I've heard of this, yet witnessed it for the 1st time yesterday. Amazing to see,but even worse to be fishing during it! Water temps were in the 62-63* range, w/SM on newly made beds in extremely shallow water.

The beds were only on the N-W side of the pond, which leads to to believe it was because that side of the pond recieves the most sunlight throughout the day.

The SM were breaking the surface all over the pond when I launched and the water was like glass! I thought they were all smashing the bugs I saw ontop. As the day wore on, I noticed these itsy-bitsy fry just under he surface, which were at the most a 1/2 an inch long,no wider than a 4/O hook, and blue-ish in color. Then realized that's what the SM must have been banging. I then started to wondered what they could possibly be at that size, and what hatchs this late in the year? A light wind started @ about 5mph and all the SM disappeared. Saw some huge cruirsers in the 6lb range as well as having some of the biggest SM I've ever seen following the 6" Hudd, in Holdover Trout. Unfortunatley, NO TAKERS! :-/ A very befuddling day! Yet, a great learning experience!

Hmmmm...I've heard people talk of fall spawning bass but I've never seen it nor have I heard of any "official" documenting of it. I've seen 3" fingerlings, too early in the spring to be spring hatched and always wondered about them. Some spring spawning species have had fall spawning individuals documented -rainbow trout, chain pickeral, and green sunfish.

How sure are you that they were beds, and not just fish resting on clear bottom patches? The fry could be sunfishes as many do spawn late in the year. I commonly find very small 1+" sunfish in early spring. It's a wonder they survive the winter, but obviously some do.

How sure are you that they were beds, and not just fish resting on clear bottom patches?

This lake is like fishing in the Bahama's. Perfect teal water and I have been there in the spring when they spawn and it is very hard to mistake a bed for something else. And they are smallie beds so it is bright bright white in teal water. There is no mistaking a bed in that lake.

Hmmmm...I've heard people talk of fall spawning bass but I've never seen it nor have I heard of any "official" documenting of it. I've seen 3" fingerlings, too early in the spring to be spring hatched and always wondered about them. Some spring spawning species have had fall spawning individuals documented -rainbow trout, chain pickeral, and green sunfish.

How sure are you that they were beds, and not just fish resting on clear bottom patches? The fry could be sunfishes as many do spawn late in the year. I commonly find very small 1+" sunfish in early spring. It's a wonder they survive the winter, but obviously some do.

Though I'm just a novis fisherman, I'm versed enough to know I bed when I see one. As Tin stated, in this body of water you can see the bottom iin 15' of H20. The SM were in 1'- 4' of water w/beds being 3' in diamater, and cleared of all silt w/small stone and gravel. Here you can see beds 30 yards away and where I posted all the pic'e of SM in the Spring. Bounced everthing from drop shots,1/6oz jigs, craws and swimbaits etc...off them. The same lures used in the Spring spawn that will fill the boat w/ 80lbs and some of the most aggressive SM I've ever caught, up to 75 & 80lbs a day! It was just like in the spring when they're not interested in anything but a male When they wouldn't budge,we pulled the boat over the top of them to be sure. Some of these SM where in the 5 and 6lb range. No mistaken the black lined tail of a SM.

Someone who knows the lake well pm'd me about the fry, which were Rainbow Smelt and the reason this body of water produces fish in the 8lb catagory

Interesting!

Nice hat Indiana. ;D

How do you know that's a small mouth bass?

Muddy,

I've mistaken pale patches with bass on 'em as bass beds before -pale algae or sand patches, or muskrat excavations, that required that I get right over them to be sure. My question was legitimate. It's an interesting topic, and one I've heard of before but never seen, or seen documented in the literature I've read. I was not disrespectful of Brainwashed in any way, and from his response I don't think he thought so either.

So, what's YOUR beef? Are you feeling the need to pick on me -again? It's not well disguised by humor. You've chased me around here, on and off, since day one. Is that starting up again? Really, what's your beef with me?

Paul , was the questione directed at you or someone else ?

I'm the one who questioned whether those might be beds or not. There are no other questions, and very few posters, in the thread.

What do you make of Muddy's question? Where was it directed? What does it mean?

Muddy,

I've mistaken pale patches with bass on 'em as bass beds before -pale algae or sand patches, or muskrat excavations, that required that I get right over them to be sure. My question was legitimate. It's an interesting topic, and one I've heard of before but never seen, or seen documented in the literature I've read. I was not disrespectful of Brainwashed in any way, and from his response I don't think he thought so either.

So, what's YOUR beef? Are you feeling the need to pick on me -again? It's not well disguised by humor. You've chased me around here, on and off, since day one. Is that starting up again? Really, what's your beef with me?

No disrespect taken what's so ever Paul. In fact, It gave me another reason to post up another beauty SM Nor do I believe Muddy's crack was directed at you. Just Muddy being Muddy! ;D

Nice hat Indiana. ;D

Juuuuuuuust go put some more ointment on your crotch, 3 hole!;D

 Let's see; You ask him if he is sure that he is seeing and fishing a false spawn situtation. along with his answer he posts a Smaillie about 4 ounces short of Moby Dick. That interchange and response was what I ws poking fun at, his answer was more humerous than what I posted BACK TO HIM

 I do not do the passive/agressive thing I am more of the to the heart of the matter kind of mook. If you do not wnat me posting anything where you do say the word and it's done.

PS If you want to know I am chasing Russ and all his RI swimbaiting RI Crew all over, as I have been PM'ing him and 4 bizz with the intent of getting a swimbait thing going next spring. So I follow most of what these fellas post.They are catching some of the better fish on the boards.

Well, I'm confused, and somehow out of the loop here. Sorry...I think...to be so touchy.

If you want to know I am chasing Russ and all his RI swimbaiting RI Crew all over, as I have been PM'ing him and 4 bizz with the intent of getting a swimbait thing going next spring. So I follow most of what these fellas post.They are catching some of the better fish on the boards.

NO! Not another brainwashed soul!

Well, I'm confused, and somehow out of the loop here. Sorry...I think...to be so touchy.

Clear your mind and step back , there was nothing directed at you. We all stick our foot in our own mouths from time to time. I know I have swallowed my foot numerous times.