staging areas?

[set_the_hook]

can someone please help explain to me a pre-spawn staging area?

[roadwarrior]

An example would be a ledge adjacent to a gravel flat.

The relatively shallow water on the flat would have

immediate access to deeper water. Bass will stage

along the drop.

8-)

[Catt]

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An example would be a ledge adjacent to a gravel flat.

The relatively shallow water on the flat would have

immediate access to deeper water. Bass will stage

along the drop.

8-)

Perfect example  

Each successive break line from shallow to deep  

[WRB]

Staging is a term used for bass that gather up is a specific area following the cold water period before moving into wind protected bays or coves to spawn. Pre-spawn is the condition the bass are in before spawning or making nest (males) and laying eggs (females).

The type of area the bass choose to stage on differs for each type of bass; LMB, SMB or Spotted bass. Bass prefer structure near the spawning fats that have either wood or large rocks that hold prey fish and crawdads.

WRB

[Catt]

A staging area is not limit to the spawn only  

Bass will stage along each successive break line from their deep water homes to their shallow feeding flats.

Bass may stage along each successive break lines at various depths due to weather conditions.

One key to successful fishing is to find which break (staging area) line the majority of the bass are holding on.

[WRB]

Not open a can of worms, IMO bass stage as a condition of the their developement during the spawning cycle. The females group together outside the spawning areas and the males roam the flats to locate potential spawning sites. It's been called the staging period as long as I have been bass fishing, about 60 years.

Daily movement of schools or groups of bass is generally are known as migration, as in migration routes, from variuos locations to another location as part of their normal life cycle.

Whatever it's called where you fish, stage or migrate, bass change locations as the seasonal periods change. When bass stay at a particular depth, we call that holding; for example the bass are holding at 15', just above the thermocline.

The one thing about bass fishing is the regional differences with terminolgy. This can and does cause some confusion and the end of the day, it's still bass fishing.

WRB

[bassnleo]

Gonna throw this question out just to see the answers, it's on the same lines as this threads original question:

Where will bass "stage" if the body of water has no ledges or distinct drop offs. I fish a lake just like that, there are NO ledges or drops, just very gradually rising areas (for example, it may take 1/4 to 1/2 mile to see an upchange in depth as you travel toward shore).

This lake is shallow, the Northern end may max out at 14 feet in a few areas, the South has some 20 foot areas. In both max depth cases the deepest parts are where the channel lies.

I have my theories, just wanna see if anyone else concurs.

[Catt]

Breakline: A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where the weeds meet up with open water; or, where one type of weed meets up with another. The last example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types of bottom composition. In rocky impoundments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, pea gravel, etc. In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

Staging area: A place where bass in transit are assembled

Bass stage as a condition of the their environment; it is not a condition of the biology

If one looks up the definition of a word there would be no regional differences with terminology.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

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Staging area: A place where bass in transit are assembled

Although WRB gave a very well worded and dead on answer, it is not limited to spawn.  

Fish will "gather in groups" at these "staging" areas to school up for whatever reason, be it spawn, fall feed, migration to oxygenated water (turn over), migration to warmer coves at ice out (in which case, they will "stage" just outside those coves on the closest break to deeper water),etc

[WRB]

  Quote

Breakline: A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where the weeds meet up with open water; or, where one type of weed meets up with another. The last example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types of bottom composition. In rocky impoundments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, pea gravel, etc. In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

Staging area: A place where bass in transit are assembled

Bass stage as a condition of the their environment; it is not a condition of the biology

If one looks up the definition of a word there would be no regional differences with terminology.

Add temperature breaks and current breaks.

You call it staging, I'll called migrating, schooling and holding...and agree to disagree on staging.

WRB

[WRB]

  Quote

Gonna throw this question out just to see the answers, it's on the same lines as this threads original question:

Where will bass "stage" if the body of water has no ledges or distinct drop offs. I fish a lake just like that, there are NO ledges or drops, just very gradually rising areas (for example, it may take 1/4 to 1/2 mile to see an upchange in depth as you travel toward shore).

This lake is shallow, the Northern end may max out at 14 feet in a few areas, the South has some 20 foot areas. In both max depth cases the deepest parts are where the channel lies.

I have my theories, just wanna see if anyone else concurs.

What region is the lake in? It sounds like a lowland reservoir. Lets assume your are asking about largemouth bass, the lake is to shallow to have smallmouth or spots. LMB tend to move from the deeper lower 1/3 of the reservoir where they spent the cold water period or where the deeper water is located in a natural lake, then migrate towards the northwest protected bays or coves first and other areas and stage at the first break in depth that has some structure and wood cover or weed line. Structure and cover are both terms to debate; IMO structure in permenate lake bottom features like rocks, humps, islands, benches or saddles, dams, bridges, pilings or cribs holding up docks, roads, culverts, ledges etc., cover is someting on top or growing in the water like weeds, trees, brush, floating docks etc.

A small ditch 6" deep is structure in a lake that only has slight changes in bottom contour. A small hard bottom patch like a clam bed can hold staging bass, especailly if a bush or rock is nearby.

Following the spawn period the lake should warm up and develop a weed line or may already have a weed line if far enough south, like florida. Bass will use weed lines a break line and stage there, before moving further into the flats or pockets to spawn.

This is why it's important to know what type of bass and lake classification to determine how to answer questions effectively.

WRB

[Catt]

bassnleo

Staging areas:

Creek channel

Weed line

Tree line or brush line

A line where rock meets mud, pea gravel

"Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

WRB if you took time to read his is from Northwest Pennsylvania  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

  Quote

  Quote

Breakline: A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where the weeds meet up with open water; or, where one type of weed meets up with another. The last example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types of bottom composition. In rocky impoundments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, pea gravel, etc. In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

Staging area: A place where bass in transit are assembled

Bass stage as a condition of the their environment; it is not a condition of the biology

If one looks up the definition of a word there would be no regional differences with terminology.

Add temperature breaks and current breaks.

You call it staging, I'll called migrating, schooling and holding...and agree to disagree on staging.

WRB

ok,  my "staging", would be your "holding",lol

You say to-ma-to...

[WRB]

  Quote

bassnleo

Staging areas:

Creek channel

Weed line

Tree line or brush line

A line where rock meets mud, pea gravel

"Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

WRB if you took time to read his is from Northwest Pennsylvania

It's possible that someone other than the person who ask original question may beneifit from a broader answer.

Your opinion and my opinions are just that; opinions. If you add factual information to back up what you are saying, then they become facts. Regional terminolgy differs from state to state, however I read read anything in this thread that has been so different as to argue over. Take what you agree with, disregard what you don't.

WRB

and disregard the rest.

[Catt]

Dude you asked What region is the lake in?

I merely was stating if you would have read about who asked the question you might have notice that below the name bassnleo, his picture, Support your local Law Enforcement Officers!, & number of post; the next line is Northwest Pennsylvania followed by gender.

I gave you factual information; the definition of the word; I wasn't aware that different regions define the English language different.

[WIII-60]

hmmmmm.........

[WRB]

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Dude you asked What region is the lake in?

I merely was stating if you would have read about who asked the question you might have notice that below the name bassnleo, his picture, Support your local Law Enforcement Officers!, & number of post; the next line is Northwest Pennsylvania followed by gender.

I gave you factual information; the definition of the word; I wasn't aware that different regions define the English language different.

You are or yoall from Texas. Bass jargon differs regionally, just as you have taken the time to nit pick this thread with term staging. We call a double digit bass a donkey out west and lunker, sowbelly, hawg, pig, toad and several other names. The best example is the term grass instead using weeds or aquatic plants, bream for bluegill, specks for crappie.

The original question was simple and I hope it was answered; the bass are staging before they move up to spawn, out west.

WRB

WRB