The big girls disappear every year

[mixermarkb]

About the time the male smallies all show up on the gravel spawning areas, I seem to lose track of the bigger bass I've been catching all pre-spawn. Sometimes I find a few of them again, and the sight fishing guys for sure can catch a few, but it's typically well into post spawn topwater before I get into big fish again.

Tourney weights dropped off big this weekend, and usually do, so I'm guessing it's not just me.

They aren't on beds yet, so I'm asking you guys- where are they, and why are they so hard to catch the week or so before the first big wave of spawning? 

 

Btw, I'm a Bull Shoals guy for those who don't know me, and I've seen this at LOZ too, so it's not just a TR thing.