Dissecting the Spawn
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If you’re anything like me, the first few signs of spring give you chills thinking about what this fishing season may hold. The days start to get longer and the air a little warmer. The trees greening and the spring rains all together bring new life to the bodies of water we love to spend our time at. For me and many others, the spring means bed fishing. For each body of water, there is a time period where you can see some of the most illusive fish as they show themselves and open themselves up to being caught. Everybody of water is different and it requires some time to be put in but if you haven’t caught a bass on a bed yet you’re missing out on one the most fun times of year in bass fishing.
The spawn can be a little tough to dial in sometimes but if you fish early on in the year you can listen to what the fish are telling you and find out what they’re doing. The best thing you can do is noting where you’re catching each fish prior to the spawn and being able to tell the difference between the bigger females and smaller males. Follow the fish. If you notice you have been catching them really well on crankbaits or jerkbaits out on main lake features and you can’t get a sniff anymore, try moving on up into the creek channels and follow the fish. Bass move up in waves and typically move from main lake points to secondary points and deeper cuts and then up into shallower areas. Sometimes it could be a shallow flat or it could be up on the bank close to deeper water.
Let the fish show themselves to you. Spend some days looking a lot and fishing a little. Pay attention to the banks and watch for cruising fish and see if there are any on beds yet. Typically before bass really get locked onto their beds they tend to cruise and look for mates as well as prepare their beds. Another sign to look for is bloody tails on the fish you are catching during this time. Their tails get bloodied up from fanning their beds and you can use this sign to clue you in on what they’re doing. If you’re catching bloody fish it’s really time to start looking for beds and fish on them. See if the bass spook immediately when you get close to their bed or if the fish is super locked on. This can often be one of the funniest things to do all season because all the bass have to spawn eventually and you can see some of the biggest fish of your life an maybe even get to catch them.
When looking for beds, try looking for harder bottom compositions. Bass don’t want to lay their eggs into mud because eggs can get lost or disturbed easily. Having a hard bottom area provides a more efficient way for the eggs to stay contained. Beds can be pretty easy to spot but a good pair of polarized sunglasses are necessary. Look for divots along the bank. In more sandy areas you can actually see bass bring in shells from around the area and form a bed that way, or as simple as just a divot in the sand. If you’re fishing in rivers, try looking for a place with stable depth but also a current break. Bass won’t bed in the middle of the strong current and let their eggs get swept away. Try looking behind or at the base of bigger rocks or underneath some lay downs in shallower water.
Once you find the beds, the fun part of catching them begins. Bass during this time of year is so focused on protecting their offspring that they may bite multiple times in a row after getting hooked. Try using baits that imitate natural predators to the eggs like a crawfish or bluegill style lure. A good go-to technique for bed fishing can actually be a shakey head as it keeps the bait nosed down on the bed making it look like they are feeding on the eggs. When pitching to a bed you may want to stay on the safe side sometimes, especially in clean water, and stay off a good bit from the fish and cast past your target so you’re not just blowing up the spot you’re fishing as sometimes this can turn a bed fish off before it ever sees your lure. If you follow these basic rules you should definitely be on your way to bed fishing and experience some of the best fishing of your life!
