Whatcha Gonna Do?

[jtmavs]

Fished a very clear (4 foot plus clarity) lake last Saturday. Water temp was 60 - 64, and fish were moving shallow with several on the banks making beds. Starting yesterday, a cold front has started moving in and will be 15 - 20 degrees colder all week. I'm sure by this weekend, water temps will drop drastically. I caught a few last week with a Ned rig and one on a spinner. I assume fish will move off the banks by this weekend, but how far will they go? What do you do to adjust to such changes right as they get ready to spwan? I think I assumed they would not venture too far from the bed if eggs have been laid, but may go further if only preparing beds. Just trying to learn behaviors and patterns. Thanks for any input!

[A-Jay]

I do not fish for bass on beds so I can't help you there.

 

Since not all the bass are doing the same thing at the same time, pre & post spawn fish will probably be holding in the same place.  I'd back out to fish the first structure break or drop off and look for cover (preferably wood) close to or on it.

 

If that's a no go, I'll go out to the next break line.  Either way could be tough sledding as the bass may not be in an eating mood for a bit making finding them challenging. 

 

The wind direction may play a role here as well.

 

As the habitat warms back up so should the action.  Later in the day may be good at least to start.

 

Fish that are using areas that drop off quickly seem to move the least, distance wise. 

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[papajoe222]

What A-Jay said, but if eggs have already been dropped the males will still be on the beds. The females will have retreated to one of the areas mentioned regardless of the cold front.

[wuchr20]

I do not fish for bass on beds so I can't help you there.

 

I thought its okay to fish on beds as long as you release them as quick as possible.  Am I missing something?

[A-Jay]

I thought its okay to fish on beds as long as you release them as quick as possible.  Am I missing something?

 

As long as an angler is fishing within the regulations, there is nothing "Wrong" with it per se.

 

Otherwise it's a personal choice.  The majority of the research seems to indicate that there is minimal effect on the overall system when done "correctly".

 

However I've decided that I'm going to skip the whole deal & fish for the bass that are not up yet or have finished.

 

A-Jay

[Ozark_Basser]

A good place to start is by checking out the closest break from where they are going to spawn. Creek channels, grass lines, docks, rock transitions, points all near their spawning grounds are fair game.

[Senko lover]

Bad boys, bad boys, watcha gonna do, watcha gonna do when they come for you?