Spring Bed Fishing

[countryfried]

alright guys, im new to bed fishing, and i want to get into it. i know im posting about spring pretty early but i wont be doing much fishing this fall so i just wanted to get started with my learning. so like what do i need to look for when i trying to find beds, so like if go to a lake, how do i know where to start, how do i find beds, how do i know if i have found one nearby ? what's the best tackle to use, i think it would be just soft baits, weightless or texas rigged, any topwater, guys i apprecaite ay help thanks

[roadwarrior]

Geez...It's September...

http://www.bassresou...g_articles.html

[deep]

Practice on smaller fish before you happen upon a possible new PB.

This article might give you some ideas.

http://www.calfishing.com/freshwater/dont_catch_the_male/Introduction_and_Tackle.html

[Sam]

Just remember, if you can see them they can see you.

You will see the light colored bottom unless they spawn in rocks and grass. The male will be circleing the bed. The female may or may not be around. You are looking for the big female.

Drag your bottom rig through the bed slowly to aggravate the bass into hitting it. The bass may pick it up and gently remove it from the bed without taking the hook in their mouth. Be patient and do it again.

Bass hate lizards so use one. White is easy to see but sometimes you have to go with the water clarity issue and use watermealon, green pumpkin, black/grape, junebug or whatever color works for you.

Be patient. They will drive you crazy. You may or may not catch one off a bed. If not, go to another bed.

Check out Roadwarrier's post and the articles in the "Fishing Articles" section on tope of the page.

And please read Woo Daves' article on bed fishing, http://woodaves.com/ plus his other pennings. Woo is a great guy and he gives simple and sound advice.

Good luck and remember, over the winter you read, read, read and read some more. Start your library and read, read and read and watch those videos and make notes. It is time to go to fishing school!!!

[countryfried]

are most beds close to the bank ?

[luresonly]

You can find a fair number of beds really, really close to the bank. But, fish don't only orient to the bank- you can find them out in spawning coves a few hundred yards off shore. They are primarily looking for a protected area that will make ideal habitat for their young. At any rate- you can generally see beds... and if you do find a bed... look closely at the habitat their.... and as you scan the bank, look for similar structure/bank layout/features, and you will most likely find more beds. I have never had a problem bed fishing, and to be honest, don't do it often out of a sense of guilt (unless cash is on the line). Finding the bed and remaining quiet/out of sight is the most important thing... like mentioned- if you are hovering over a bed, the fish can see you. Try and avoid this and really creep- make slingshot casts or pitch with only your wrist so you don't disturb grasses and create shadows etc. As far as baits- just pick something that looks like a nest raider: salamanders, small fish, etc. Jig/craw trailer, shakee-heads, suspending shallow jerks...

[J Francho]

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot-bedding-bass.html

[WRB]

Spawning coves are almost always in wind protected areas with deeper water access close by.

If you look at your lake start with the north west areas first. If the lake is larger than 2,000 acres and is a man made reservoir, look at the area the opposite end of the dam.

LMB prefer to make nests in a spot that has 1 side protected from eaters like sunfish, bluegill and Crawdads; look for boulders, brush, dock pilings or weed pockets with a cleared area.

The nest site should not be shaded, sunlight warms the eggs.

The water temperature should be warming daily from 55 to 62 degrees at the depth of the bed site for pre spawn and you should be some cruisers in the areas. When the weather is stable, the water has warmed to 62 to 65 degrees, the first wave do spawner's will show up; smaller males staking out nest sites, the larger females cruising, but not holding on beds. When you see pairs of bass on the bed site, the spawn has started.

It's best to time your bed fishing at the very beginning of the spawn cycle, the big females will not stay around very long, about 2 days max.! With 2 to 3 cycles.

The drop shot rig is ideal for bed fishing, the weight about 6" below the exposed point hook. A jig is also very effective.

Colors that you can see well: pearl white/chartreuse works everywhere. A compact jig also works, takes a little more skill to excite the bass into striking.

I would start with water 2' to 3' feet, unless it's clear enough to easily see deeper.

A wide bream sun shaded hat and good polarized sunglasses are a must.

It's often easier to see a bass leaving a nest, than to see the net itself. The bass will return if you back off and then you know where the net is.

Please release bed bass immediately; do not transport them away from the nest area.

Tom

PS; best guess would be Feb/Mar in your area, depending on weather conditions.