Bed fishing

[Bobby M.]

I am not looking for an ethical discussion on this, but I would like to know how some of you guys attack bedding fish and where do you look to find the larger females. I haven't did it very much, but I have usually only seen males on the beds. thanks for any info.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The female's visit to the bed is brief.

[Phil Lilley]

Can't get away from the "ethical" question when asking about bed fishing for big female bass. If you're looking to kill a nesting female bass on a bed, you may not find anyone who'd answer your question.

I'm not a bass fisherperson per say and don't fish for bass during their spawn so I can't speak to the catch question but as for killing them, well it seems counterproductive to the angler to kill off their future sport, whatever the species. I have spoken to that issue on other posts, ie. crappie, and will continue to remind those who will listen- release sows with eggs when possible... at least a few for "seed".

[Bobby M.]

sorry, I should have been more clear. I definetly will not be killing any bass. I have been catch and release only every since I have started fishing on my own. besides, with so much sucker meat in my fridge, why would I want any bass. I think most people agree that releasing a bedding female directly back into the water after catching her does no harm to her or her offspring. If anyone has proof otherwise, I think it should be known so we can protect these fish. but currently there is no evidence that shows any harm. well, why we are at it, let's go ahead and discuss the ethical side of the issue if anyone is willing. should we bed fish or not. I think I know what most of the pros would say.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Its the male that guards the nest, and when you pull it off predators attack the fry. The fact that he guards it is reason enough not to target them. I don't believe anyone needs to stop fishing at this time, but just not target them. If you fish normally during this time you won't pull that many off because they won't chase a bait until they are ready to leave and the chances of you putting the bait in the nest is remote.

If you follow the lead of the pro's and target them on the beds, thats a different story and one that certainly doesn't promote any skill on their part. Anyone can shoot fish in a barrel and you don't need a $40,000 dollar bass boat or any particular plastic to do it, so I don't know what their point is?

[kenjenmo]

I watched a show on ESPN2 that actually had a bass fisherman sight fishing for bedding bass, they had a camera above water and below water. They only showed this one time but he did catch a bass off of the bed, released the fish and the fish went right back down to the bed again. I cannot remember the exact percentage but it was pretty high that the bass would go back almost every time.

I typically do not target bass on the bed but have done it in the past. IMHO, As long as you are releasing the fish right away, I do not see the problem.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The perceived problem isn't that a released Bass won't go back, but that the perch and other creatures will attack the fry. If the fry are newly hatched they won't have much of a defense.

This is the reason I see the Pro's as hypocritical, because they take their fish away from the area and its doubtfully any return.

They didn't start C & R until there was an outcry about the damage to lakes by the huge strings of Bass removed in tournaments.

[Bobby M.]

I completly agree with you guys about the pro tournaments. I am disappointed that BASS scheduled all these events right at the spawn just so they could have these huge bags weighed in. I can't wait until the later tournaments when the pro's will actually be FISHING. I agree with kenjenmo, a fish released right back into the water, after a quick photo of course, will most likely end up right back on the nest. If you happen to catch a female that still has eggs, the argument about fry is no longer valid. I would suspect that any female that has eggs in her will go right back to what she was doing after she is released. the drive to produce offspring is too strong in wild animals for this to prevent her from laying eggs as normal. thanks for the input.

Bobby