Are These Fish Beds On My Side Imaging, If So What Species?

[FL BassGuy]

Hi Guys, 

 

I took a few photos of what I was picking up on my side scan in my local lake.  They appear to be beds of some sort.  The beds were seen in large areas in anywhere from 6' to 10' deep.  I have seen similar images on forums before that were said to be bluegill beds, but these are pretty large.  The lake is in central Florida, 130 acres, and has a healthy population of largemouth, bluegill, threadfin shad, gizzard shad, golden shiners, and channel catfish.  The lake does not have a lot of shallow water for fish to spawn in either.  Any input would be much appreciated, thank you! 

[Team9nine]

Bluegill - bass aren't colonial nesters, and neither are catfish...and shad/shiners are broadcast spawners (no beds).

[12poundbass]

10 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Bluegill - bass aren't colonial nesters, and neither are catfish...and shad/shiners are broadcast spawners (no beds).

By colonial do you mean in clusters like this image the OP posted?

[Bluebasser86]

Agreed, bluegill beds. They kind of look like tires on the bottom of the lake if you can see them from above the water. 

[FL BassGuy]

Thanks!  So, the bass are probably spawning in the cattail banks?  The entire lake is lined with cattails, with the outside edge of the cattails being in around 5' of water.

The water is really dark, only about 1' of visibility.

[Bluebasser86]

Largemouth bass will usually spawn around some form of cover, so if the cattails are the only form of cover in the lake, that's probably where they'll be at. 

[FL BassGuy]

Yes cattails are the only vegetation/ cover in the lake.  There are a few areas of structure as in submerged trees but they are it 15' to 20' of water.

Or cover I should say.

[Bluebasser86]

That would be too deep for spawning if you have dark stained water in the lake. Florida bass seem to prefer to spawn in thick vegetation so I wouldn't be surprised if that's where they're at. If you can find some that are in a sandy, rocky, or clay bottom that is probably going to be preferred over a straight silt bottom for spawning. 

[FL BassGuy]

Thanks for the input.  I will try that this year, I fish other lakes that are much clearer and the bass are always spawning on hard bottom up against hydrilla, those clear water lakes have an abundance of hydrilla.

[crypt]

Bluegills,I live in central Fl. and those are all over the place right now. bass are not to far away...... 

[Team9nine]

10 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

By colonial do you mean in clusters like this image the OP posted?

Yep ? some people refer to it as honeycombs. Bluegill tend to do it for protection with the biggest gills toward the center of the nests and the smaller males on the outskirts.