Spawn "ethics"

[Preytorien]

So here in Indiana, mother nature has unleashed a nice bought of cold fury upon us, and it's hard to imagine anyone but the most die-hard guys being anywhere near water right now. 

 

That said, I'm already looking forward to the spring, the thaw, and fishing. Pre-spawn will be here, then spawn.

 

What are your thoughts on catching bedding bass? I used to think it was a great thing, but then last year after I caught one, I noticed immediately bluegill rushing in to eat the eggs, then I felt a bit guilty. Those are the next generation of bass, if the bluegill eat them all, my waters won't be self sustaining. Besides, that bass was just defending its kids when I caught it, like we'd all do. 

 

What are your thoughts? Catch it, or give the kids a chance?

[Shane J]

I don't fish for bedding fish. I will stay outside areas of bedding activity, catching the ones that haven't gone up yet. Staying in those same areas clear through the spawn, and into post spawn. 

[Darren.]

Consider also the fact that there are probably hundreds of bedding bass that you cannot see that'll remain on their nests protecting thousands of spawnlings.

 

This has been discussed on the forums a number of times, and the pendulum swings both ways. I for one will fish spawning bass, but I'll be careful to CPR (Catch, Photograph, Release) ASAP.

[flyfisher]

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/reports/Largemouth%20Study%20Update%20Jan%2008.pdf

 

here is an article with a study done on a very popular big bass lake here in VA.

[A-Jay]

This topic routinely elicits a decent number of responses detailing opposing view points.

 

 As long as an angler is abiding by state / local regulations, I feel it's a matter of personal preference. 

 

Some view this as a matter of ethics and conduct themselves accordingly; I'm on this side of the line.

 

Others follow the Letter of the Law and I'm good with that as well.

 

Practicing anything else is usually not only illegal but some seriously Bad Juju.

 

A-Jay

[Preytorien]

These are all great answers, and fall in line with my own preference. But that's also a good article.

 

I'll admit I did some more digging and found (like that article states) that fishermen don't make as big of an impact as thought, but that I just use caution and get the fish back in the water pretty quickly. If it's a particularly heavy pressured water, or small pond, I may just let the bedding bass defend in peace. Otherwise I'll just practice caution.

 

I didn't find a whole lot of forum conversations about it, but then again I searched "spawn".....maybe I should use "bedding"

[Darren.]

These are all great answers, and fall in line with my own preference. But that's also a good article.

 

I'll admit I did some more digging and found (like that article states) that fishermen don't make as big of an impact as thought, but that I just use caution and get the fish back in the water pretty quickly. If it's a particularly heavy pressured water, or small pond, I may just let the bedding bass defend in peace. Otherwise I'll just practice caution.

 

I didn't find a whole lot of forum conversations about it, but then again I searched "spawn".....maybe I should use "bedding"

 

Whether this matters or not, and it is just my experience, bedding bass are not a guaranteed catch. Sometimes they're impossible to entice with a succulent worm or jig, or whatever.

[Preytorien]

Whether this matters or not, and it is just my experience, bedding bass are not a guaranteed catch. Sometimes they're impossible to entice with a succulent worm or jig, or whatever.

Oh believe me I know. It's pretty rough when you've got a 4+ pounder in front of you and you're not even getting a look! Ha!

[ww2farmer]

The way I see it, the jerks make me work hard for them 11 months out of the year, the few weeks they expose themselves, I will take advantage of it. Smallmouth tend to be stupid easy to catch off a bed, so I don't get carried away with it. One day... Have my fun, and move on. Largemouth.... I rarely target them on beds specifically... But I do fish shallow that time of year, and if one on a bed is caught.... So be it

[MarkH024]

This is exactly why a number of northern states implement a bass season. To give them a chance to be protected as they spawn. Often, the spawn carries out of that time frame and other times it doesn't.  I think that it is more of an impact on the northern states where ice can speed up or slow down the spawn seasons and the fact that bass aren't as heavily populated as some southern waters.

[J Francho]

Biologists up here have told us that 75% of the fish aren't spawning at any given time, but are shallow.  The larger females aren't guarding beds, and usually cruising the shallows. They can be spooky, and difficult, but these are the fish I target.  I will stick a bed fish if it's pretty big, or if it's a slow day.  They aren't always as easy as people make it seem, and sometimes they are.  December through June is catch and immediate release for black bass, so any fish are immediately returned.  It seems to me that if fishing pressure was an issue, I'd think the fishing would suffer, but it hasn't.

[Dwight Hottle]

This is exactly why a number of northern states implement a bass season. To give them a chance to be protected as they spawn. Often, the spawn carries out of that time frame and other times it doesn't.  I think that it is more of an impact on the northern states where ice can speed up or slow down the spawn seasons and the fact that bass aren't as heavily populated as some southern waters.

 

 

Along with what Mark has stated the state of PA forbids any tournaments during the trophy season which corresponds with potential spawning times. Obviously they feel that the 10% of the fisherman that catch 90% of the fish will not be doing it during a tournament format in PA trophy waters.

[bighed]

Here in TX we don't have a problem with fisherman harming the spawn by catching and releasing bedding fish. I've done it off and on for many years at Fork which may be the most well know bed fishing lake around. That said, I've caught nothing over 8 pounds from beds. I've seen a few bigger but they usually don't hang around the bed long leaving the smaller males to tend the nest. I'm convinced that if a guy could push himself away from the lure of catching lots of 2-7 pound fish he would increase his odds greatly of catching that monster sow hiding near by.

[Raul]

There´s no point in you feeling guilty, mathematically speaking 95 % of the eggs laid are not going to become even fingerlings, about half of them are not fertilized, that leaves you with only 50% of eggs to incubate, about half of those will not hatch, others will be eaten by predators like bluegills, from those hatched a good percentage of the fry is not going to reach fingerling size and from those a good ammount will be eaten by their own kind.

 

If those numbers don´t make you feel better well, you can always stop fishing for spawing fish.

[Nitrofreak]

I find it much more intriguing to start early and follow these fish on their way to spawn ,  I would much rather find the actively feeding fish rather than spend time trying to coax a bite , eh , it gives me a better understanding of migration routes that I can later use for post spawn , I must say how very exciting it is to see a big ol' sow on her nest though ,

 

As for ethics I guess , I'm in with AJ on this one .

[AK-Jax86]

I'm here in FL and we are known for 10lbers. I am still waiting to LAND mine BUT I want to do it before spawn. Don't get me wrong when I get mine during spawn I will be very excited about it but I would feel more accomplished if I were able to get her pre spawn, time is running out.

One of if not the biggest bass I ever caught, I STILL DON'T COUNT HER THOUGH (didnt have a scale back then either), was when I was in middle school back in NJ. Was walking with my buddy to our spot had to go through a bunch of woods. Before we get to the woods there is a part of the lake that has a cove and we see this huge bass just sitting there. He threw something she didn't budge I threw out a creme worm and she inhaled it I basically picked her up out the water it seemed. Was literally 5 feet off shore I felt like I cheated lol.

[MarkH024]

Was literally 5 feet off shore I felt like I cheated lol.

5 feet from shore is no different than 5 feet from your boat. A catch is a catch, congrats! Post that 10lber when she hits!

[boostr]

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/reports/Largemouth%20Study%20Update%20Jan%2008.pdf

here is an article with a study done on a very popular big bass lake here in VA.

Great article, thanks

[slonezp]

This is exactly why a number of northern states implement a bass season. To give them a chance to be protected as they spawn. Often, the spawn carries out of that time frame and other times it doesn't.  I think that it is more of an impact on the northern states where ice can speed up or slow down the spawn seasons and the fact that bass aren't as heavily populated as some southern waters.

Wisconsin has gone one further with the Green Bay/Sturgeon Bay smallie fishery. Season opener is May4th like the rest of the state. It's C&R thru the middle of June, and the season on Washington Island doesn't open until July 1.  If it wasn't for introducing off limits, size limits, and the goby invasion it wouldn't be the fishery it is today.

 

My opinion on the OP is exactly in line with A Jay

[MarkH024]

Wisconsin has gone one further with the Green Bay/Sturgeon Bay smallie fishery. Season opener is May4th like the rest of the state. It's C&R thru the middle of June, and the season on Washington Island doesn't open until July 1.  If it wasn't for introducing off limits, size limits, and the goby invasion it wouldn't be the fishery it is today.

 

My opinion on the OP is exactly in line with A Jay

They also have the barbless only rule above Highway 10? (northern zone) through June.  Bass fishing up there is really great anyway because most of the locals are targeting other species for the most part. Eye's mainly, Pike, Ski, perch.  Rarely do I ever talk to locals that are specifically fishing for bass. Maybe just an odd occurrence for me. Experience the same conversations when you head up there?

[slonezp]

They also have the barbless only rule above Highway 10? (northern zone) through June.  Bass fishing up there is really great anyway because most of the locals are targeting other species for the most part. Eye's mainly, Pike, Ski, perch.  Rarely do I ever talk to locals that are specifically fishing for bass. Maybe just an odd occurrence for me. Experience the same conversations when you head up there?

The locals that are shorebound seem to be more of the buckethead type. The guys who have boats are exactly what you described. Eyes, perch, and trout/salmon. It's such a vast fishery, it really doesn't get crowded either. Biggest problem with fishing DC is the weather. I know the DNR has been doing a lot of management with the musky population, numbers are down, but they've been getting some real trophies 

[hoosierbass07]

Since I don't live in one of the southern warm states, and I'm finding bass season is over in the winter time, I'm going to take full advantage of catching bass during the spawn. If that caused a problem I assume indiana would have laws dealing with it. I buy my license, I catch and release, I fish.

[RoLo]

Fish egg mortality can reach 30% in one day. To compensate for

high mortality rates, Mother Nature provides a generous oversupply of roe.

In fact, if 50% of the fish eggs actually survived, your lake would be in trouble.

Moreover, the fish and game commission studies every waterbody at great length

to form a blueprint for the fishing seasons, daily limits and slot limits.

 

When a cow bass is locked on a bed, she's dialed into the role of reproduction

and is not interested in food. She is also tough to infuriate, because the role

of protectorate belongs to the buck. In short, it's difficult and time-consuming

to coerce a bedding cow. It's pretty safe to say that the lion's share of trophy bass

taken during the spawning season are cow bass in the pre-spawn or post-spawn stage.

 

Roger

[WRB]

Bed fishing is the number 1 reason Florida will never produce a world record bass, no closed sanctuary water and the use of live shiner fishing during the spawn. Giant bass are most venerable on beds during the spawn, 99% of these bass are caught during the pre spawn to spawning period everywhere. C&R works only if the bass is handled properly and that doesn't happen often when it's a near record or PB size bass.

Does bed fishing harm a fishery? It can on trophy bass lakes.

Tom

[tomustang]

I catch and eat predators trying to ambush the bed.

Sometimes the best part of a beding bass is watching them pummel much larger fish to keep them out of the bed