I have read a couple different opinions on this, so i figured i would ask you guys; here is an example, yesterday I found a small lake where I could se tons of beds all along the edge but as I walked around the lake I realized they were all tilapia beds (aside from the fact i could see the tilapia they were perfectly round and deep which i have heard is typically not bass because they dont go deep at all and are usually semi circles, is that right?)... anyways, if I am seeing tilapia beds, should i try to find some other spot without them? I have heard that they will not be around tilapia beds because of the competition...

or if they are near the shore might the bass beds be a little deeper?

any advice or insight would be helpful, thanks in advance

No they won't bass won't even bed within sight of another bass on the bed.

So if I walk all the way around a lake and only see tilapia beds, I should assume there are not many bass in the lake?

Also, if I see two beds close together then I should assume they are not bass beds?

Thanks for the info

I find I have to fish a little deeper to find Bass when the shallows have Tilapia beds.

I always wondered how a Blue Tilapia population effects Bass. I do have my own musings though.

I figure the young Tilapia are forage for Bass. Also, I'm pretty sure they aren't competing with each other for the same food.

No they won't bass won't even bed within sight of another bass on the bed.

That doesn't always play out up here. Quality spawning grounds are at a premium on some lakes, and the beds pepper the grounds. It gets even worse when bass are done and the sunnies move in. Whole shorelines can be honeycombed. My guess is that more of our northern fish actually spawn. With a short growing season, it make sense.

I am down in Orlando, the tilapia here have pinkish/red tails, not sure if that makes a difference... some of the beds have little fish around them so I was thinking they might attract bass to eat them, but I guess if they are bedding they dont go after food a lot right?

Here's a decent article about Tilapia. Go down the page about half way and it starts to discuss Blue Tilapia.

http://cichlidworld.net/FLORDIA%20CICHLIDS.htm

I have read a couple different opinions on this, so i figured i would ask you guys; here is an example, yesterday I found a small lake where I could se tons of beds all along the edge but as I walked around the lake I realized they were all tilapia beds (aside from the fact i could see the tilapia they were perfectly round and deep which i have heard is typically not bass because they dont go deep at all and are usually semi circles, is that right?)... anyways, if I am seeing tilapia beds, should i try to find some other spot without them? I have heard that they will not be around tilapia beds because of the competition...

or if they are near the shore might the bass beds be a little deeper?

any advice or insight would be helpful, thanks in advance

Hi,

Can you please tell me where did you find the lake ? My wife want me to see if I find any place for tilapia fishing. So how shoyld I go there ?

Thanks,