White bass
Confirmed on the ODNR Hoover page, with a spring run up Big Walnut Creek and summer schools chasing shad.
Season
- Spring: run up Big Walnut Creek (public access only; respect closures and property).
- Summer: open-water schools on shad. Watch birds and surface activity.
- Fall: continue schooling until cool-down.
- Winter: deeper, less of a night focus.
Time of day
Dawn/dusk and whenever shad are busting. Night can produce under lights or moon when schools are up.
Where on Hoover
- Big Walnut Creek spring run, from public banks and bridges only.
- Windward main-lake points when schools push bait shoreward.
- Watch for surface busts near public shore; stay off private docks.
- Open-water schools on shad. Follow birds and the graph (≤10 hp).
- Main-lake points and creek mouths when bait stacks.
- Spring: idle toward public creek access; respect closures/property.
Limits reminder, verify
| Rule | Reminder (verify 2026–27) |
|---|---|
| Striped / hybrid striped / white bass combined | Daily 30 |
| Over 15″ | No more than 4 of the 30 |
Gear
- Medium-light spinning, small spoons, jigs, small swimbaits.
- Medium-light spinning, small spoons, jigs, small swimbaits.
- Boat: follow birds / graph; bank: cast to breaking fish.
Bait & presentation
- White jigs, small spoons, inline spinners from public points.
- Match shad size, and downsize when picky.
- Small spoons, soft jerkbaits, and jigs cast into breaking schools.
- Match shad size, downsize when picky, and stay mobile under the birds.
Notes
ODNR Hoover: white bass spring run up Big Walnut Creek; schools chasing shad. Aggregate limit with hybrid/striped.
Unofficial notebook only, not ODNR, the City of Columbus or USGS. License required ages 16+. Confirm regs before you keep fish.