I catch two big 2-4lb bass out of a cove & didn't have my scale. I put them on the stringer, took them to my boat dsock, got a scale and weighed them. After I eased them back into the water and they swam off. My question is every time I go back now, I only catch Baby bass if  Get any bites. So.... did I mess up that spot by taking them away from that cove? Can the smaller fish survive? Can the big fish find there way back to there bed? Probably a silly question but I wanted to know none the less. 

1 minute ago, Casey Hatley said:

I catch two big 2-4lb bass out of a cove & didn't have my scale. I put them on the stringer, took them to my boat dsock, got a scale and weighed them. After I eased them back into the water and they swam off. My question is every time I go back now, I only catch Baby bass if  Get any bites. So.... did I mess up that spot by taking them away from that cove? Can the smaller fish survive? Can the big fish find there way back to there bed? Probably a silly question but I wanted to know none the less. 

Sounds like they might have died due to the trauma of being put on a stringer, transported, weighed, then released at a different location. They also could have gotten just a tad smarter from that experience I am no expert but that seems like common sense to me. Hopefully it gets better. How big of a BOW?

I agree, they probably died.  Never put a fish on a stringer unless you intend to eat it.

 

Why do you think they were on a bed?  I don't think bass are spawning anywhere right now.  Bigger fish will eventually return to that spot.

I wouldn't say they died. Putting a fish on a metal stringer is just like hooking a cull tag in them. My guess is they are more cautious and are smarter from what happened. They will be back to that spot just give them some time. There are good underwater videos on YouTube that shows how long it takes for bass to return to a spot after being caught. 1rod1reel has a great video showing the effects for catching bedding bass.

Spawn has been over for 2 months, at least 6 weeks in the cooler northern areas. They arent on the beds. 

 

I doubt both of those fish died, but keeping 2 average sized fish on a stringer just to get a weight seems pointless. 

9 minutes ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

I wouldn't say they died. Putting a fish on a metal stringer is just like hooking a cull tag in them. My guess is they are more cautious and are smarter from what happened. They will be back to that spot just give them some time. There are good underwater videos on YouTube that shows how long it takes for bass to return to a spot after being caught. 1rod1reel has a great video showing the effects for catching bedding bass.

If you put it on a metal clip stringer and don't move, sure, but if you're moving around dragging those fish behind you on a stringer they're going to die.  Maybe if he was fishing really close to the dock they made it.  

Some bass will relocate, some return to the original site.  It's not the best idea, but the stringer clips are no worse than a cull tag.  Any fish released that swims stands a better chance than one that gets filleted.  If you're actually concerned about spawning beds, either don't target them, or immediately release them near the site.  I've caught hundreds of bass that when immediately released near the spawning bed, they return.  That said, always remember your measuring tools.  And a camera.

 

1 minute ago, Looch said:

Spawn has been over for 2 months, at least 6 weeks in the cooler northern areas. They arent on the beds.

 

I've seen bass on beds as late as early August on northern lakes.  It's unusual, very unusual, but not impossible. Though I think he was probably referring to just where it lived, not an actual spawning site.

I was thinking he caught it back when it was on a bed during the spawn and has only caught little guys since then and was wondering where the big ones went. I think we can all agree that male bass dont guard the beds 365 days a year

Totally.

2 hours ago, DroneFisher said:

Sounds like they might have died due to the trauma of being put on a stringer, transported, weighed, then released at a different location. They also could have gotten just a tad smarter from that experience I am no expert but that seems like common sense to me. Hopefully it gets better. How big of a BOW?

Yeah no. I take extra care of my fishery. My question was simple. Can bass find there way back to a certain part of the lake if taken somewhere else. They definitely didn't die. They didn't even lose strength, due to the boat ride being a few minutes. It seems like common sense to me, that it was understood the fish were taken away. I was hoping for a more scientific approach to the question. Thanks for trying any way! ?

53 minutes ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

I wouldn't say they died. Putting a fish on a metal stringer is just like hooking a cull tag in them. My guess is they are more cautious and are smarter from what happened. They will be back to that spot just give them some time. There are good underwater videos on YouTube that shows how long it takes for bass to return to a spot after being caught. 1rod1reel has a great video showing the effects for catching bedding bass.

Thank you. This was my question. Can they find there way back? And if so how long does it take. 

Also for anyone saying never put a fish on a stringer unless you intended to eat it, I usually do not do this. But also, they isn't right. I take very good care of my fishery and if you take care of the fish and proceed with caution, then transporting the fish with out a dry well can be perfectly fine. 

43 minutes ago, Looch said:

Spawn has been over for 2 months, at least 6 weeks in the cooler northern areas. They arent on the beds. 

 

I doubt both of those fish died, but keeping 2 average sized fish on a stringer just to get a weight seems pointless. 

I kept one fish on the stringer. Once I had the scale and went back to the area I didn't need to string the second fish. Yeah it would seem pointless if that's what I was doing. I am new to this forum but is it usual for people to comment things when they do nothing to help the thread? I'm glad you shared your thoughts but I was just curious. 

42 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Some bass will relocate, some return to the original site.  It's not the best idea, but the stringer clips are no worse than a cull tag.  Any fish released that swims stands a better chance than one that gets filleted.  If you're actually concerned about spawning beds, either don't target them, or immediately release them near the site.  I've caught hundreds of bass that when immediately released near the spawning bed, they return.  That said, always remember your measuring tools.  And a camera.

 

 

I've seen bass on beds as late as early August on northern lakes.  It's unusual, very unusual, but not impossible. Though I think he was probably referring to just where it lived, not an actual spawning site.

Thanks for clearing this up. Being newer to this forum some things might seem confusing but I thought it was kind of obvious what I meant. I see now you need to break it down in great detail. And I've also seen spawn beds as late as mid august. Thanks for helping the thread!

@Casey Hatley, I can't help you with your fish, but here's some interesting studies that try to answer your question:

 

https://www.uvm.edu/seagrant/sites/default/files/uploads/publication/lcbp_report_bass_study_2013_reduced_size.pdf

 

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2009/08/02/In-catch-and-release-angling-competitions-freed-bass-still-face-risk/stories/200908020169

 

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fishing/documents/winnipesaukee-bass-movement-study-2007-08.pdf

 

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07438140209354153

 

https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/pubs/fulltext/2000/20000022.pdf

 

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fishing/bass-updates.html

 

The Winnipesaukee Study is a good one.

29 minutes ago, Looch said:

I was thinking he caught it back when it was on a bed during the spawn and has only caught little guys since then and was wondering where the big ones went. I think we can all agree that male bass dont guard the beds 365 days a year

No. I was just referring to this area where they like to stay. Where I am from we call spawning beds, spawning beds. And In certain areas where big fish are usually found, we call this there bed. I guess it's just slang i never really thought to consider what that might mean to everyone else. 

To answer your question, can they move back to the spot you caught them from?  Yes.  Will they?  Who knows.  Fish will move back to their beds if released close to it.  If you're too far away, some might make it back but some definitely don't.  The fish were there at that location because of the structure, or some other factor.  Other fish, or the same ones, will eventually move back to that spot.  Also keep in mind, productive spots don't stay productive all year.  Fish move around depending on the conditions.

I don't recall thinking that I wanted to try to catch the same fish twice, and to do so, I'd probably best fish for him where he was last week.

 

However, I do believe that there were reasons that fish was there when I caught him.  And those reasons will probably apply lots of other times in the future....whether its the presence of baitfish, or shade, or cover, or structure change, whatever.  If I pull a good fish off the third limb on the left side of a tree laydown at mid-morning in September....well, I won't be the least bit surprised to find a good fish in that exact spot next September....and lots of other times.  A good spot for a bass will continue to be a good spot for bass, even other bass...until it isn't.

 

edit: or what ^ @Doelmansaid while I was typing too many words

 It's August, in general, bass arent married to a certain spot like in the spring and even then it's really only the males hell bent on guarding the spot. They gotta eat. Fish chase food.

 

Bed means the spawning nests the male builds, brings his lady in, she lays her eggs, she leaves, and he guards the nest. 

 

Dragging a bait through a bed in August definitely isnt gonna be the same success rate as in the spring, you dont got an angry male in there fighting off panfish all day that are wanting to eat his kids ready to strike at anything that comes through there.

 

If that dont help, sorry. Maybe ask someone that understands your "slang"

13 minutes ago, Casey Hatley said:

I guess it's just slang i never really thought to consider what that might mean to everyone else. 

 

When you're on the internet, no one can tell if you're using "slang."  So, try to use proper terms when you know them, if you don't know them, then just ask.  It helps if we're speaking the same language.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/bass_fishing.html

I believe your local ecosystem will survive...

 

 

oe

11 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

When you're on the internet, no one can tell if you're using "slang."  So, try to use proper terms when you know them, if you don't know them, then just ask.  It helps if we're speaking the same language.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/bass_fishing.html

 

 

Im gonna start calling my backlashes "professonal overruns" haha.

 

"Hey looch, whatcha doing over there? Got another backlash dont ya?"

 

Looch: no sir,  this here is what they call a professional overrun.

Lots of good links to read on C & R relocation studies have been posted.

Different regional jargon can get confusing, the OP tried to explain the he caught and transported back to his dock were not spawning bass and were released in good condition because they swim off.

Where those bass went is anyone's guess, we don't know! What more than likely did happen was they swam off to where they felt safe and rested. If the new area offered good source of shelter and prey, no reason to move very far from where they where released. If the bass doesn't like the new area, they can and do return to where they were caught or relocate where there is food and shelter is availble. 

The young of the year bass in the cove are a prey source to those bass, they were not guarding them!

Tom

When guiding, I took people to the same spots day after day, week after week, year after year.  The spots I fished, I also showed to a lot of Tournament Fishermen who hired me.  The reason I say that is for the simple fact, if one of those guys caught fish in those areas, they were going for a boat ride to get their weight checked.  Some things you can take to the bank:

 

1. Good spots replenish all the time.

2. Bass have a brain the size of a pea....they do not condition to lures.  Now there are a lot of reasons that they will turn off on a bait but it's not because they know a spinnerbait from a crankbait from a plastic worm.  Reaction strikes are instinctive.  Food strikes depend on how much your lure resembles food and protection strikes (fish on the bed) doesn't matter what you throw as long as you get the bait inside their personal space.