🏞️ Freshwater

White Bass

Morone chrysops

The white bass is a spirited sport fish known for exciting "white bass runs" in spring when they school in large numbers to spawn in rivers and tributary streams. Fast, aggressive, and school-oriented, white bass provide exciting fast-action fishing when located. They are the parent species of the popular hybrid "wipers" stocked extensively in lakes and reservoirs.

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Typical Size
10–16 inches (25–40 cm) typical
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Weight
0.5–2 lbs (0.2–0.9 kg) typical; record over 6 lbs (2.7 kg)
⏳
Lifespan
4–7 years
💧
Water Type
Freshwater

🗺️ Habitat

Large rivers, reservoirs, and natural lakes throughout central North America. Commonly found in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River drainages.

🔍 How to Identify White Bass

  • 1Silver-white body with 5–7 dark horizontal stripes (broken stripes vs. continuous in striped bass)
  • 2Two separate dorsal fins
  • 3Stocky, deep body more rounded than striped bass
  • 4Rough patch of teeth on the tongue (diagnostic feature)
  • 5Body depth more than one-third of total length

🍽️ Diet

Shad, alewives, and other small schooling fish; also insects and crustaceans

💡 Fun Facts About White Bass

  • ★White bass spring spawning runs can attract hundreds of anglers to a single river
  • ★They are the parent of the famous "wiper" hybrid (white bass x striped bass)
  • ★White bass can form massive feeding schools that drive shad to the surface — exciting to witness
  • ★They are native to the Mississippi River drainage but widely stocked beyond their native range
  • ★White bass is the state fish of Oklahoma

🛡️ Conservation Status

Least Concern — abundant

🔗 Related Species

Striped Bass

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Learn more:

How to Identify Fish: A Beginner's GuideMost Common Freshwater Fish in North America← Back to All Fish Species