What Is The Post Spawn Pattern?

[Trailer]

Outside of unusual weather conditions and fronts, what is the typical post spawn pattern for fish. By the time I get back on the water I'm fairly certain that most of the spawning will have occurred already.

 

Will these fish be heading back out of the shallows towards main points? Will they gradually school together towards the summer months?

[quanjig]

Yes, in my experience, that is pretty much how it happens. They make their way back to deeper areas along much of the same routs they took to the spawning areas. Early in the day you can get up on flats and find them feeding, later in the day, they may be on the ends of the flats, closer to deeper water and secondary points. Some fish will jet right out to main lake points and be very shallow there until water temps and o2 levels drive them deeper and into summertime patterns. At least that's the way my little res fishes.

[Trailer]

A co-worker and experienced angler told me that the spawn is definitely over in our area. His suggestion was to start in the back of coves and work back out to the mouths. I asked him if a jerkbait would be good in the mouths of coves, but he shunned it and suggested a swimbait "but not an Alabama rig because that bite is over". I don't understand that because he's said the same thing about the Rat'L'Trap bite being over and some days that's the only lure that has kept me from getting skunked.

 

I guess I'll attack every stage of the water column until I get bit, as I am still learning this lake.

[quanjig]

I would never totally eliminate a bait. If you are comfortable throwing the jb or a rig then try them. If the spawn is over have you seen males guarding fry? If so, the females are sometimes still in the area suspending just out of sight and the jb will work. If the fish have totally left the spawning areas, look for the first deeper water area and where it starts to change. Senko is my first choice. Try finding a senko with some blue flecks in it. Try it weightless at first, if you don't get bit, try pegging a 1/16oz tungsten to it and drag that around the same areas.

[WRB]

The term post spawn means the period the male bass leave the hatched fry and the female bass have laid all their eggs. None of this happens on a specific schedule and differs from lake to lake and bass species.

To generalize in deep structured bass lakes like man made reservoirs LMB tend to spawn in about 3 waves that last about 6 weeks. Smaller natural lakes and rivers usually have 1 wave of spawner's that lasts about 2 weeks.

Spawning isn't difficult for the males other than not eating for 2 weeks on average, then they turn on their own fry and start feeding and tend to stay near the shoreline where food is available.

Spawning is much more stress on females, egg laying is a task and not eating for a few weeks also takes it's toll and weakens the female. Some larger females do not survive the spawn, they are too weak to catch food.

Most females tend to move away from the spawning site into deep sanctuary water areas to recover for a few days, then will start to feed on easy to catch prey until they regain strength. The transition period is called post spawn and the next seasonal period is the summer period. Bass are scattered and located where ever they choose and are comfortable with both food and sanctuary.

Tom

[Trailer]

Yes, in my experience, that is pretty much how it happens. They make their way back to deeper areas along much of the same routs they took to the spawning areas. Early in the day you can get up on flats and find them feeding, later in the day, they may be on the ends of the flats, closer to deeper water and secondary points. Some fish will jet right out to main lake points and be very shallow there until water temps and o2 levels drive them deeper and into summertime patterns. At least that's the way my little res fishes.

I watched a video last night that supports your statement. Basically you have to find the "highway" that they used to come in because they'll use the same route going out. Supposedly the females that have moved out will stick to structure and/or cover on the way out and be lethargic from the spawn.

[quanjig]

This is when you can get them good on a smartly fished weightless fluke down steeper banks that have some bigger lay downs reaching out and over the creek channel!

[averagebass123]

The term pos

Spawning is much more stress on females, egg laying is a task and not eating for a few weeks also takes it's toll and weakens the female. Some larger females do not survive the spawn, they are too weak to catch food.

Most females tend to move away from the spawning site into deep sanctuary water areas to recover for a few days, then will start to feed on easy to catch prey until they regain strength. The transition period is called post spawn and the next seasonal period is the summer period. Bass are scattered and located where ever they choose and are comfortable with both food and sanctuary.

Tom

Right now, i see some bass feeding, and some are guarding fry. When will the bass be deep again. I love deep fishing in my pond because it has a max depth of about 6' and i can cover lots of water fast w/ traps, a-rigs, spinnerbaits, cranks, and swim jigs.