know any spawning bass tricks

[lee ellis]

anyone out there got any tricks that seem to get a reaction out of spawning bass?

[Matt Fly]

I like to use a carolina weight in the bed instead of a bullet.    I also like to enlarge/ream the hole just a little bit bigger.     With that type of weight, I like to use floating baits such as StrikeKing 3X plastics.

The carolina weight allows the bait to float free off bottom, with very subtle twitches, it looks like the lizzard is nose diving the eggs on bottom.

Very key to watch the bass, she will dictate the area she is most aggressively protecting.    

Another bait that works well is a floating minnow type bait, Rapalas work well and so does the Jap. high end baits.

Same principal, allow the bait to float free off the bottom a few inches and twitch it, looks the same as a floating plastic bait, but most stick baits have 3 trebles which makes for a sure hookset when bass are just picking it up to move it out of the nest.      I like the back treble to have white feathers.

Matt.

[BassMaster_1]

No particular lure I use but anything you get near a nest they are going hit, remember they are not hitting to eat but to just move it away from the nest.  Keeping good lure contact and watch your line is key.

[Curado]

If they're not taking it I'll run the bait into them. It will make them mad and after a couple of times of that they usually hit.

[JT Bagwell]

I like to throw a drop shot rig on heavier line for bedding fish.

JT Bagwell

[Shakes]

I LOVE running spinnerbaits and lipless cranks during the spawn. You can run a spinnerbait anywhere in the vacinity of a bass and give it a twitch or let it helicopter down and they'll kill it. Lipless cranks just tick to the tops of weeds and beds.

[Triton21]

I like to throw a drop shot rig on heavier line for bedding fish.

JT Bagwell

JT, you are the only  other person I have heard of using this technique other than people I have taught.

Kelley

[SwampMan]

My trick is to just let them spawn!  I know I don't like it when someone knocks on my bed room door when............. well nevermind!

[JeepFish]

Is it just me, or does it seem kinda like cheating when all the bass are grouped into one spot and you catch them? Maybe I'm seeing it wrong I dunno. I'm a newbie ;D

[Guest avid]

Bed fishing for bass sounds easy and unfair, but I can tell you as someone who has bass fished for nearly 40 years that it is a skill just like anything else.

I'm not a good bed fisherman.  Some guys are, but I stink at it.

I'm also not especially good with shiners.

I'm learning shiner fishing and getting better.  It can be a whole lotta fun, but I have yet to catch anything over 5 lbs.  and have gotten skunked several times.

[Skidder]

I too was going to say a dropshot on heavier line, very short 6". I see somebody already did.

Try small lizards and craws. You have to remember you are going to get a defensive bite as opposed to an offensive bite. Offensive meaning the bass is hungry, defensive meaning the bass does not want your bait around the nest. Sometimes they will not take the bait in their mouth just the end of the tail or leg. A smaller bait will sometimes increase your hook up ratio.

Try a tube bait. If they are reluctant to hit it, try putting a piece of Alka Seltzer in the tube. Pitch it in the bed and watch how the bass responds to a bubbling bait. Now before you all laugh try it. I will be here for you to come back and say, d**n you were right.

Another trick is after your bait is in the bed and the fish is hesitant to bite, take a laser pointer and shine it on your bait and wiggle the light. If you don't believe this one try it on your fish tank, your dog or cat. Drives them crazy. I don't know why but it works. This is more effective in low light.

These are some of my best ones, so everybody who reads this can put a dollar in an envelope and send it to...Just kidding! ;D But the tips do work.

I almost forgot the most omportant part, a good pair of polarized sunglasses. If the lenses fit close to your face and wrap around a bit, its better. Light getting in behind the lens will wash out the effect of polarization.

[JT Bagwell]

http://bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot_beds.html

That is an article I wrote about 4-5 years ago about Drop Shot

fishing in the spawn.

Haven't read it for a while, but I hope it can help someone.

JT Bagwell

[bassmasta7]

^^^^ I read it about an hour before you posted it and I found it very helpful. I am definitely going to try that in the next two weeks on beds.

[JeepFish]

What does a Bed look like? And where are some good places to look for them? Shallow weedy areas, or shallow clear rocky areas, or somthing else?

[Guest avid]

What does a Bed look like? And where are some good places to look for them? Shallow weedy areas, or shallow clear rocky areas, or somthing else?

a bed is a circular or oval spot on the bottom that shows up because it is cleared of weeds and debris.

In clear water on a windless day they can be seen pretty clearly from far off.

Most of us don't have that Cali clear water, but start off by looking for light areas on the bottom as you get closer you should be able to id it as a bed.  Experience will have you spotting them in no time.

[Long Mike]

While one the BFR fishing trip last weeek, we hired a guide for the first day.  He gave us a couple of very interesting tips.

1.  When the female is actually on the bed, the male will ram her in the side to induce/encourage the female to lay eggs.  This makes her sides very sore.  If you can throw a lure across the bed and retrieve it such that it hits her in the side, she will annialate it.

2.  While the fish are protecting thier beds, you want to introduce a lure into the bed that is guaranteed to pizz them off.  The guide (Tim Walker) suggested a white or pink tube thrown beyond the bed and then bumped and jiggled across the bed very slowly.  Again, they will annialate it.  Of the only five bass I caught at Fork all week, two were caught by dragging a white/bleeding Ika across the bed.

I hope this helps.

[Cigarlover 1]

Good cologne usually works for me. Not too much though, you don't want to drown yourself in it. Oh wait we're talking about fish. my mistake.  ;D

[lee ellis]

thanks for the tips ill post pics if i catch any huge spawners this season