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Spring Sand bass Run - 3/5/02

    For those of you who are accustomed to chasing sand bass (white bass) up the creeks in the spring, this will not come as any new information to you.  But, for those of you who have never experienced the thrills of casting ultra-light tackle while walking the banks of the tree infested creeks chasing the spring spawn sandies, this may be useful information.  There is not a whole lot more exhilarating than hanging into a big sow white bass in a small creek with loads of snags to wrap you up in.  Not only are these little silver sided racers hard hitters, they are also mighty fighters for there size.  They are truly worth the efforts of walking the creeks -- even for catch & release fishing.

    Every year in the spring, the sand bass move up the main creeks and rivers from the main lakes that they spend the majority of the year in.  This is the time that they are prime pickins for shore anglers.  Rarely will you be fishing in a creek that is too wide to cast across, so all the water is pretty accessible.  Choose waterways that have a fairly close connection to either the lake or the main creek that runs into the lake.  For Lake Livingston, find any creek off the Trinity river for several miles North of the lake.  Fish that mile or so of creek and you should have good fishing.  Also, don't forget to check below the dams of the various lakes in Texas.  These are normally great places to catch the fish attempting to move upstream to spawn.  Not every water body in the state has white bass, so check the lake off the creek that you are interested in and make sure that they have a population before you head to the creek.

    Lastly, the baits I prefer to use are little 1/16 to 1/8 oz jigs or RoadRunners.  The color is dependent on the water condition.  In muddy water, try a yellow.  In clear water, go with the white, and lastly in greenish water use the chartreuse baits.  It is best to have a little of each with you and if one is not working, try the others.  Focus you casts on steep banks, backwaters, and anything that provides an ambush site for these little frenzied fish.  Do diligence and give it a little time.  Talk to people out there fishing and get tips from them also.  The ones who fish these places year in and year out can be the best help.

    In closing, make sure that you have a good time, keep no more than you need, and take everything back out with you that you took in.  There is nothing more saddening than to see a creek that is littered with fishing lure wrappers, minnow bags, and other trash that people brought in while fishing and simply threw it out in the woods.  The outdoors is not our trash can and we have a responsibility to keep it clean for all of our future.

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