When do white bass run in Ohio

Every Spring, thousands of anglers descend on Northwest Ohio to fish the waters of the Maumee & Sandusky Rivers for a spawning run of Walleye followed by White Bass. This annual fishing tradition is beloved by many, including myself.

A typical scene at the peak of the run (The Blade/Andy Morrison)

The Sandusky River is the smaller tributary of the two, and the fishing is limited to the downtown area of Fremont, Ohio. The Maumee River, which gains far more attention and rightly so, boasts a much longer stretch of river to target the fish. The most popular Maumee River location would be Sidecut Park, followed by places like White Street Access and Jerome Road. Most people consider the water temperature hitting 40 degrees as the start of the run. Depending on the winter temperatures that can vary greatly, it is difficult to forecast dates of the run starting or ending. Water temperature is the best indicator along with flow (height).

When that water temperature hits it’s mark, the anglers start to show up by the masses and the fishing pressure can be intense. Many people do not like fishing the run due to the ‘elbow to elbow’ crowded fishing conditions but I recommend not letting that discourage you. The crowds are there for a reason, the fishing is great and the experience is fun. Why not join them?! Most people get along fine and I have often made friends for the day with the folks fishing an arms length from me. It really gets blown out of proportion about people’s behavior and I honestly think that is done in an attempt to keep people away. Plain and simple don’t fall for it. Coach yourself into a good attitude about the fact that you will have anglers fish very close to you, and you’ll be fine. Also, if you have the ability to fish during the week and are willing to try locations that aren’t the popular places where fish stack up, you can get a little more room.