Bed Fishing Problem/ Post Spawn

[Bassackward]

First Question

What do yall do when fishing a bed that is right up next to the bank.  Ive found that when i flip a jig on top of (within a couple feet of the bass) the bass gets spooked and swims away.  Sometimes I cast up onto the bank and drag the jig into the water.  Just wondering what techniques everyone uses to get a lure into these beds without spooking the fish.

Second Question

A local pond that i fish had bass spawning in it a couple weeks ago.  Now i can see swarms of small fish in the beds, which i guess are the offspring from the spawning bass.  When I went out the other day I found bass sitting in these same areas next to the offspring.  Do the males or females stick around to protect the offspring? I though both fish left the bed after the offspring hatched.  

[formulagamble]

1. What I'd would try is a plastic worm or lizard. I would try the lizard 1st. though. Work your rig to the bed like if it was looking for something to eat on bottom. Sometimes the bass will grab it just to move it. I've done this several times but I'm sure there is a better way.

2. I'm not sure.

[BassinBoy]

1.  Cast past the bed from different angles then bring the bait onto the bed.

2.  Yes one of the fish will stay for a period of time to protect the offspring.

[Catt]

I would position my boat as far back as I can, the cast past the nest then bring my bait into the nest and let it sit while waiting on the female to return.

In the spawning scenario, the male that shoulders most of the workload, making the nest, fertilizing the eggs and then protecting both eggs and fry long after the female has left the nest.

[ring fry]

They've already spawned around OP?    The water temp down here is still in the high 40's to low 50's.  I'm confused.

[paul.]

question 2 first.  the male stays and protects the fry for a brief period.

question 1 next.  if casting on the bank and dragging the bait in is not working, try bringing the bait in from one side or the other.  either that or get on the bank (hidden) and bring the bait in from the backside of the nest (usually this one does not work as well though b/c they do not seem to like having their escape route to deeper water cut off).  many times a bass will show a lot more interest in a certain "angle of approach" your bait takes as they will for certain baits over others or a certain spot on the bed.  really it's all about being able to "read the fish" by their body language.  this takes practice, practice, practice.  regardless of which angle you get the bait to 'em  from, if the bass knows you're there, it's gonna be tough to get 'em to bite.  make sure you're out of sight and /or try fishing the bed in lower light conditions. these are just a few tips.  there's a lot more involved to successfully get one (especially a female) off a bed than most folks realize.  there a probably a lot of folks on here who know more about it than me.  hope this helps though.  

[Catt]

Conventional knowledge indicates that the male bass builds the nest, fans it out and guards it (zealously). Generally, a good male that is aggressive and active will attract more than one female to his nest and spawn with each of them. Along with that, an active female will spawn a number of times and, in most cases, in a number of different males' nests. She moves down the shoreline making it with different males. The male sits in one spot and waits for more females to come by. I think that is sort of a hedge (on the part of the female) against an infertile male spoiling the hatch of a good fertile female. So she spread her eggs around and he spreads his fertility around. That ensures a higher success rate for that spawn.

That is important knowledge for fishermen, because most people think that once the female leaves the bed, only the male is left. It is true that the female only guards the nest for a short time before moving away, but other females will come to that nest. The other thing to keep in mind is that this isn't a long, drawn-out process. Once the water reaches the upper 60 degrees, which is ideal, it only takes about three or four days for the eggs to hatch. I think the male will spend about six weeks on the beds as the females rotate through, but the whole spawning season happens over three full moons, bringing a new wave of spawning with get full moon period.

Ken Cook former Oklahoma fisheries biologist & B.A.S.S. Angler

[jrhennecke]

Great info Catt!

[Tokyo Tony]

Generally, a good male that is aggressive and active will attract more than one female to his nest and spawn with each of them.

Playa  

Good info there Catt, thanks.

[Bassackward]

Thanx for the info.  Ring fry, Im actually living in college station, TX now.  I just havn't changed my profile because im lazy.

[George Welcome]

That is important knowledge for fishermen, because most people think that once the female leaves the bed, only the male is left. It is true that the female only guards the nest for a short time before moving away, but other females will come to that nest. The other thing to keep in mind is that this isn't a long, drawn-out process. Once the water reaches the upper 60 degrees, which is ideal, it only takes about three or four days for the eggs to hatch. I think the male will spend about six weeks on the beds as the females rotate through, but the whole spawning season happens over three full moons, bringing a new wave of spawning with get full moon period.

Just an addition: remember that this time frame will vary greatly by location. For example, here in the sunny south the spawn occurs from December thru May, with other fish spawning outside that period. Contact your local DNR for the information on your area.

[Catt]

Merci Beau Coup George