Posted 1:46 am Sunday, February 03, 2013
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Parking area opens in time for white bass run
Staff Reports
The white bass didn’t wait for the City of Chandler to official open the new parking area on the Neches River Friday.
The white bass didn’t wait for the City of Chandler to official open the new parking area on the Neches River Friday.
Encouraged by rains that got the river running and warming water temperatures, white bass males have already started moving up the river. With the new parking facility fishermen now just don’t have to park on the highway and climb a fence to get to them.
In cooperation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the East Texas Woods and Waters Foundation, Henderson County and Texas Department of Transportation, the city has developed a parking site and obtained a long-term lease for access to what had previously been private property.
Now it is up to the fish to make the annual spawning run.
A white bass run is determined by a number of things, none of which biologists can determine is more important than the other. They include daylight length, the proper water flow and water temperature.
With the area receiving about 5 inches of rain in January, water flow in the Neches has been up enough at times to get the white bass moving. A minimum of 110 cubic feet per second is necessary for a successful spawn.
Researchers have also determined that the water temperature must be at least 55 degrees and no more than 75 for the fish to spawn.
Males are going to be the first to start running the river, and that typically starts in early January on the Neches. They are also the last to move back down into the lake.
Actual spawning occurs during a five- to 10-day period. A female white bass can drop as many as a million eggs. The eggs are released both during the day and night, and will hatch in 46 hours after spawning if the water temperature is 60 degrees.
Now it is up to the fish to make the annual spawning run.
A white bass run is determined by a number of things, none of which biologists can determine is more important than the other. They include daylight length, the proper water flow and water temperature.
With the area receiving about 5 inches of rain in January, water flow in the Neches has been up enough at times to get the white bass moving. A minimum of 110 cubic feet per second is necessary for a successful spawn.
Researchers have also determined that the water temperature must be at least 55 degrees and no more than 75 for the fish to spawn.
Males are going to be the first to start running the river, and that typically starts in early January on the Neches. They are also the last to move back down into the lake.
Actual spawning occurs during a five- to 10-day period. A female white bass can drop as many as a million eggs. The eggs are released both during the day and night, and will hatch in 46 hours after spawning if the water temperature is 60 degrees.
The Neches run can last into March.
White bass fishing requires minimal gear. Anglers can use lures ranging from one-eighth-ounce Rat-L-Traps and inline spinners to grubs. Chrome Rat-L-Traps with a blue or black back tends to be a favorite. Those using spinners tend to prefer white or chartreuse in one-eighth to 1/16th size.
The statewide minimum length limit for white bass is 10 inches. The daily bag limit is 25.
White bass fishing requires minimal gear. Anglers can use lures ranging from one-eighth-ounce Rat-L-Traps and inline spinners to grubs. Chrome Rat-L-Traps with a blue or black back tends to be a favorite. Those using spinners tend to prefer white or chartreuse in one-eighth to 1/16th size.
The statewide minimum length limit for white bass is 10 inches. The daily bag limit is 25.
