I am curious as to what are some of your favorite (most productive) fishing techniques, as well as baits, used when trying to catch fish that are guarding fry.  As well, what are some which have proven unsuccessful.

Fluke.

I never intentionally fish beds.

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Removing the male guarding fry is a dead wish to the nest  

I never intentionally fish beds.

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Just because they are guarding fry doesn't mean they are on or near a bed. For example on Saturday at the CAST event around here there were fish guarding fry and there were no beds around them. They would just cruise around the shorelines. So you probably catch fish that are guarding fry and don't even realize it.

If you put anything near the fish that resembled a sunfish or other fish it would go after it. We had a lot of fun sightfishing witht he Mattlures Bluegills. So I guess there is your answer.

I never intentionally fish beds.

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Why not?

Serious question.

Because:

Removing the male guarding fry is a death wish to the nest

I never intentionally fish beds.

>

Just because they are guarding fry doesn't mean they are on or near a bed. For example on Saturday at the CAST event around here there were fish guarding fry and there were no beds around them. They would just cruise around the shorelines. So you probably catch fish that are guarding fry and don't even realize it.

If you put anything near the fish that resembled a sunfish or other fish it would go after it. We had a lot of fun sightfishing witht he Mattlures Bluegills. So I guess there is your answer.

The fish you caught were not guarding fry, they were hunting them to eat!

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Because:

Removing the male guarding fry is a death wish to the nest

So why is people always talking about good bed baits like the Nest Raider and such? Or Rick Clunn talking about draggin lizards over beds?

Not being a jerk. Honestly trying to get some info here.

In many lakes and especially ponds, the problem isn't recruitment, but over population. There is no evidence that fishing beds effects the overall health of the bass population, so there is in fact no harm done. However, I choose not to fish beds.

8-)

What they are talking about is catching the female prior to her laying eggs which has no proven adverse effect. Catching the male who is guarding fry leaves the fry open to attack by predators.  

What they are talking about is catching the female prior to her laying eggs which has no proven adverse effect. Catching the male who is guarding fry leaves the fry open to attack by predators.

Thanks for the explanation.

I do not purposely bed fish. I feel like I can have more success fishing the deeper water just outside the area. I know I am probably catching some fish on deeper beds I just donot target them. If I ever catch a fish that I can see on a bed it will be the first of my career.

I never intentionally fish beds.

>

Just because they are guarding fry doesn't mean they are on or near a bed. For example on Saturday at the CAST event around here there were fish guarding fry and there were no beds around them. They would just cruise around the shorelines. So you probably catch fish that are guarding fry and don't even realize it.

If you put anything near the fish that resembled a sunfish or other fish it would go after it. We had a lot of fun sightfishing witht he Mattlures Bluegills. So I guess there is your answer.

The fish you caught were not guarding fry, they were hunting them to eat!

:

OK ;D

This really wasn't an ethics question about whether it was O.K. to fish beds or fish guarding fry, but thanks for your comments. A "Fluke," thanks Frog!