Bass tail damage

[Oldschool]

We have all caught bass during the spawn with tail damage, does anyone know how this occurs?
The assumption is the female bass doesn't fan the nest site, however it's the big females that have worn tails.
Miike Gusti or another biologist have an explanation?
Tom

[492slayer]

How do you think the nest gets made? Ever watch salmon dig a redd? I figure it works along the same lines...

[Scott E.]

From what I've heard, the heavy bellied, egg laiden females scrape their tails from swimming on and around the nest. Kinda like the big planter trout in hard bottom raising pools. Both situations produce bloodied/worn tails.

[Oldschool]

My observations are not sceintifically accurate. It's my opinion that male bass select the nesting site and build the intial nest. The females roam the spawning areas and select a nest site with the help of the male bass and remodel the nest site if it doesn't suit the female. Females can and do lay eggs in several nest sites and may sweep out the site or not. Bottom substrate may have an impact of tail wear, if the females sweep out the nest site. I know they roll on their sides and kick up a lot debris when laying eggs. Not all male or female bass damage their tails during the spawn, only a few seem to have worn tails. Bass are neutral buoyant and don't swim along the bottom dragging the tails, IMO. Looking for a accurate explanation, I already have an opinion.
Tom

[crawdaddy]

I have heard that big females go to several nests. I would say all that spawning is the reason.

[Scott E.]

Old School. Part of them swimming along the bottom also has to do with them breaking up/moving their eggs. They do drag their tails on the bottom. No disrespect, but you've been off greatly on your advice on fishing Big Bear Lake, no doubt you've not fished the lake much in the last 5 years or so, and you're off on this one. Don't ask for people's replies, if you are not willing to listen/bend your opinion/open up your mind. Scott

[Cooch]

No science insight Tom, but here's what I've seen on the Delta over the years. For those who really pay attention, you will have noticed, it's always that bottom tail fin that is thrashed. A bass moves with tail motions, and at times, it darts up, down, in and out with fierce velocity, and very often. I've watched em in my back yard for years, it has nothing ta do with the actual act of spawning,(constant fending maybe) as I've seen this happen as early as February, and as late as October. It's much like when bass are rooting craws, their chins are as raw as a pork knucle bones fresh from a butcher.

Active, feeding, verticle moving fish, tend to have raw , worn out bottom tail sections. It's like me and my rough thumbs at ClearLake in October fishing rock piles! When it's happening with regularity, the skin with the most contact, is the first to deteriorate!

[Oldschool]

Scott, BB is your lake and you are right, I don't fish it often anymore.
I was hoping a biologist would chip in. We bass fishermen can only give our opinions based on what we have observed over the years.
I agree if a big bass moves up into very shallow water, it's underside and tail can and does contact the bottom. Bass in DVL, Castaic and Casitas often spawn in water over 6 feet deep. I'm of the opinion the tail wear is directly due to the spawning activity, however some folks believe it's due to water temeprature changes and unrelated to spawning and I have a hard time with that explanation, being bone headed and opinionated.
Cooch, thanks for the input. You would think the bass would do more damage during summer nights when they are up tight and activily feeding. My 18.6 bass's tail was very damaged from years of wear.
Tom