early May, book a trip before it's too late, $100/person call or txt to book

Report: Well, most all creeps in DFW are at their peak spawn now. The big schools of females have made their push up most creeks last week and the week before, and with this rain a lot of hybrids will show up as well. The next week to two weeks if you know what you're doing you should be able to get well over 200 fish days. PlanoKeith and I hooked up at the creek before the rains. Before I got there Keith was already at 103 Magnum Sandies. Took me less than 45 minutes to put 25 fat female mags on the stringer. The tent caterpillars are out now. Every 30 seconds one would drop on us. When we walk around and stop we would look at our shirts and we do have 10 or so crawling on us. I got home and took a shower and I could still feel them crawling on me. Creepy. The creek looked like it was sprinkling. But it was the Catapillar's falling out of the trees nonstop.

We have approximately three weeks of good fishing until it starts trickling down and they all vacate the creeks.

We are still doing Wade trips for crappie too!

$100 per person for Sandies

$150 per person for Crappie

So educate me. They leave the main lakes and all go into the creeks for spawning? Is it worthless to try and fish the main lakes? What am i looking for in the creeks? Just a creek or???

Egad man, if the first page of this thread DID NOT educate you on the spring white bass run, well, I will not go any further!

It covered EVERYTHING you need to know for the run!

Rudy

Guess I didn't catch the first post. Just responded to the last.

most leave but not all do, lots will spawn on windy points on the lake too

Nick and I both had a single today, and we ended meeting up and let me say they were hungry today. For those of you thinking the run is over, let me tell you, it's in full swing right now. We pulled off the first limit in 37 minutes. The last limit was just over an hour and caught well over 250 fish total. Fish were hitting anything we threw at them. You could have put a Coke tab on a hook and would have caught a few fish. Started off with spinners, then got bored and switched to cranks. 1/8th rattle traps and X-raps. Got tired of treble hooks, and switched to curly tails on 1/16 oz jigheads white, black, chartreuse. Got bored of that and switch to jig and bobber with flukes. Albino, chartreuse, smoking shad. Got tired of bobbers and switched to finessing flukes. And I could go on and on... They bit EVERYTHING today. Everything was perfect today. Fish were in every hole we stopped in. Getcha some while the fishing is hot!

Report: the morning was very very slow. To a point I was nervous about the customers not getting any fish. Right when we pulled up to the creek the air pressure plummeted four points. About 8:30 AM they started feeding hard and it turned into a fish every other cast. It wasn't the best day ever, but it was a very good day. With about 5 to 10 minute lulls between major runs. Most of the time one out of three people would have a fish on at any given moment. Bite got better in the day after the air pressure settled down. PlanoKeith,





is still down there whacking them on the fly rod. This last text he was over 120 fish. At One point, the fish slowed way down and would not hit a artificial baits. We cut some gizzard shad up to try for the hybrids swimming by, but the Sandies would not leave it alone we found out. Every cast we would hook up with a Sandbass, almost immediately on cut bait. Hooked two hybrids, hook pulled on both. They were a bit slow, but you could definitely see them sitting in the 2 to 4 foot of water. Fortunately for all the hybrids this year all have been released. Except for one fish that got guil but you could definitely see them sitting in the 2 to 4 foot of water. Fortunately for all the hybrids this year all have been released. Except for one fish that got gilled. Every time we would catch a hybrid, most of my clients would tell me they don't like to eat them because they taste bad? I guess it's just a acquired taste for every species of fish. Make sure you pull out the bloodline on the Sandy's and hybrids. That's what makes it taste fishy if you eat it.

$100/ person.

Less than two weeks in the run left. If you're thinking about going, now is the time. You wait more than two weeks it might be over.



Most fish caught on white 3 inch mr twister grubs.

Fly rod: Near Deeres and clousers

Past weeks report:



Every day has been different. Some days we limit easily, some days we catch 15 to 20. Chartreuse, white, green, silver spinners/ small flukes or crappie jigs/ jig and bobber/ live minnows are all working



Read the first part of this thread before you ask questions, please.



$125/ per person.

4-5 hours fishing.

17+ years of happy clients.

Rated #1 Multispecies Guide Service in DFW

Guaranteed fish and fun.



Texting me is fastest way to book a trip.

Thanks for the props.

Annual White Bass & Hybrid Striper Spawn Report

Rowlett Creek

Live minnows were key today.




Some on jig and bobber. Lots of 17-17.5 inch hybrids in the creeks. Make sure u measure them and ID them correctly. The two fish in holding are baby hybrids in the pic.




The first spot we started in this morning, was just stocked full of hybrids.




We actually left them to go find sandy's. We moved couple hundred yards down the creek and found just Sandy's there and no hybrids.




If the hybrids were bigger I would've stayed on them. Caught 11 hybrids within an hour with some double hook ups, all 17 1/2 inches



I saw dad and his son walking down the trail trying to find a spot. I've vaguely recognized him from previous years and I told him to come down and join me since he had a kid. Told the dad of were to cast to catch them. Unfortunately he had 8 to 10 pound fishing line on and I was catching them and he was not. I cut 2 feet of line off my rod and and tied it to his and rigged it up and they started whacking them The little one immediately started catching!



If you keep one of these fish below, if the game warden find you, over $200 fine right here.

very nice sir

yup i know i got a hybrid on very quickly after the bite. mean nasty

Yesterday report:



I thought we were going to absolutely murder them yesterday, but it was just slow and steady. Every time it would start sprinkling we would not catch anything. As soon as it would stop they turn on again. It's pretty much a fish every 3 to 5 minutes. In the beginning the people throwing small Rapala's, we're beating my minnows 4:1. But when the sun got up a little higher and it got brighter, the fish left that deep hole and came up shallower to where we were when we started getting them. Took a solid five to 5 1/2 hours to get a 2 man limit. Everything was catching release yesterday. Caught a few baby hybrids.

Pretty much the whole morning they were eyeballing the bait. This one got a closer look than the rest.



I've been throwing this new color from http://constantpursuitoutfitters.com/product/double-jeopardy/ if you click on the link it goes directly to it. it's clear glitter with a chartreuse tail.



When it goes underwater it almost gives a purple hue like the glass minnows in the rapids that they are eating. If you catch one of the glass minnows and lift it up and look at it it's almost got a purple hue just like the Double Jeopardy Thump Buddy. Match the hatch. Toward the end of the trip I was catching more on this then minnows. I threw all colors of the tiny fluke, they wanted smaller jigs was all. These jigs are made of a beach ball kind of plastic. You almost can't rip them apart. If you glue these on a hook you will not lose or have to replace the jig body unless you lose the hook in the tree. During the run last year or the year before, I caught a little over 2100 Sandies on one Thump Buddy jig before I broke it off. Try and do that with a baby bass assassin Bobby Garland.


I have hit many many bait shops and so far this month the gas station just outside of Collin Park Marina on Parker Rd, has the best minnows. They are huge mediums. Same price as most places. These minnows are almost considered large ones. It's called Lakeway. It's directly across the street from Sonic. The best part of the whole thing is they open up at 5:30 AM. Everywhere else opens at six. I use a 1-2 lb per season on my trips.







Yesterday we went through a pound and a half. We caught around 60 to 70 fish. Problem was we were actually killing most of our minnows before we caught a fish. It was just so slow, we make repeated casts with the same minnow and eventually it would kill them. Most of the time I go through a half pound by 9 o'clock or earlier.

Good report!

Excellent!!

That's my regular bait stop too when I go to fish Lavon. Didn't know they open that early though. Thanks for the heads up on that.

Report: its been crazy fun down there.



Lures: Flukes, Rapala's, Minnows


Lots and lots of sandies swimming all over the place.



It seriously does not matter where in the creek you are, they are there.



I saw them in 6 inches of water and caught them from 6 inches to 4 foot today.




Its been this way for a couple weeks now.



Within seconds of your first cast, you usually hook up!



My guide Nick has gone back to college so now we have hired Jimmy, aka, Tornado. (yup) Dude can catch fish.... So now he is legal, legit, and trained to Smash some fish with clients.



Tomorrow I have all three of us guiding with groups. We have two spots open for tomorrows trip starting at sun up. If you interested, $125 gets you a spot. Fish guaranteed! Every trip is. You don't have fun or catch any fish, you don't pay. Never happens in the creek though......



Still seeing and catching a few Hybrids. The big big girls should show up after next weekends rain. If your drag is set correctly, you can easily land a 10 lb Hybrid on 4 lb mono




We have a few spots open for Saturday afternoon and Sunday AM/PM spots. PLUS tomorrow AM , 2 spots are now open.



469-528-0210 to book. Texting is faster for me.



.

( FinnThorn & Carey Thorn tearing up Sandies)


( Finn was so amazed, that when I would cast out and make a splash with my luer, all heck would break loose with a sandy thrashing about on the surface seconds later. He would stay in there and wait till a fish was on and then he would start to do curled around me all excited that another fish was coming in. )



- i've been guiding a lot of kids through my career. One thing I have noticed, once your kid is ready to leave you must leave immediately. Otherwise your child will never come back out with you. If you force them to stay they will not like it. I have had some come out catch one fish and then say they're done. - trip over. Even if you're catching hybrids one after another and your kids ready to go, you better go.

Fishing has been absolutly amazing. With just a couple slower days. I have all three guides out whacking the fish daily, weather permitting.



Minnows are guaranteed limit.



Some days the lure bite is off the chain. A couple days ago you could just cast a jig and Bob are out, as soon as you close the bell on the spinning rod a fish would come up and eat it without you even movie night.



Catching a few on Rooster tails in white, silver, or chartreuse




Only takes about a day or two for most creeks to clear up enough after the flood, to catch fish again.



Water feels great now. Waders are not needed.



I still highly recommend you wear soccer cleats



Soccer cleats give you the ability to grip the slippery Claybanks along the creek systems.



Catching them on the flyrod as well using Clowser's and Near Deers

After the flood, I would recommend bringing a rope just in case you can't get it out due to the steep Clay Banks. They are going to be very wet and very slick with a new coating of silt on top of the Clay.



We have hit our limit every day now.



Make sure you bring a cooler big enough to transport at least 25 of your own fish. If you have a buddy with you make sure you bring a cooler big enough to transport 50 fish in. If you have a big group with you make sure you bring a giant cooler to transport your fish in.



It is possible right now to catch a limit of hybrid stripers up to six and 10 pounds. You may have five of those and 25 sand bass.



We have about three weeks left to smash these fish.




$125 per person

Fish and fun guaranteed

What a cute little TFly Jr he is!

It is that time again! Now booking trips for the Annual White Bass Run!

We just have one or two more creeks to look out and we will decide on where we are guiding this year in the DFW metroplex. Today I landed into a bunch of females full of eggs. Upstream the males were waiting for them to arrive. Ended up getting a limit within an hour and a half. All released. Caught everything dragging a silver glitter with chart tail, Thump Buddy.

can't wait to get my line wet

They are showing up early. Already hit a limit in one creek scouting. Another 15-20 days they should be guidable. I have two guides this year running trips, as well as me. If you would like on the list for when we decide on which creeks were going to guide this year, shoot me a text at 469-528-0210 and I’ll put you on the list and call you as soon as we start booking.

Since this is mainly a white bass, and guide report!
How much is a fair price to tip a guide including that they clean the fish?

Awesome thread!

Awesome write up and videos sir! Much appreciated. About 15 years ago I was mainly into sandbags fishing with the occasional striper adventure. Took a long break from fishing and got back into it a few years ago and was mainly targeting crappie. Decided to start going back after sandies and stripers again.
Whitney will be my next outing. Thanks again for the article and videos sir!

Jimbo, 10% - 20% is standard. 20% if the guide cleans the fish and bags the fillets for you.