(Click Photo to Enlarge)
Top: white bass (Morone chrysops)
Bottom: yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis)
There was the unmistakable "tunk" on the end of the rod. A hook set, and then the fight was on.
Chickamauga Lake is seething with yellow bass right now. We probably caught 80 yesterday, maybe a hundred. Many on minnows, others on small gitzits or my favorite, a 16th-ounce chartreuse green grub.
Of course we were crappie fishing, and we caught some of those too. But the crappie-to-yellow bass ratio was roughly 5-to-1, more or less (BTW, if you're doing the math, about half the crappie were under the 10-inch legal limit).
The point is, if you can go fishing with minnows or jigs on Chickamauga Lake right now and NOT catch yellow bass, I would suggest you carefully examine your fishing skills (or lack thereof).
Some people mistakenly refer to yellow bass as "stripe," which is really a "white bass," that has nothing to do with a "striped bass."
Confused? You're not alone.
Here are some basics. White bass (Morone chrysops):
Area anglers frequently refer to white bass as "stripe." It's confusing because the same anglers also refer to the introduced rockfish as "stripers."
White bass have separated dorsal fins, the second anal spine is one-third the length of the head, and the seven longitudinal stripes under the dorsal fins are solid.
Years ago they were common in Chickamauga Lake, often schooling on the top in large numbers the "the jumps." However now they are few and far between.
They are found frequently in the tailwater areas of Nickajack, Chickamauga and Watts Bar, but again, rarely are they found in large numbers in the main section of Chickamauga.
White bass grow considerably larger than yellow bass. The Tennessee state record is 5 lbs., 2 ozs., taken in Parksville Lake in Polk County in 1989.
Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) seem to have taken over the white bass's niche in most of Chickamauga lake. Biologists can't be sure of the exact reason why, but it probably is a factor of the lake's age and the changing habitat.
The yellow bass has joined dorsal fins, the second anal spine is half the length of the head, and the seven longitudinal stripes are broken.
Yellow bass are far smaller than their first cousins, the white bass. Catch one that weighs a pound and it's a whopper. The Tennessee state record is 2 lbs., 9 ozs., taken from the Duck River near Waverly, Tenn. in 1998.
Yellow bass are so common and prolific that they are actually recognized as a "commercial" species in Tennessee. However few, if any, commercial fishermen actually take them.
They do make great table fare. They are small, but tasty. And right now is the time to go catch 'em.
Dennis Woebbeking, holder of the Alabama and yellow bass record writes:
"Morone mississippiensis, yellow bass or bait stealer. If you have ever used red worms or minnows in the Tennessee River or the Mobile delta, you have probably caught this little known bass. Most people consider them nuisance, bait stealers or just trash fish. Small in average size, 6 to 9", they are a real fighter for their size. If you are lucky enough to catch a one pounder, you will probably swear you have a 3 pound largemouth bass on your line. Even at 6 to 8 ounces, they rank in taste with bluegill or crappie and are easy to filet. Deep fried with a batter of club soda and self-rising flour makes for some good eating. The best time of the year to catch these little fighters is in early spring, April and May. Using an ultra light or light action rod and reel will really give you the action most of us are looking for. Yellow bass seem to like shallow, swift water and will strike at almost any kind of bait.
While fishing in the Tennessee River near Stevenson, Alabama., I caught the granddaddy or all yellow bass. At 16-1/2", 2 pounds 8 ounces, I broke by 15 ounces the state record that had stood for 26 years. Needless to say, I didn't eat this one!
I want to thank my wife Sue, who wanted me to go fishing that day to catch our evening supper."
This Alabama state record yellow bass was caught by Dennis M. Woebbeking in upper Guntersville Reservoir, Jackson County on April 12, 2000 using cut bait.