Male Bass During Spawn

[t_bone_713]

Hello and Quick Question,

 

During the spawn I know the males will find spots, create, and then protect the beds so the females can eventually arrive and lay their eggs. Yesterday when I was fishing I noticed first of all it was all males and I was getting bit like crazy. Second I noticed when they were biting I'd set the hook and the worm would come flying back at me with the hook still tex-posed. Sometimes I'd even wait until they took it an swam with it before setting the hook, same result. When I did hook one it was BARELY hooked, my buddy was experiencing similar symptoms.

 

Is this a queue of the males are just moving would be predators from the beds by grabbing it's tail and not actually looking to feed? Or do we really need to work on our hooksets? :/ I've never had hookset problems with T-Rigs before other than maybe a few where I knew I messed up the timing etc etc.

 

If it is them just protecting their beds and they are about to spawn in that lake I might wait and let them finish their spawning cycle before going back.

 

Thanks,

 

T

[DFWbassin]

When males are guarding eggs, they arent looking to feed. When they pick up the end of your bait and just move it off the bed you can try dipping the head of the bait in jj’s magic or some other kind of garlic dye. Ive found that will increase my hook up ratios alot.

[OCdockskipper]

13 hours ago, t_bone_713 said:

...Is this a queue of the males are just moving would be predators from the beds by grabbing it's tail and not actually looking to feed?... 

 

...If it is them just protecting their beds and they are about to spawn in that lake I might wait and let them finish their spawning cycle before going back...

 

 

Most likely that is exactly what is happening.  If you can move down to a smaller bait, possibly even with an open hook, it increases your chances of the hook being in their mouth when they pick it up to move it.

 

You may have heard the phrase "Not all the bass in a lake spawn at the same time".  One thing that means is that if you see males protecting beds, it doesn't mean those are the only catchable bass in the area.  There will be larger females, either prespawn or postspawn nearby.  If the females haven't laid eggs yet, you can find some of them near the males but typically in deeper water.  If they have dropped their eggs, the females often hang out well within the best cover available (in the brushpile or under the dock).  They will eat & will mosey over to inspect offerings, but typically won't chase.

 

Don't cancel a fishing trip just because the males are on the beds, they are telling you where to find the females.

[WRB]

Both the male and females are not feeding when near or on a bed, it's all about spawning. The male spends a lot of time protecting his bed site, chasing away bluegills, striking and killing crawdads, salamanders and any egg eating critters. Your lure to the bass is a treat to the nest and both males and females react to it by chasing it way or striking it to move away.

Why keep targeting beds when only small males are attacking the lure? If females are nearby you should be catching a few then, if not fish deeper staging areas where they should be located and feeding.

Tom

[Catt]

Everything above pretty much covers your question, I'll only add if you're seeing only males why spend time trying to catch em?

[t_bone_713]

13 hours ago, Catt said:

Everything above pretty much covers your question, I'll only add if you're seeing only males why spend time trying to catch em?

 

On 4/23/2020 at 1:21 PM, WRB said:

Both the male and females are not feeding when near or on a bed, it's all about spawning. The male spends a lot of time protecting his bed site, chasing away bluegills, striking and killing crawdads, salamanders and any egg eating critters. Your lure to the bass is a treat to the nest and both males and females react to it by chasing it way or striking it to move away.

Why keep targeting beds when only small males are attacking the lure? If females are nearby you should be catching a few then, if not fish deeper staging areas where they should be located and feeding.

Tom

Hello,

 

No you're absolutely right the next evening we went to a different body of water and had a good time fishing and caught some nice females.

 

Thank you for everyone for their advice.

[Master J]

When male bass are guarding their nest, they don't feed at All until their babies are born, maybe when the babies get big enough to not get eaten by other fish. Sometimes they don't even make it alive just by guarding and not eating at all. As soon as you catch the male bass off their nest and there's allot of bluegills around, the bluegills are gonna rush to the nest and eat the eggs. Seen it happen before..