Bedding bass

[Johnpenguin]

I need advice! There is a huge bedding bass that won’t bite anything! Are there any tricks I should try?

[MN Fisher]

First question - what have you tried so far?

[Johnpenguin]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

First question - what have you tried so far?

Craws, brush hog, Keitech, megabass dark sleeper, and senko... it will literally hit her in the head and she either wont react or she’ll slowly swim away.

[MN Fisher]

I'd pull a jerk or shallow crank past her - something different than the soft baits.

[Johnpenguin]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

I'd pull a jerk or shallow crank past her - something different than the soft baits.

Unfortunately I can’t do that bc she’s in the weeds pretty deep. Maybe a fluke would work. Might buy some lizards tomorrow too

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Johnpenguin said:

Unfortunately I can’t do that bc she’s in the weeds pretty deep. Maybe a fluke would work. Might buy some lizards tomorrow too

Hmmm...how about a light drop-shot set shallow - 1/8oz weight with the hook 6"-8" up rigged with a curly tail or lizard. Drop or drag it into the bed then just twitch it.

[Johnpenguin]

30 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Hmmm...how about a light drop-shot set shallow - 1/8oz weight with the hook 6"-8" up rigged with a curly tail or lizard. Drop or drag it into the bed then just twitch it.

That’s a good idea. I’ll be trying that. Thanks 

[Mike L]

Don't know how much time you're giving it but I've spent over an hour on 1 fish many times in 10-15 min increments. 

 

I always use a white lizard or craw type plastic pitching past the bed and slowly bringing it up and in. 

How I work it, if at all depends on her mood. 

 

If she just looks at it and leaves quick when she comes back I'll just twitch it all the way to the back side, varying the time between them. 

 

If she shows interest and gets close without taking it, I'll be more aggressive with its movement. 

 

Sometimes you gotta just give it time. 

How much depends on her. 

 

Sometimes all you need to do is leave her alone awhile and come back from a different angle. 

 

 

 

Mike

[Fishin' Fool]

Be stealthy. If a bedding fish can see you good chance it won't bite. Long casts. First try small baits if that doesn't work try large baits. Cast past the bed and slowly bring the lure into the bed and then leave it there and shake the heck out of the lure. Good luck!

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Put a prop bait on her head. Let it sit. She'll react to that

[scaleface]

My initial reaction is " are bass bedding in Ohio right now" ?

[Johnpenguin]

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

My initial reaction is " are bass bedding in Ohio right now" ?

Smaller lakes they are

[I'm Blue]

4 hours ago, scaleface said:

My initial reaction is " are bass bedding in Ohio right now" ?

mine was,, umm maybe leave alone till after the spawn.

[Catt]

More important than lure selection is the Bass's attitude.

 

23 hours ago, Johnpenguin said:

it will literally hit her in the head

 

Big no-no! 

 

Stay back far enough where she can't see you even if you have to mark the nest & make blind cast.

 

Be patient & make repeated cast or pitches.

[Mobasser]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

More important than lure selection is the Bass's attitude.

 

 

Big no-no! 

 

Stay back far enough where she can't see you even if you have to mark the nest & make blind cast.

 

Be patient & make repeated cast or pitches.

Agree Catt. If she can watch you, you've probably blown it already. That's how it's been for me. 

[Scott F]

Do you guys actually enjoy sitting on a single bass, which is trying to spawn, throwing baits at that bass that isn't eating, for long periods of time? 

[I'm Blue]

evidently so,,, Never thought that was very ethical, nor good for fishing in general.. Think one of the few things the NE has right is to close fishing during the spawn.

[Mobasser]

26 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Do you guys actually enjoy sitting on a single bass, which is trying to spawn, throwing baits at that bass that isn't eating, for long periods of time? 

No, not really. I never do it for long

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

12 hours ago, I'm Blue said:

evidently so,,, Never thought that was very ethical, nor good for fishing in general.. Think one of the few things the NE has right is to close fishing during the spawn.

Whats ethical about sport fishing? Many people think its unethical fishing just for the fun if it. They want closed season all year round. Not unethical at all to fish for a bedding bass if a person fishes any other time of year.

[Russ E]

I think it would be fun to sight fish for spawning bass.

Here in the lower Midwest we have a combination of stained water and a near constant wind. If I do see a bass in the shallows it is usually only a brief glimpse. 

I have caught spawning bass, but it was from fishing a certain area. Not from targeting one fish.

 

[Mike L]

As @QUAKEnSHAKE stated, to some people just the idea of going fishing is "unethical"

To single out bed fishing while practicing catch and release is wrong. 

 

Is baiting a deer and sitting 20 ft up in tree waiting for it to walk by to kill it unethical??

 

 

 

17 hours ago, Scott F said:

Do you guys actually enjoy sitting on a single bass, which is trying to spawn, throwing baits at that bass that isn't eating, for long periods of time? 

As I stated earlier, I will work a bed on and off for an hour if I have to, especially in a tournament. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

[WRB]

By now the bass should be long gone if it's near a bed. Bass rarely make beds surrounded by weeds because they can't effectively defend the site from all directions.

So what makes you think this was bed fish?

Tom

[I'm Blue]

well ethics are kinda funny, we each have our own.. 
personally I think baiting deer is pretty slovenly. Used to be mega illegal, but I guess newer generation is too lazy to actually "Hunt"
Anyway just kinda funny,,, noone can really say X is or isnt ethical..as its personal. Sorta why I originally stated "I" find it unethical to worry a spawning bass to death to try to catch it. Just not fair chase in my eyes. I know nothing I could ever say would convince someone to change their ethics.
I mean really , if we all had the same ethics we wouldnt need laws.