Do bass pick the same spots as the previous year or do they make new beds every year? 

I know smallmouth use the same beds every year but I couldn’t tell you if it was the same fish.  

Maybe not the exact same bass but yes the same areas.

Bass are not salmon that return to spawning area or die trying. If the spawning area the bass choose has the right water conditions, same level with the same soil and cover conditions they tend to return to that area. Beds don’t usually stay clean and require the male bass to renovate or make completely new bed.

Our local lakes can change 100’ in depth leaving last years spawning area high and dry, sometimes for several years, so no the bass don’t use the same bed and females often lay eggs in several beds.

Tom