Bed Fishing



By: Justin Hahaj

Many tournament victories have been posted because anglers keyed in on spawning bass.  In fact, Dean Rojas had a record setting performance on Lake Toho in 2001, when he caught a five fish limit weighing in at 46 pounds, 2 ounces.  Rojas went on to catch a record-breaking four-day total of 108 pounds, 12 ounces.  Huge limits of bass are a likely possibility on any body of water, if you can find and catch spawning bass.

 

SMALLMOUTH

Spawning occurs in Michigan form May to early June.  Smallmouth typically spawn before largemouth.  When the water sustains a temperature of approximately 55 degrees the male smallmouth will begin to fan out a bed.  As the water warms larger female smallmouth begin to move into the shallows.  When the water temperature warms to about 60 degrees the male bass then coaxes a female to his bed.  After the female lays her eggs she leaves the male to guard the bed.  The eggs have an incubation period of four to twelve days depending on the water temperature.  If the temperature rises or falls drastically than the eggs will die.  Fry usually become visible about two weeks after they hatch.  The male will aggressively protect his fry until they reach a certain size.

Smallmouth usually choose to spawn in areas that have small rocks and a hard bottom.  Smallmouth also prefer areas that don’t have an over abundance of current.  The depth at which they spawn depends on the clarity of the water.  The clearer the water, the deeper the fish will spawn.  I have found smallmouth spawning in 12 ft of water in Magician Lake, and 1 ft of water in the St. Joe River.  The key is looking for a dark spot in the water. 

 

LARGEMOUTH

Spawning occurs in Michigan during late May through late June.  I have caught spawning largemouth in Paw Paw Lake as late as, June 27.  The spawning ritual of the largemouth starts when the sun warms the water to 60 degrees.  This is when the much smaller male comes into the shallows to fan out a nest.  When the water warms to 65-70 degrees the female largemouth will come up onto the beds.  Largemouth do their business in the same manner as smallmouth.  When they’re finished spawning the male stays with the fry until they are about 1 inch long. 

Largemouth will build their nests on sand, gravel, stumps, or even root systems in channels, bays, and protected pockets.  They will usually spawn in 3-8 ft of water depending on the clarity of the water.  The key is looking for a hole in weeds or a polished circle on the bottom. 

 

TECHNIQUES FOR CATCHING SMALLMOUTH

Catching smallmouth bass while their spawning takes very precise techniques, and it takes many days of practice to master these techniques.  Fishing for spawning smallmouth is absolutely amazing.  Once I find an area suitable for spawning I start looking for beds.  Smallmouth build their nests next to big objects like, large rocks, cinder blocks, and logs.  Early in the morning most of these beds will be empty.  As the sun warms the water the fish will start to move up onto the beds. Last year on Maxinkukee Lake my partner and I found a ton of beds in the morning, but no fish.  When the water warmed the bass started to move up onto their beds.  We ended up catching 20 smallies, and weighing in 10 lbs, to get fifth place.  When the fish move up on their beds catching them can be difficult.  Try these tips next time you go out.

·        Drop a marker buoy next to a bed when you come across one.  Back your boat about 30 yards or more away from the bed.  Make long casts with tubes, on light line, beyond the bed.  Don’t land the bait directly on top of the bed.  Slowly, bounce the tube onto the bed and watch your line.  Smallies will pick up your bait sooner or later, be patient. 

·        Always use 6-8 lb fluorocarbon so the smallies can’t see your line. 

·        Try a bunch of different baits and colors until you find the one that the fish react to the best.  I have 10 baits that I throw on beds.

·        You need a great pair of polarized sunglasses to see beds.   

 

TECHNIQUES FOR LARGEMOUTH

Catching a spawning largemouth is a whole new ball game.  Largemouth are a lot less aggressive than smallmouth when they’re on beds.  Fishing for spawning largemouth is a lot like hunting.  In fact, I hunt until I find an aggressive bass.  I can tell if a fish can be caught by their reaction to my first presentation.  If the fish makes any aggressive movement towards the bait or just doesn’t leave it’s bed, then it can be caught.  If the bass runs as soon as my bait hits the water, I don’t waste any more time.  My favorite technique for catching largemouth’s on beds is flipping and pitching pockets with a Mango Jig.  On Pipestone Lake I pitched my jig blindly into shallow water pockets and landed 15.5 lbs of bass, and took home the victory.  Catching a spawning largemouth can be a frustrating task.  Try these tips to help ease your frustrations. 

*    Never block a largemouth’s exit route to deep water.  If your boat comes between the bass and deep water, you’ll never catch her.

·        Always fish with the sun in your face and never let your shadow go over the fish.

·        Try casting your bait on shore, and then reel it into the water.  This will make your cast undetectable. 

·        After you have found a spawner locked on a bed try pulling up your trolling motor and anchoring.  Too much trolling motor noise will spook a largemouth.   

·        Spawning bass don’t eat so try baits that will aggravate them.     

 

CONCLUSION

Many anglers believe that catching spawning bass is unethical and hurts the bass population.  Many studies have been done in Michigan and it’s proven that catching and releasing spawning bass has no effect on bass populations.  Anglers, who believe fishing for spawners is unethical have the right to their opinion.  To consistently catch fish during the spawn you need great vision, experience, and patience.  Huge sacks of bass are very likely if you take advantage of the spawn.