Still spawning? Possible?

[Fishing Rhino]

I thought the spawn was over around here.  Here's the story.

In May, before the algae bloom kicked into high gear, I spotted some bass beds in two to four feet of water on a sandy, gravel, bottom.  The bottom has a covering of brown filiamentous algae year round.  But, drifting across it on a calm day I spotted the light colored patches two to three feet in diameter that obviously had been cleared in preparation for spawning.

Yesterday, I got in a couple of hours fishing when my wife had to attend a funeral as part of her job responsibility.

I got to this area, and parked my canoe in the weeds along the shore.  Several casts in this area produced a half dozen nice sized bass.  Two over four pounds, one over three, and three more in the two pound range.

The females were "roe fat" appearing with bulging bellies.  One had the bottom of her tail scuffed and raw, as though she had been sweeping the bottom.

From what I have read, I would have expected that kind of fishing in a bedding area.  I was fairly sure the spawn was over.

What's your take?

[Big Phish]

I really doubt the spawn is still on in mass but I guess it's possible.  Maybe that female's tale has yet to heal since the spawn, or maybe even a turtle attack.  Though I don't claim to have a plethora of knowledge I think you just parked your canoe in the right spot and there's another explanation for the tail.  But hey, what do I know?

[Fishing Rhino]

I know some, if not all, had spawned weeks ago.

I saw some on the beds back in May, and then caught a female who had definitely spawned out. Caught her in April, with a fat belly.

Caught her again in late May. She had obviously "delivered" her eggs.

She had a distinct, healed injury to her jaw, which identified her.

It's possible those I caught were just well fed. The dinks I caught in the shallows had fat bellies as well.

Just not typical to catch that many good sized bass in one area for this pond.

Then again, if they are through spawning, I have learned something new to file away in the computer between my ears.

I'm hoping that's the case.

Today, the weather is similar to that of the Fourth. I'm off to try similar bottom in different areas with the same baits.

If that doesn't produce, I'll try something else. I haven't tossed a buzz bait or a topwater yet, this year.

I enjoy doing puzzles. The different types have their own patterns.

Must be why I like fishing so much.

[Bass-1]

IT'S still going up here in MAINE... I fished a tournament yesterday, and we caught largemouth with fresh bloody tails. I told my partner that even if it's in July, the water temps were only 67-69, and the l/m WERE spawning. At a lake that usually takes 18-20+ pounds to win, we won with 16.3, and the big fish were no where to be found. We had lunker at 4.92, but there are bigger bass in there. Last week a two day tournament was won with spawning l/m here... go figure, in July... Cold weather and water temps = spawning whenever the temps get up there. Maybe next year I'll be fishing smallies on beds in August... ;D

[3H]

Yeah my buddies  pond/lake his bass just STARTED spawning.

[WTRDOG]

I'm going to have to say no,not even In Maine.But I did see Elvis while fishing the other night.

[Fishing Rhino]

I went out today, and fished an area with similar bottom, a hundred yards to the south of where I caught them on the Fourth.

From one spot, I caught four.  One over three pounds and the rest around two.

They all took the bait on the fall.  Three of them were caught with the bait landing within a ten foot circle.

I spent a half hour casting the bottom within reach of where I sat without another hit.

And, again, it was the sunny and the lee shore of the pond.  I started on east and the exposed to the wind shore, and caught a couple.

Some days, they do not play according to the "book".

[BadAxe]

Definitely not an expert by any means, but here is a quote from a recent article in my local paper.  I reside near Philly.

The (area lake) water levels are still up and it (temperature) has stayed cool. That has delayed the bass spawn and they can still be caught all around the edges at Nockamixon,

[fishizzle]

my friends and I have been getting a few as recent as last week on beds

I got a 3 lb smallie twice protecting a bed

[J Francho]

Same here. Local pond, water temps had to be in the 80s, and a pair of fish on beds. Black Lake, NY: water temp. of 77, and smallies on beds. These fish apparently are illiterate, and never read the book.

I have also caught MANY very fat fish, with heavy stomachs and roughed up fins.  My take is that these are post spawn fish, beginning to feed heavily.

The rigors of spawning can leave their marks for quite a while, and I've seen dinged up tails well into August.

[fishizzle]

speaking of post spawn, I've seen some smallies so beat up with battlewounds in the bed, I don't know how they were still alive.

I'm talking red bruises on 90% of their body.

[J Francho]

Keep an eye on those fish, fizhle.  That could be something much worse, or could be nothing at all.  If you start noticing carcasses, call the DEP.

[Crestliner2008]

Last year, the In'Fisherman Staff wrote an article indicating that the spawn - on some lakes - could and does take place as late as the end of July. On the Quabbin, where I spend a lot of my time fishing for small mouths, I've seen them on deep water beds (12' down) on my buddy's Aqua-View, as late as the middle of June!

A cool spring & summer like we're having here in MA this year, would indicate to me that yes, in some lakes, the spawn is still on for some of those stragglers.

[WTRDOG]

What you guys are seeing is bass hanging around sunfish beds looking for an easy meal.It's over

[talberto40]

No, you guys are right on. There is still spawning activity.....I couldn't believe it but I saw a male and female on a nest rubbing the eggs out on the bed. I then proceeded to catch 4 fish off beds. This was in southern Maine today.

[catchbig0bass]

I Cant see bass still spawning in southern new hampshire anyways. bass up in maine are probably a month behind due to the temp difference in probably 15-20 degree difference.

[gordonusnret]

Here in Upstate NY,the bass and several other species are going through a later spawn,due to the cold weather we had been experiencing.fished two different lakes and my local pond,found bass on the beds,at all three places.I talked to several of the fisherman in our area,and the local tackle shops,they say that is they have found also.

[RhodyBass]

Some days, they do not play according to the "book".

Ahh the "book".

I gave up on that many years ago,wrapped it in soft foam and use it as a seat cushion. 8-)

[Banor]

WTRDOG, you were being sarcastic right?

Everyone gets the flu in the Fall right?  It's not possible any other time of the year...

B

[unhbass37]

Bass spawn is well over in sourthen NH.