How deep will they spawn???

[Kelly Ripa]

I think to 25 feet plus-r-minus a foot or so....? I say this because I have a had the dbl. hit on jigs in that range during the spawn and to my way of thinking that is a bed bite. By leaving it after the intial pick-up and blow out they come back. Am I unwittingly on the sweetspot? It seems to me that the pressured fish will spawn out there deeper and unmolested and there is enough sunlight and yada yada for the fry to make it. Could they have been prespawn??? Maybe but wouldn't a prespawn be loading up on calcium and just give me the tick of an eating fish? Postspawn naw How Deep ?

Rip

[wccjanel]

Dude,
Your posts read like a Ken Nordine monologue. Okay that was very Dennis Miller of me. But really babe, lay off the crack man. I'm thinking you're getting your "secret fish bait" from the same dealer as Hank Hill, but I dunno.
Yes, bass will spawn deep. Spots deeper than most others. In our heavy pressured, super clear lakes, 25' is not out of range.
In the meantime, swing.
Peace, bro - and really read the side of the energy drink can - it says limit to two per day.

All the Best,
James

[Kelly Ripa]

James....This site doesn't even talk about fishing anymore...

[Rob Cummings]

James....Dude....how bout just answering the question, less the pain in the *** satire?

[Dynastyworms]

I have done alot of reading on this topic. almost everyone says 20-25ft is the max, but a few say deeper, the clearer the water the fish will go deeper. I've seen fish in about 25ft spawning on very-very-very clear lakes. but you also have to remember alot of the time when fishing a jig in 20-25ft you cant see the bottom... so how do you know if the fish is on a bed? I guess if you swing and miss then get hit on the same spot.... In the era of aqua views im shocked there not more info on spawning fish. but then agian it is a touchy subject for most.

here's some good info for you http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/spawn.shtml

I hope this helps

[Kelly Ripa]

Thanks Dynasty( sorry don't know the real name) That's kind of my point...If I plain blow it and miss the initial strike...When I'm out that deep and I can't see beds anyway...is it a sweet spot?...I have caught some nice fish on bluff walls etc. and those tails are bleed'n from making beds but the water wasn't all that clear...I think it might just be a good guess or probably outhouse luck that I'm dead on the bed...Like I do with a senko...I visualize the beds and cast but I do not actively seek out bedding fish. It's the dbl whump that makes me think they are protecting not eatting. I have an aqua view and it's actually making a trip to the lake to answer a few questions for me. Since I have a new color meter up front I want to see if those fish I'm drooling over are carp and just put me out of my misery

Rip

[Oldschool]

Clear water clarity allows the depth of light to go down deeper, but that alone isn't that big of a factor, the water temperature must be 62 to 65 degrees down at those depths for the bass eggs to hatch. In water below 60, the eggs require extended time; about 12 to 14 days to hatch and that is too long for the bass to guard the nest 24/7. At 62 to 65 the eggs hatch in 3 to 4 days. The deepest that I have ever spotted a nest is about 15 feet. However caught several jig fish down to 25 that were spawner's, just don't think they were on beds at the time. Keep in mind the big females don't lay all their in one nest, so they can lay some eggs and move back down for santuary R & R, then return back to nesting. When they are in the spawn mode, they don't crunch a jig and move off with it, in fact big FLMB rarely move off with a jig at any time.
Tom

[some guy]

hmmm I have been using my Aqua Vu all over DVL and between 22- 26 i see deserted beds everywhere.. You cant see them from the surface but once you drop it down it is obvious there are some really deep nest's. The cool thing about the aqua vu is that it gives you the temp of where the camera is.. i was reading 55 - 57 all over the lake where these deep beds are.. surface temp is 64 but down below not soo much... do you think the 50 or so nest i saw will make it? I have seen bass with the aqua vu as deep as 25 this year.. it seems every year is different, but this year they def stayed out a little bit deeper.. atleast gus did.

[Oldschool]

The deep nest could be smallmouth or spots, they both tend to spawn deep in clear water and lower water temperaature. Maybe the DVL largemouth have gone deep due to water level fluctations and to get away from egg eating predators, who knows. The eggs will hatch, it just takes longer and the male needs to stay with the nest longer.
Both Casitas and Castaic have some deep nesting bass, the water isn't clear enough to see them deeper than about 15 feet without a camera, at least I can't. Good information, thanks.
Tom

[wccjanel]

Thanks Dynasty( sorry don't know the real name) That's kind of my point...If I plain blow it and miss the initial strike...When I'm out that deep and I can't see beds anyway...is it a sweet spot?...I have caught some nice fish on bluff walls etc. and those tails are bleed'n from making beds but the water wasn't all that clear...I think it might just be a good guess or probably outhouse luck that I'm dead on the bed...Like I do with a senko...I visualize the beds and cast but I do not actively seek out bedding fish. It's the dbl whump that makes me think they are protecting not eatting. I have an aqua view and it's actually making a trip to the lake to answer a few questions for me. Since I have a new color meter up front I want to see if those fish I'm drooling over are carp and just put me out of my misery

Rip

I have a friend (yes, it's true) he believes the first thump is the fish eating, the second is the fish spitting. He also believes that this can happen anytime the fish are not really eating, but are willing to test whatever comes their way.
What I have witnessed, with and without camera, is that fish will retreat to deeper areas and feed. They do this even if they are bedded in 12' (or less) of water. Especially if they are bedded on quick drops, they will bed in 12' and drop as deep as 30' to eat. A lot of bedded bass will have a retreat spot off shore from the bed, and others are just so aggressive that they are willing to attack something that moves, even if it is 6' from their bed.
As many notes as we can make, as many articles can be written, and as many books as we can read, every bass is still going to have his/her own personality and idiosyncrasies.
So yes, you can catch a spawning male in 30' of water. That does not mean however, that his bed is out there.
Just notes from my own observations, and I am by no means an authority, nor should my comments or suggestions be taken as final word.

Peace,
James

[Dynastyworms]

Kelly ripa,

To me a good indication of bedding fish line movement. If you have line movement more than once it’s a safe bet you on a bed. Just think, when your sight fishing a bed do you feel the strike or do you see the line move. The big female will take your bait and you will not feel it.

Zach Meredith

[Jake Ripley]

Kelly, good to hear you're back out there. Next time bring the bread and #8 trebles.

[Kelly Ripa]

I think maybe your right Zach about that line movement. Like a senko get'n moved off.

My aquaview is far more primitive so I guessed at depths but didn't worry about the water temps. but esentially the observations are the same. I figured what I was seeing at Cachuma was smallie nests until you found largemouth sharing the same water??? I don't normally look for these fish at this time of year.

I need to go fishing by myself for awhile it's been a long strange trip getting the Toon worked up but now that she's ready I need to get out and remember how to cast and get in Toon with what the fishies are up to,...Prolly can rip some small ones about now.

Rip

[Dynastyworms]

wasn't there a full moon last night..... fish should be on there beds

[ash]

Kelly in LMV and San V I have personally seen beds up to 20' (large mouth) On clear Lake I have seen beds in 15-16 (I couldnt see futhre then that)

I think the males are makin beds everywhere, the females decide which one suits them and spawns accordingly. When I am fishing on flats this time of year I am always keeping the mental picture of fish gaurding beds. I dont think it hurts my fishing any for doing so.

Good Luck with your looney TOON boat

[DL]

All the way to the bottom.

[Nunyo Bizness]

Hawghunter is right! You should name your toon....Looney!