Vermont bass on beds in August??

[Antdee]

Last Tuesday (8/27/24) a buddy and I went to a lake in eastern Vermont that had very clear water with water temps ranging from 73-76 degrees. When we were up shallow I had a small largemouth chase my glide bait out of some grass and I watched him swim over to what I thought was a panfish bed and stayed around it. I didnt think anything of it until no more than 15 feet away I saw there was another Largemouth sitting on what looked to be a bed. I started to get super intrigued and pulled out a soft plastic to try and get one to bite, but no more than 2 casts and that fish came off the bed and swam away so I just assumed it was a coincidence. Later that day we were in a different shallow area with vegetation when I came across another bed which was much more defined with a 2-3 pound largemouth right next to it and my mind was just blown away... I tried to catch it for a few minutes with what I had and got him to nose down on it but he eventually swam off. I waited a few more minutes and sure enough he was sitting right back on the bed when I came back. Once I got too close he came off the bed again and we just continued on fishing as my buddy wasnt as interested or confused as I was lol. Would love to hear from others on what they think about this. Am I just insane? coincidence?  I took a picture of the bed right before we left. 
 

https://imgur.com/a/vermont-8-27-WY7yq5U

 

[Mike L]

In my opinion, when she stopped and nosed it, you had her.
When she left and came back right away you had her then too. 

Sight fishing a LMB on a bed in shallow water is my 2nd favorite way to fish. 
I follow a certain procedure tho that works for me. 
You gotta read the signs as she’ll tell you if she’s catchable or not at that specific time, and it won’t take long. 

First, stealth is key!

Approach as silently as you can, if you have a pole use it.
I only use a white craw style bait, a Rage Craw or Bug.
However, if I think the different actions of those 2 is too much by the way she acts, then I’ll usually get her dead sticking a RI Sweet Beaver. 

Never flip into the bed itself.
 I always start about a 2ft past the bed as silently as possible.
I don’t want ANY splash, ripple or water displacement at all..(Very important)

The first entry is always to the top of the bed the farthest away from me with all subsequent ones from the side changing the angle with each flip.

 

Never drag to the bed as I like to bring it in closer with small erratic twitches with small pauses, never taking my eyes off her. 
If she acts erratically in any way…

leaves quick as it gets closer, or noses in, or pushes it, swims around inside the bed, that fish is catchable!
I’ll stay there until she bites or leaves and doesn’t come back within about 30 seconds.
If she leaves then I leave and try again later. 
 

It takes time but reading and reacting to what a bedding fish tells you is imperative. 
 

 

Good Luck

 

 

 

Mike

[Mike L]

I forgot another thing that may help you. 
 

If I lose sight of her at any point..

I drop the bait on the bed and dead stick it until I’m certain she won’t come back right away. She will eventually 

Again this is only what I do. 

I hope it helps 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

[Reel]

I don't think these fish were on beds.  I have seen the same thing here where I fish a little bit north of you.  I think these fish use old beds because they seem to draw minnows.  They are a kind of ambush point for bass at this time.  So all  the techniques used for bedding bass don't necessarely apply.  They will not take a bait in their mouth to take it out of the nest.  They are more roamers.  Smaller lures that have mouvements when sitting still usually work.  I use a lot of 4 inch senko type baits in light colors or small flukes (nose hooked).