Catching Largemouth Bass During the Spawn

Catching spawning bass has been debated for years.  Some anglers
are absolutely against it while others don't see a problem with it.  
Whatever your views are, think about this fact.  If you catch and keep
a bass off the bed in the spring, it will not be able to reproduce.  If you
catch and keep a bass during any other time of the year, it will also not
be able to reproduce.   

Whether or not you keep it during the spawning time or after, it is gone
regardless.  However, it is easier to find bass during the spawn and
some of these fish will strike a lure repeatedly until you finally catch it.  
Because it is so much easier to catch bass that you can see in the
spring time, it is probably best to just leave these fish alone or at least
release these fish.  Catch and release will continue to help the fish
populations for the future.  To learn more about spawning bass, we will
cover the 3 phases of spawning.

  •   Pre-Spawn
    During pre-spawn, bass are coming out of the deeper water getting
    ready to start their spawn.  Bass will start moving to shallower water
    as temperatures rise above 50 degrees.  As these bass transition
    from deeper water, you can catch them just outside of their spawning
    areas.  A good way to find out where to catch bass during pre-spawn
    is to mark all the spots where the bass spawn and find the closest
    deep water.  This is where they will most likely be in the pre-spawn
    phase.  You should be able to find bass along points, and quick drop-
    offs in 8 to 12 feet of water.  You can also find a lot of bass shallow
    cruising around looking for bait fish in the warmer water.  The pre-
    spawn is a very good time to catch bass because they are very
    active.

  •   Spawn
    Once the water reaches 55 - 60 degrees, the males start to build the
    nests.  Actually spawning will take place in 62 to 70 degrees of
    water.  They will build their nests in 2 -4 feet of water, however, in
    clear lakes, you can find nests deeper.  When the bass are actually
    on the nests, they are there for one reason and this is to spawn.  
    Bass will refuse to eat during spawning, however, there are some
    ways to coax them into feeding.  They will instinctively protect their
    nest, so any bait that looks like a threat to their nest has a chance to
    get bit.  Try jigs, plastic worms, plastic snakes, tubes, buzzbaits,
    spinnerbaits and shallow crankbaits.  Some times a faster lure gets a
    reaction strike and other times a slow-moving lure sitting in their nest
    will trigger a strike.  Fishing with live bait can be very effective.  Small
    minnows, baby bluegill, night crawlers and leeches will produce
    during the spawn.  Some times bass will pick up a bait and move it
    out of the spawning bed.  If you put it right back in the bed, they
    might get agitated and take the whole bait.  You have to be
    persistent to catch bass on the beds.

  •   Post-Spawn
    The post-spawn period will cause the bigger females to go rest in
    deeper water and the males will typically still be around the
    shorelines.  If you are fishing regularly, you can tell when the post
    spawn occurs because you will stop seeing fish on the beds and
    you'll start catching lots of smaller males.  With the males staying
    back to protect the nest, they will attack many different
    presentations.  Fishing can be quite easy at times.  Most common
    bass lures will work and you can usually find aggressive bass all
    along the shoelines.  Catching bigger fish during the post spawn is
    very difficult.  The bigger females will be resting in deeper water and
    and it will take some skill and patience to get these fish to eat.  
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