when females move up, are they feedingordefending the nests.

[bryan]

don't know exactly what they are doing when they first start to show up. are they going to be feeding until the moon or are they already defending there nesting areas?

thanks!

[NaCl]

Actually, the males build the nest first. The females are looking for a mate that is most attractive to them. What are those "attractive" characteristics? Who knows? But, the females cruise in deeper water not far from the nests while males try to entice them into the bed. Sound familiar? The big difference between the mating game with bass and us is that after their babies are born, its the male who gets stuck with the kids! LOL!

While the females are in cruising mode, they are responding to eons of evolution that provide a strong pressure for them to complete spawning. Once they get into that cruising mode, they are very difficult to catch. I can only assume this means they are not interested much in feeding. Although, it is still possible to entice them to strike instinctively with reaction baits.

After they select a male and join him in the nest, the male will provide most of the defense for the nest. I have caught the male several times on a nest before he gets sore mouthed enough to stop biting and the female takes over defending. In fact, I will often release the male back onto the nest just to keep the female there until I can catch her. Sometimes, if you take the male off the nest, the female doesn't have any more reason to stay with the nest. She won't hang around very long to see if the male returns and you lose the chance to catch the better fish. Nice thing about CPR is those fish go right back onto the nest when you release them. So, if you decide to do any bed fishing, be sure to release all the fish you catch as quickly as possible after taking photos.

.....NaCl

[Ryan L]

nacl so what is the best way to catch those females while the males are up making beds. i.e. reaction, finnesse, are they activly feeding or are they just interested in getting up there and spawing

[Ryan L]

nacl so what is the best way to catch those females while the males are up making beds. i.e. reaction, finnesse, are they activly feeding or are they just interested in getting up there and spawing

[Barry Watson]

I was surprised yesterday when observing a large female around a nest with the male on it. She was charging a school of trout that were attacking the bed. Not only was the little male staying on the nest, but she was doing her best to drive off the trout. Trouble was, these trout were 5 and 6 pounders and were larger than the Bass. They behaved like a school of sharks and would keep circleing and charging the bass. This lake raises its own trout ( Donaldson) and stocks huge ones. I would guess they will eventually wipe out the Florida Bass by eating the eggs and fry.
It was a bummer to see it.

[Gator]

Where is Donaldson? Maybe it's time for a trout tourney/ fish fry. Anything to help the cause!!

[g-man]

I believe the Donaldson is the name of the trout that Lake Amador breeds. I think it is a mix from a cut throat trout, and either a steel head, or rainbow. All I know is those trout put up a good fight. I caught an 8plus outta Amador and it fought like hell.

[Barry Watson]

Gman's got it. Last week I caught a 6 pounder that hit a 5 inch senko. They do put up a fight. We almost always get at least on or two and they hit everything. Kreatures, Rattleing Rouges, worms, blah blah. They were planting a lot of 8 and 10's but the fisherman wanted more rather than large so they are putting in 2 to 6 pounds on average. I usually fish up there at least once a week during the during the good weather. We don't have any problems with the trout fishermen as they are usually trolling.

[NaCl]

Fortunately, all fish do not spawn at the same time. When you see the first beds, a lot of fish are still staging on points or migration routes to the spawning areas. Those fish are feeding heavily to help develop their eggs. Choose baits that imitate the forage fish like bluegill, crayfish, hitch, threadfin shad, etc.

When lots of females have moved up and they are cruising near beds, they're very difficult to catch. So don't! Go after the ones that are still staging or the post spawn females. The postspawn females move offshore and suspend for a day or two before they begin feeding to restore their energy. Rip baits, swimbaits, Senkos...baits that are not moving too fast will get their attention.

Late in the spawn, you have large numbers of small males protecting their fry. Those males are super easy to catch...just harass their pods of fry with a small Senko. The males will slam the bait. When you get tired of catching the small males, move offshore with baits that offer the best nutritional value and easy for the tired post-spawn females to catch...crayfish imitators, ripbaits, swimbaits, Senkos, etc.

.....NaCl

[bruizer343]

I bet plenty of bed fish will be taking a ride to stockton this weekend.

[Barry Watson]

I think the description given by Nacl regarding spawning bass is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Consider the fact I have been fishing those ol Bass for ages and naturally reading everything about it as well. Anyway, I hope a lot of you good folks took the time to read it. Good job Dean.

[biteme]

I think the description given by Nacl regarding spawning bass is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Consider the fact I have been fishing those ol Bass for ages and naturally reading everything about it as well. Anyway, I hope a lot of you good folks took the time to read it. Good job Dean.

I agree, I enjoy his post's. Thanks!

[NaCl]

*NM*

[Phil]

WHAT HAPPENS TO SAY 100 OR MORE BASS FOR A AVERAGE TOURNAMENT ON JUST ONE DAY, THAT ARE TAKEN OFF OF THE BEDS AND GO TO WEIGH IN AND THEN RELEASED. WHAT DO THE BASS DO THEN ?? THEN TIMES THAT BY A FEW MORE TOURNAMENTS, DO THEY STILL SPAWN, CURIOUS, OR DO THEY ALL ABORT THEIR EGGS , DO THE YOUNG FRY GET EATEN ?

JIGS

[rickd]

Good post, I heard that lizards are good to toss on nests is this true?

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

He is one of the few of us who talks because he has something to say, rather than as many of us do when we talk because we have to say something.

I quite often include myself in that latter group

[Cooch]

Bryan,

There are several biological phases taking place with a female bass, when "moving up.â€