Yellow and white bass are both native to the state and often coexist. White bass were stocked in many of our reservoirs during the 1970s and 1980s to create more fishing opportunities.
Today, their populations are maintained by natural reproduction. Striped and hybrid striped bass do not reproduce naturally in Indiana. Therefore, their populations are maintained only through stockings. Striped and hybrid striped bass grow much larger than yellow and white bass.
Yellow bass have never been stocked by the DNR. In fact, yellow bass can be problematic when introduced into water bodies with high nutrient levels because of population increases that can negatively affect other sport fish. White bass and yellow bass are often confused by anglers. Yellow bass are yellow in color with more distinctive striping and a second anal spine that is equal in length to the third (see above). By comparison, white bass have fainter stripes, a deeper body, and their second anal spine is ¾ the length of the third.
