Is This The Spawn????

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Here in NC temps have been steady 70's and 80's and the water about 65. I caught a fat mama last week (pic posted on this site) off the bed in a pond. Some other ponds have no beds to be found. Some other ponds there are empty beds and lastly some other ponds have no beds or action at all. What's the deal? Does this sound like pre spawn, spawn, or post? Today I found two empty beds in the pond (about 1 acre). I trolled all the banks for two hours and got a few dinks???? Ideas or comments appreciated. :-)

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Also, the activity at all the ponds has slowed down since I noticed the beds last couple weeks. Is this normal?

[MDP4BASS]

When males are protecting the beds thats all they are doing they are not concerned with eating for this period only protecting the bed and the females are tired and lazy now from the spawn and wont bite either id try a Jig and Craw for the bedding bass they will bite it on the beds if you imitate like the craw or lizard or frog is taking the eggs off the bed

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

That's good stuff! Is the "spawn" itself the entire period of the bass (ah-hem) "getting better acquainted", laying eggs, and them hatching? Or is the spawn only one area?

[MDP4BASS]

i look at the "spawn" as the month or so process when all the bass move to shallow water from deeper water to make sweet babies...the whole process of JUST protecting the bed can also be the "spawn" but also dont forget the big bass will stay shallow for a week or two after all the eggs hatched as they will feast cause they are worn out from the process of "spawning"

Also try deeper (what i call "roads traveled") to and from the spawn areas...by this i mean cast a little deeper to where you think the bass travel from deep to shallow water because some bass are probly done spawning already and looking to work there way back to the deep of the pond!

[Sam]

You have prespawn, spawn and post spawn.

 

The first two are guided by water temperatures.

 

Some bass hit their beds early while others wait.

 

Some bass will have a second spawn later in the summer, although many guys do not beleive this I have seen it happen in Virginia.

 

Prespawn - Water temps start to go into the 60's and the bass start to move into the spawn areas. Males will go onto the spawning flats to make the bed. The females follow. You have to find the migration lanes.

 

Spawn - 65* and the bass are on their beds. Look for hard surfaces or grass patches and places the males have cleared out for the female.

 

Post Spawn - After the eggs hatch the male will guard the nest and then eat some of the young before he swims away. The females will rest as they are exhausted and as stated above, they will ignor all presentations until they recover.

 

Remember, water temperature and the full moon are critical to the spawn. Also, in Virginia when the Dogwoods bloom the bass are on their beds.

 

Read about the spawn so you will have a better understanding and can be more successful with your fishing during this time.

 

I do not like to catch them off the beds. If I do I release them immediately.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

You guys are a HUGE help! Just got a KVD book today and it covers that in one of the sections. :-)

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

The bed I caught the female at last week had one male and one female. I out her back within a few seconds. Got a few sweeeeer pics first. ;-)

As for the activity, those were the only two I saw with a 1.5 pounder about 50 feet from it.

Would deep diving crank baits work best the next week or so? Or should I try jigs and worms? In either case, I am wondering if I should cast open water (the deep center). If not I can cast from the bank towards the center, or the center towards the bank.

Thanks! Joe

[MDP4BASS]

I would go center to the bank just like being in a boat And I agree with sam maybe one quick picture and i lay them in the water as close to there bed as possible

[Sam]

Keep dragging plastics over their bed.

 

Aggravate them.

[Hyrule Bass]

i would go with lizards or creature baits in your scenario. drag them slowly along the bottom

[deep]

Most bigger bass have beds that are in deeper water, that are difficult to detect unless under perfect weather conditions without a good pair of polarized glasses and (this is very important I think) if you don't know what you're looking for.

[deep]

I don't personally fish for bedding bass unless I think she's big enough to be a new PB. I find it sporting though; just that it takes too much time (usually; for me) to catch any decent-sized bass off a bed. And I'd rather fish for fish that are looking to eat.

 

Once you can get the bass to nose down on your bait, it's a done deal. It might take one more hour to get her to actually eat your bait; but she will.

 

You have to find the right angle of retrieve, and the right spot on or near the bed that will get the fish to take the bait in its mouth.

 

Try different things; if whatever you just did has a negative reaction, don't do it again. If it had a neutral reaction from the bass; try something else. If it had a positive reaction, keep doing it. I learnt this from Matt (of Mattlures)

 

You need to understand the "body language" of the fish.

 

I usually try two baits; a swimbait like a softgill, and a plastic on a jighead.

 

Hope that helps, and please take good care of the bass you catch.