Got out this morning before work. Caught a nice 1 lber under & around a tree. Took me 5 or six casts, first with a stick worm, then got a bite with lizard. I couldn't see a nest but he was chasing off blue gill & not leaving the area.

Then I continued down the shore, where I saw a pair of LMB cruising along close to where blue gill were hanging around. But didn't go after them at all? I made a few casts but the weren't interested at all. Continued my shore line search & saw this time three LMB doing the same, again not interested in the lizard.

Just before I left I saw nice 3 lb female under a tree just circling it. I tried every soft plastic I had, even dropping it on its head & still no reaction?

OK so, I know that the fish I caught was showing spawning type behavior. But what about the cruisers & the big female just sitting there? :-?

Just because you did not see a bed does not mean there was not one there. Also they may have already spawned if the conditions were right and were protecting fry. At both time they can be unpredictable.

My guess is that a good amount of fish in that area are preparing to spawn and thus, have rearranged their priority lists temporarily (feeding is not currently at the top of the list).

Is the water very clear?  I tend to find more skittish bass in clear water.

If the sunfish are spawning as well, could be some post spawn fish looking for a nice meal. When you find a bunch of sunfish beds, look on the outskirts....you'll normally see a nice size bass lurking around. IMO

PS...sounds like you may have bass in different stages of the spawn as another poster said.

This pond doesn't usually have very clear water. But yesterday it was the clearest I have ever see it.

The cruising bass didn't seem to be chasing bluegill. All the pairs or small groups of LMB I saw were always very close to where blue gill were. Some of the blue gill looked like they were on a spawning bed .

Maybe I should have tried a bluegill pattern crank bait?

Without more info, hard to tell... My guess is the bass were guarding beds, with the bluegill waiting nearby for a possible chance to raid the nest.  That's what I would say after hearing a bass circling around like that.  If you pull those bass off the beds with the gills right there, you can bet the nest will be raided. 

This pond doesn't usually have very clear water. But yesterday it was the clearest I have ever see it.

The cruising bass didn't seem to be chasing bluegill. All the pairs or small groups of LMB I saw were always very close to where blue gill were. Some of the blue gill looked like they were on a spawning bed .

Maybe I should have tried a bluegill pattern crank bait?

If you see a bass going in circles and they are chasing bluegills there is a bed nearby and he/she is guarding it. Bass on the beds that are "skittish" usually mean they haven't "locked on". The nest is built, but the eggs haven't neccesarily been layed (one opinion). On the other hand, if you see a bass "lingering" on the outskirts of several sunfish beds, not chasing them, there is a pretty good chance the bass is waiting to ambush one of the bluegills. I have been using a 1/4-3/8 oz. "blugill" pattern jig I have a guy make for me. The bass ATTACK it on the beds and else where!!! Good luck!!!

Alan (bassnajr)

PS...bass that are just "cruising" I have found are very difficult to catch...they just don't seem interested....JMO.

HI Guys,

I went fish this morning. Saw 5 or 6  bass cruising around again. I also could see these 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 LMB guarding fry.  It was really cool to see what everyone had posted about cruising fish. If I didn't have my polarized glasses with me I would have never seen the big ball of fry & LMB circling around them chasing off the blue gill. I tied on a bluegill pattern spinner bait from Strike King, which worked really well! ;D

With 'gills on the beds now, you are at the end of the LM spawn. Some males still guarding eggs/fry. Females done and now hunting. Might be a few females still hanging out at occupied beds, or looking for a receptive male.

Ditto what Bassnajr said about 'gill colonies.

Bluegills are faster than bass. If they chased every one they saw, they'd die of starvation. They are looking for the right opportunity. They know it when they see it.

Tip: Lures do not look like food to a bass very often.