This will be my first year to really go after some whites. I will be primarily fishing the San Gabriel. Anyone have any suggestions on what artificial baits to use?

Thanks in Advance.
Session

------------------
I'd rather be driving a Skeeter!

Hard to go wrong with a CC spoon, probably 1 oz, for the deep fish and you should have a clear tiny torpedo for the schoolies. We have also had exceptional trips casting a shallow running inline spinner as well. Not sure it make a lot of difference for color. A lot of people do very well with small rattle-traps, I like them too but the treble hooks makes it more difficult to unhook and release the fish, I prefer to change the hooks to a single hook or pinch down the barbs. Good Luck - sandies are fun....

ROADRUNNERS

Joseph

I have fished the San Gabriel for years. I am mainly a fly fisherman, but before I fly fished down there I used small jigs. I tie my own jigs and flies, and the best advice I can give is to use something with flash in it. The crappie jigs they sell at walmart are good, but have no flash. More important than the type of bait is size and how you fish the bait. Smaller is better down there usually. Make sure it is heavy enough to get down deep, you want to fish on the bottom. Shoot me an email and I can send you more detailed information on the San Gabriel if you want it. Hope this helps.

------------------
Tight lines

I agree with Joseph. In the rivers and shallow water you can't beat a Roadrunner.

My all time favorite is the Little George, although the roadrunner is a close second !

------------------

Jimmye4fish

Session,

HB22 and I carry quite a few different baits down to the creek. Primarily because Sand Bass are finicky. They will shut off to a certain bait, and if you'll switch, Bam!!!, they're back on. Road runners are great, as are varying weights and colors of standard curly tail jigs. Small tube jigs, (my favorite is called a firecracker) clear tube with red white and blue metal flakes are incredible.

Also, spinners of all sorts work. Panther Martins, Blue Fox and Rooster Tails.

Sometimes we use twitch baits as well, 3m11 Mirrorlures, Matzuo floating minnows, rapala floating minnows, small husky jerks, all are killers.

Sandies are easy to catch but simply stubborn and choosey at times. Carry a variety of small flashy baits, you'll be glad you did.

That being said, I have had my butt handed to me many times by a fly fishermen with a clauser minnow or a tiny white trout jig, and by a live bait fishermen using small 1" to 1 1/2" crawdads. Go figure!

JKB

San Gabrial upstream from Granger(Circleville)? Roadrunners 1/16-1/8oz is your best bet year in, year out. Traps,spoons,tailspinners,etc. get hung up and lost quickly here.

Solid white Little Fishies with the red eye.

ONE WORD "ROADRUNNER"

You will need small shad or minnow imitation lures, and those mentioned in privious post are great white bass lures for sure and I've caught many on all those. But here are a few of my favorites that always seem to work for me.
We just got back from the river today and me and my partner boated about 75 and used the curly tail roadrunner and litl' fishie. Don't worry once you start chasing those whites you'll find out you never have the lure that the other guy is catching them on that day. Good Luck and good fiahin! Jimbo

Blakemore road runners are my mainstay. Where I am at we have off colored water. Usually chartruse or white. Sometimes red head. Maribou or curly tail. Weight 1/4 oz most of the time. Sometimes they get suspended and I use 1/8. Sometimes I tie on two light ones about a foot apart. Use different colors. This works especially well on light tackle. I think presentation is as much as anything. Roll at different speeds. Let it sink all the way down, start rolling as soon as it hits the water with a steady retrieve, etc. One time last year my best producer was rapala shad-rap and jointed shad-rap. Rooster tails also work. Happy fishing.

------------------
jane

My arsenal includes KT spoons, lil fishes minnows/shad, gay blades, and bomber slabs.
early I troll with Norman DLN crankbaits, shad raps and Yo-zuir hardcore crank gold/black...

The best thing I have found to use in the creeks and rivers during the spawn, is a 1/16th or 1/32oz. jig. I like to use white, or yellow colored jigs myself. White has all ways been my #1 favorite though. I use a 1/16th for the first month, (January). It allows me to fish it deeper and faster while searching for staging fish, which at that time are usually in the deeper holes, on the bottom, due to water temp. In March I use nothing greater than 1/32oz. The key word for jig fishing is (PRESENTATION), which stands true to any artificial bait.

Not only that, but jigs are the cheapest artificial bait on the market and they produce very well. Remember the key word, (presentation), and try different techniques till you find the one that works best.

------------------



[This message has been edited by fishytx (edited 01-24-2004).]

the roadrunners and little fishes with the red eyes are excellent choices. also try the number13 pet spoon-you can get them at academy. they cast good on lite tackle.most of the time they will outfish any other lure.