Just a no name poll on bed fishing.

[justfishin]

I wanted to put in a poll for a yes or no on bedding bass. I don't want any names or want to start a big fiasco. I just wanted to get a idea of what fisherman think about fishing for bedding females so, please don't send any opinions either way if you don't mind. I feel it would just turn into one of those no win arguments.

[roadwarrior]

Although I voted no and will not fish beds, the Lake Fork trip kinda changed my view about bed fishing in general. That lake gets pounded everyday by literally thousands of fisherman fishing, for the most part, EXACTLY the same spots over and over again. Our favorite Administator and his wife Kerri caught their big bass on spinnerbaits :-/ in an area that had probably been fished by one hundred guys a day, everyday for months!

Not everyone fished the beds at Fork, but THOUSANDS do...Still plenty of fish for everyone, BIG FISH, too! So, high pressure, "common" baits and some focus on bedding bass has not hurt this fishery one iota. Maybe that would be different in other regions or on specific bodies of water, but certainly not at Lake Fork.

[BucketmouthAngler13]

I voted Yes.

And as always, I release the bass ASAP.

[justfishin]

That is kind of what I was researching RW. I mean, I want to do the right thing, ya know? I was regrouping on my opinion of this bed fishing. I have to admit, when I used to do it back in the late eighty's it was fun. I was just trying to be responsible and do the right thing. I am not a follow the crowd kind of guy, as I am pretty opinionated , maybe sometimes too much. I just wanted to see if other guys, or at least get a percentage of guys were fishing for bedding bass. I have researched fishing for bedders and have gotten so many different idea's, opinions, and  studies that contradict each other I am at a stand off in my view so far. Its like this, if I am sitting home or fishing on a lake for 2-3lb fish and a guy is up lake catching 5-6lber's then I don't understand, ya know. Maybe I am talking myself into it but, I will make that decision using reason. Bottom line, I just want to do what is best for the fish, and I will. You said you fished for bedders in Texas and I don't blame you. If you take the time and spend the money, I say, have at it. I said in a earlier post, if I am on a trip for a few days, and it is bedding time, I would absolutely fish for them. If I am in a tourney for big bucks?, you betcha. My poll was for the weekend guy. Have a good one, and I always value your opinion, unless you tell me you use braid,LOL.---Jim

[roadwarrior]

*** CLARIFICATION ***

I did NOT fish for bedding bass in Texas, nor do I intentionally fish for bedding bass anywhere.

[senile1]

I voted yes but with restrictions.  If I catch a bedding female, I release her immediately.  I'm not comfortable with catching bedding females and carrying them around in a live well all day, nor do I fish the beds that often.

[Pa Angler]

Not in PA, It's illegal but if I was fishing somewhere it is legal than I would.

[Troutfisher]

I vote yes.  And as always for bedders, r-e-l-e-a-s-e!  It's ok to keep some smaller bass every now and then to have for a good meal, but not during spawning.  It interferes with the process of having more fish to catch!

[justfishin]

Opp's RW, my mistake. I reread your post and yes, you do not fish for bedders. Sorry about that. The more I  think about it, I don't think I ever will either. I think after all this years, I just would not feel right about it. Thats just me though. I do see that so far in my post it looks like the ones who do are way more than I had anticipated. It looks like a Bush popularity contest percentage. Whoops, sorry, I know, no political post,lol.

[Pond-Pro]

Original post:

I wanted to put in a poll for a yes or no on bedding bass. I don't want any names or want to start a big fiasco. I just wanted to get a idea of what fisherman think about fishing for bedding females so, please don't send any opinions either way if you don't mind. I feel it would just turn into one of those no win arguments. Smiley

[Triton21]

I wanted to put in a poll for a yes or no on bedding bass. I don't want any names or want to start a big fiasco. I just wanted to get a idea of what fisherman think about fishing for bedding females so, please don't send any opinions either way if you don't mind. I feel it would just turn into one of those no win arguments.

:

[Long Mike]

I caught two fish off their beds during the Fork trip. One was back in the water within a minute and within ten feet of her bed.  The other was back in the water just as quickly, but within 10 yards of her bed.  I truly don't believe that I affected the reproductive process in the least bit.  On the other hand, if anyone can point me to evidence that me tactics are detrimental to the spawn, then I will never bed-fish again.

[cart7t]

I've done it. I release immediately.  I don't see where any harm is done.

[Zel]

Not in PA, It's illegal but if I was fishing somewhere it is legal than I would.

Just to clarify the Pennsylvania bass bed thing: Although the Largemouth and Smallmouth season is closed in PA from April 14 through June 15, it is a NO HARVEST time, as you can catch and immediately release bass (no tournaments permitted). That does not mean you cannot fish for bass during this time. You just can't cast repeatedly into a clearly visible bass spawning bed. Therefore as long as the spawning bed is not clearly visible, you can fish for bass.

Per PA Fish and Boat Commission:

NOTE: It is not a violation of the bass regulations if a bass is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which it was taken. It is unlawful for an angler to cast repeatedly into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or redd (bed) in an effort to catch or take bass.

I'm glad the author chose the wording bedding bass in this poll. I often see the word spawn incorrectly used for the term bedding bass. If you fish for bass one month before the close of season and one month after the close of season, YOU ARE FISHING FOR SPAWNERS. This entire time consumes a bass's entire life during that period, and is all part of the spawning process. The month before is considered the PreSpawn and is used by the bass for gaining energy to go through the ordeal. The Spawn is the actual time on the bed. And the PostSpawn is the time when a bass regains it's energy after laying eggs, guarding and fighting off predators 24/7.      

I think it is a better clarification if anglers would correctly say they don't fish beds, rather than when state they don't fish for spawning bass. Because if you fish for bass during this 3 to 4 month period (pretty much all of spring), you are fishing for spawning bass.

So just to clarify my yes vote: I do fish for spawning bass, I just don't repeatedly cast into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or bed in an effort to catch or take bass in PA. And I do fish for bedding bass in NJ, as it is legal to fish beds (but you must release your bass as it is catch and release only during their closed season). And in my opinion the bass fishery is far better in NJ than it is in PA. Go figure!

[Hookemdown.]

Well, some people do it, some people don't.  Personally, I really didn't think that much about fishing for bedded bass.  But one day I pulled in a solid 3 lber.  Unhooked her, set her back in the water...everything going fine.  Then I looked down and noticed she had dropped eggs in the boat.  I just don't like the idea of it now.  Less eggs = less bass.  JMHO

[RoLo]

I haven't bed-fished this year, but only for lack of opportunity, not nobility.

As mentioned, if the bass are promptly released, bed-fishing is not harmful.

It's important to understand though, that releasing the buck is just as important.

A nest without a protectorate can be ransacked in a surprisingly short period of time.

Many anglers place the buck in the livewell to get a better crack at the cow.

That's okay, but this should not be done when the cow is not present.

I'm more than a little disturbed by tournaments that are intentionally scheduled during the peak spawning season.

In the interest of $$$$, bass are taken against their will on long boat rides, while hours go by as the nests are left unprotected.

After undergoing the rigors of forced captivity, the hostages are finally liberated from a release-point that's miles from their bed.

You'd have a tough time convincing me that this is okay.

Roger

[Guest avid]

I voted yes because if I see a bed I'll cast to it.

I believe in the wisdom of the people who know about this stuff, mainly the F&W biologists.

Here in Florida, fishing is a major money maker for the state.  They will not risk it with poor management.  

Yes, there are controversies but mostly those center around water levels which can either favor the fresh or inshore salt but not both.

Fisherman will also complain about slot limits and other restrictions, that to me prove they are on top of the situation.

I have never really learned the tactic of "bed fishing" and I have never caught a fish that I could actually see on a bed, but so long as it's legal I see nothing wrong with it.

[Ozarkie]

I am against bed fishing. The minute you remove a bass from the bed, bream and other preds will move in and eat everything on it. Then you hear about the Game and Fish need to do something to increase the bass populations.

Last Saturday on Norfork Lake in Arkansas, I found many bass on beds. There was a guide that took two groups out and use flukes to catch bedded bass. Not only that they keep the bass and I know three were under sized.

I did confront him n front of his clients about keeping short bass and he told me to go F*&^ myself. He said this infront of his clinets., "If they bite they get kept."

Yep, I turned him in. I have mounted a few fish for his clients and it cost me his business but I do have morals on somethings.

I checked the bed and there were bream and minnows all over it.

I vote now and forever no bed fishing! Bed fishing It  is not the responsible thing to do.

[justfishin]

I am going to lock this post Sunday evening. I wanted to get the weekend crowds yes or no in the poll. So far, it looks like a few of us are a minority. Please guys and gals. Lets not send in any more opinions and statements. I did not want this to be a shouting match or anything. I just wanted a percentage mostly out of curiosity. I think talking about this subject would be kicking a dead horse. Everyone has a point of view and I guess there is no right or wrong. We just all see things differently.

[Rattlinrogue]

I don't fish for bass on beds.I prefer other ways of getting them in the boat.I don't have a problem with anglers that do fish beds.

[justfishin]

I am going to go ahead and close this poll. Looks like I am a minority. It makes me think though. Roughly two thirds of the people whom responded fish for bedders, hmmmmm. I guess I am a real minority in this forum , lets see, I don't fish for bedders, I don't keep any bass and won't let anyone in my boat keep any as well. I don't like braid or flourocarbon, I like round Abu Garcia 5601 reels, I only use a 6'6" MH rod for most, not all, but, most of my flipping, etc, etc. Well that ought to be enough kindling to fuel a fire,lol. Have a great year all, no matter how you chose to fish and thanks for keeping it civil.

[georgiabassfisherman]

i woulve voted yes but only do i fish for them if i know it is a big one and i always release them after a quick photo and weigh them never do i keep them i saw a man in the river the other day catch a 7lber that i had been trying to catch and he took her home and said he was going to put her in his pond that really had me hot. like right now in that same river i know where one that my dad said will way 10lbs is and i cant catch her but i have been trying i just enjoy catching the big ones and i have no problem with ppl who dont fish the beds i see the problem with it its just i enjoy catching them.

GBF

[greentrout]

i don't mean to offend anyone, but if that's the case so be it, but i'm 100 percent against bed fishing, especially on smaller bodies of water that are 200 acres and the like. bed fishing on these kind of waters imo harm the lake because when the bigger females are removed from their beds the gene within that fish is gone once she is removed for good. even if you are catch and release, you have created stress and many times have harmed the eggs. what can be worse is to take the male off the bed once the egss are hatched--bluegills and others will swoop in and, in less than 10 seconds, wipe the bed out. now, a state employee, a biologist, will come forward and tell you it does not harm the fishery. remember, he or she is a state employee who does as the state says and his dept of wildlife and fish needs you on the water in the spring and buying fishing licenses. they need the money. it's not peanuts to them. i've personally seen small bodies operated by the state ruined because of bed fishing with guys on platforms with high tech glasses so they can see their prey. it's hunting not fishing. the law of diminishing returns sets in on these small bodies of water. you can only sweep so many big females off the beds before the lake begins to go down. i can't tell you how many times i've been on lakes and heard fisherman say i remember the days when we could come out here and catch a limit in no time but no more. wonder why? imo, bed fishing is a big reason. i'm not sure bed fishing doesn't hurt big waters, too. it's common sense. bass are a resource. they are not infinite. good fishing to all.