Alot of you may have heard about the rain and flooding we've had here in the NewEngland area.I was wondering what type of affect wil that have on bedding or close to bedding fish? That really abrupt change in water level and temp.Will the fish just naturaly shut off?and resume when things are better? Could that have an outcome on weather some fish are able to complete the cycle?

I would think so.  After all the rain you have had the water is going to be both higher and muddier.  That means that if the bass were spawning 5' deep in clear water they could be in 7' of muddy water right now.  That could force the bass into water as shallow as 1' at the current water level, or they may just wait it out until the lake falls some and conditions stablize and pick up where they left off.

My guess is this will be a very poor spawn year for ya'll up there. They are gone already, not spawning in current or water where sunlight can't penetrate to incubate eggs. The females will probably carry their eggs into July, but if the males don't resume bed building soon, those eggs will just be absorbed. I don't think all that will happen in time.

Jim

I had been fishing daily right up till this 12 day weather front moved in. The bass had just got on the beds 2 days before the weather came. Went out 2 nights ago with senko77 and the fish were still suspending at mouths of the coves they were bedding in.

Now that water is a whole foot higher, everything is flooded.

We went out yesterday again and low and behold, some of the fish had come back to their beds already. Sun is out full bore today and we'll be back to non-stop bed fishing this afternoon.

I'll know better this afternoon but I do believe we are in good shape for a decent spawn in my lake. Most of the states lakes have already spawned out anyway, but my lake is always the last in the state. (highest elevated body in the state,water stays cooler,longer.)(also super clear and CAN'T get muddy as it has no streams or rivers entering it.)

We'll know more by tonight.

I was fishing on saturday with the water temp at 61 degrees.  I didn't see to many bedding fish or signs of old beds, however I  caught a few small males on the inside edge of weed beds in shallow water with a baby brush hog.  

I was under the assumption that the prime water temp for a the spawn is 60 to 65 degrees is this true?  I plan on going out this afternoon and I am really unsure about what tactics to use?  With all the rain I am going to stick to what everyone has been suggesting, but I am curious how I can target the big females?  Any suggestions?