Bass Spawn/Biology Timeline

[DEPS_250]

I went out yesterday to one of my local ponds. I found a male bass really shallow and it looks like the spawn is about to go into full effect in just a few days in my local area. It looked like he was getting a nest ready for a female. It's a small pond and I fished it for a good 5-6 hours. I ended up catching that male but I could not see and/or find the female anywhere near the male. I don't know how long that male has been in the shallows getting his nest ready.

 

Some questions...

1. How long should/will it be until the female/BIG MAMA comes to the nest and finally shows herself? I want to be there when it happens so I can have a chance at catching the biggest bass in this pond. Is there a set timeline/number of days from now until the female shows up?
2. How do you 'time' it just right, so you can be there when the female finally shows up? Should I go everyday until I see her? 
3. How long does a female usually stay around at a nest when she is ready to drop her eggs? I don't want to be late. 
4. Does the female leave the nest right after she drops her eggs or does she stick around? If the latter, does this mean I still have a chance to catch her if my timing is off/late? 

[WRB]

You found 1 male bass guarding his nest doesn’t mean a female will choose this bed site. The pond more then like has several bed sites.

Females are individual bass different egg laying schedules.

Tom

[Pat Brown]

In my experience observing females on small ponds where you can actually see them spawn, it's very difficult to spot them and they're usually only there for literally one day and during that day they usually are basically uncatchable.  It's easier to catch them feeding up on the way in or feeding up on the way out and the places that they're likely to do that are usually pretty obvious -If you know where the males are guarding the beds! Look for secondary points with wood/vegetation/rock/some kinda cover in shallow water near deep water leading back into spawning coves and you should find fish either feeding up on the way in or recuperating on the way out.  Many times they patrol off the bed in deeper water where they camouflage very well.  You may have a shot on a day with the right conditions at catching a female near a bed, but the chances are very very slim of getting a female to bite.

[Catt]

#1 & #2: Be on the water as often as possible!

#3: The female will lay eggs on multiple nest.

#4: Each female is an individual 

#4a: There's always a chance 

[Mike L]

You’re asking questions that can’t be answered definitely.
Girls will decide what she wants to do when and where she wants to do it. 
There are no rules just assumptions but nobody is that good to make an accurate prediction every time. 
 

I probably spend more time sight fishing beds than most on here and have never camped out trying to wait out an individual to just show up. 

You’re better off making a milk run around your pond 

 

 

Mike

 

[casts_by_fly]

12 hours ago, DEPS_250 said:

I went out yesterday to one of my local ponds. I found a male bass really shallow and it looks like the spawn is about to go into full effect in just a few days in my local area. It looked like he was getting a nest ready for a female. It's a small pond and I fished it for a good 5-6 hours. I ended up catching that male but I could not see and/or find the female anywhere near the male. I don't know how long that male has been in the shallows getting his nest ready.

 

Some questions...

1. How long should/will it be until the female/BIG MAMA comes to the nest and finally shows herself? I want to be there when it happens so I can have a chance at catching the biggest bass in this pond. Is there a set timeline/number of days from now until the female shows up?
2. How do you 'time' it just right, so you can be there when the female finally shows up? Should I go everyday until I see her? 
3. How long does a female usually stay around at a nest when she is ready to drop her eggs? I don't want to be late. 
4. Does the female leave the nest right after she drops her eggs or does she stick around? If the latter, does this mean I still have a chance to catch her if my timing is off/late? 

 

1- you already missed her while you were typing this post.

2- tents and all nighters

3- depends how big the babies got in the eggs.  Some of those little 'uns just don't want to pop out

4- she's a good mama but knows her strengths.  mothering isn't one of them.  peace out.

 

in all seriousness, the guys above covered the real answers.

[JacobB006]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

#1 & #2: Be on the water as often as possible!

#3: The female will lay eggs on multiple nest.

#4: Each female is an individual 

#4a: There's always a chance 

#1/2 are important. I've found a huge part of it is watching the conditions and seeing how everything is setting up and knowing when you need to get out and fish. I'll stop by my spot a few times a week and just observe whats going on and leave without fishing.

 

#4 is also huge. I have found that every fish is different. You can have 10 fish lined up in a 10 yard stretch and they will all respond different. Some you can catch on the first cast. Others I have worked for an hour before catching them. Every fish is triggered by different things. Try different retrieves/levels of aggression and different lures on every fish until you find what they like.