Throw back a 3lb male to catch a 6-7lb female while bed fishing. Was watching FLW on Okeechobie and Terry Scroggins caught a 3lbr off a bed, his first fish of day 3, and was debating on throwing it back in, thinking the female would be way too spooked to bite. He never did, or if he did I missed it.

A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. Right?

I just watched that as well, he didn't throw the male back and eventually caught the female which he estimated to be 12+! At least it looked better than 7. I guess if you can judge or know the mood of specific spawners, and you are swinging for the fences in a shoot out for 125K, why not??!!

I think I might have thrown it back in. Didn't look like he put it back in,yet still caught the female as well.

I think he said the concern was whether the released male might spook the female if he released it.

If he let him go, that didn't happen.

He didn't want to catch the male first. He thought that would spook the female. He thought by releasing the 3 back to the bed it would calm the female and possibly make her more apt to bite.

Did you see the guy (I forgot who it was) sticking sticks in the ground to mark the beds? Do you know if he stuck the stick in the middle of the bed or on the outside edge? I thought it was a pretty good idea, especially in muddy water.

i believe that was randall tharp and it didnt show if he stuck it in the middle or the outside edge. if i were to do that id put it on the outside edge just to keep the bed clear. i might just do that if the water is muddy n im bed fishin.

I did not see but the last 40 min. I do remember an old Orlando Wilson episode where someone had done the same thing. He just bed hopped someone else's milk run!

Did you see the guy (I forgot who it was) sticking sticks in the ground to mark the beds? Do you know if he stuck the stick in the middle of the bed or on the outside edge? I thought it was a pretty good idea, especially in muddy water.

That's how we always did it. It gave us something to cast at when we backed off. Then I see these guys on tv sitting there watching the fish eat their lure. Its just another way to do it. I'd rather sit there and watch them but if they're skittish its best to mark it and come back in a few minutes once they've returned. We even put bobber lights on them when spotlight beds at night.

That's how we always did it. It gave us something to cast at when we backed off. Then I see these guys on tv sitting there watching the fish eat their lure. Its just another way to do it. I'd rather sit there and watch them but if they're skittish its best to mark it and come back in a few minutes once they've returned. We even put bobber lights on them when spotlight beds at night.

do u put the stick in the bed or on the edge?

Did you see the guy (I forgot who it was) sticking sticks in the ground to mark the beds? Do you know if he stuck the stick in the middle of the bed or on the outside edge? I thought it was a pretty good idea, especially in muddy water.

It was Terry Scroggins that was marking the beds with the stick. He was actually marking that specific bed that he caught the 12+ pounder on.

But no i would not throw the male back because there is no guarantee that you will catch the female anyway and if you don't you are out 3+ pounds.

I would keep the male as long as the female is locked on to the bed. If she is spooky and coming and going I would consider releasing him.

seems like i recall from past fishing shows and maybe some older threads here is that catching the male first makes the female a lot easier to catch. and the idea behind that was the male fish wouldnt be there to protect the female from biting. so no, if i was tournament fishing, i wouldnt throw back a 3lber for no reason.

do u put the stick in the bed or on the edge?

On the edge. The challenge comes when you've marked several and can't remember which side of the bed you placed the stick.

To answer the OP's question. I would not throw the male back. That's the first time I heard of doing such a thing. Usually the male bites first and you can't get the female until he's gone. The problem you run into is when you already have a limit of fish and the male you catch isn't big enough to cull. Do you cull and lose the weight to try and get the bigger female and let him go and hope you can get the female before he gets back and frisky enough to go back after your lure?

On the edge. The challenge comes when you've marked several and can't remember which side of the bed you placed the stick.

To answer the OP's question. I would not throw the male back. That's the first time I heard of doing such a thing. Usually the male bites first and you can't get the female until he's gone. The problem you run into is when you already have a limit of fish and the male you catch isn't big enough to cull. Do you cull and lose the weight to try and get the bigger female and let him go and hope you can get the female before he gets back and frisky enough to go back after your lure?

its also my first time hearing of it. ive always heard if you get the male then its easier to get the female.

as for the sticks, always put it on the same side