I did manage to catch my biggest fish of the trip on a Clowser at least first picture. Just short of 3 pounds. I almost did not bring a spinning rod but we're driving three hours I'm glad I did probably only caught half a dozen on the fly This time. I don't even bring a conventional rod when I fish for Sandbass anywhere but the Sabine but it was handy this trip. We probably caught close to 200 between two people in a day and a half. A friend of ours loves to eat them and we nitpick they limit of 2 1/2 pound plus fish for him in about an hour this morning.really wish they were keying in on the flys up on the shoals shallow but still little early. Oh well turned out to be a heck of a trip sore arms and shoulders for sure. Looking at another run with the fly rod first week of March or so. Still hands down the biggest sandbass in Texas.

I can't remember ever eating white bass. What do they taste like? I like Crappie and big bluegills. I've been seeing these reports lately. Nice bunch of fish.

2flyfish4 stuck it out on the fly or die caught some hogs as well. I'm sure he will have a good read on it. Think we should have hit the same sandbar he was on yesterday morning was a little more conductive to fly fishing. Tried it this morning but they were not as active there today.

Lol I couldn't tell you have a friend that loves eating them. He ask me yesterday if we would bring him back a limit. I may be really good at catching them and fish for them a lot I don't care to eat them. They are a flaky white meat similar to bass and crappie but they have a strip of red muscular meat running down the fillet ( why they fight so hard) like striper. I hear if you cut it out they are a lot better. My buddy was tickled pink to get them though.

That is true, when fileting the fish, trim center reddish meat and they taste great. My wife dips the filets in mustard before the flour and cornmeal. Completely eliminates any strong/fishy taste.

Nice Slabs!



That is one FAT fish!

Are sandbass and stripers just taking over all the bodies of water in Texas now ? I've been told the stripers are eating all the blackbass before they get big enough to be a good bass anymore . I've caught sandbass but never cared for them . The taste of blk bass and crappie are very distinct and nothing comes close to them in my opinion .

Ron sandbass reproduce prolifically, but very few lakes in Texas have good striper reproduction. Texoma being a lake they spawn in very well. Most other lakes striper population comes from stocking and they will eat shad way before bass and crappie as they generally Roman open waters occupied by shad as they generally Roman open waters occupied by shad. Sandbass being so prolific is why the limit is so generous at 25 for those that do like to eat them. Caddo was the only watershed in Texas that originally had sandbass in it if I'm correct they were stocked every where else.

Nice haul Robert!

Once they get a foothold in a lake, you can't get rid of them, I know that much. Back in the day you'd never catch white bass or yellow bass out of Fork, and now they're everywhere. Giant ones, too.

Lake Ivie was a good lake for stripers but it nearly dried up during the drought and to this day lake level is still not good but I think I've heard some talking that has caugh a few so far but not many . Shame that lake went throught that process .

Yes I have a lake house at elm creek on ivie. fished it since it was built always had those ups and downs. Still remains a great fishery.

Well we didn't weight any of the fish we brought back for my friend. He weighed the biggest 5 although most were twins. The biggest was 3pounds 3 ounces and the other four he weighed were at 3 or a little over. I'm sure they lost a little weight on ice coming back. That's a big sandbass!!

good meeting you robert. My trolling with the fly rod and kayak did not work well. I will bring a spinning rod next time just in case they are not hitting flies. It was still nice getting away from the city.
Justin.