I have read alot of threads lately about bed fishing. I don't see what the point is, leave a bait on the bed and eventually it gets bit, natural insticts will not let a bass leave it alone on the nest if it's there long enough. Wouldn't it be better to leave those bedding fish alone in hopes of a more successful spawn?

To each their own, I just don't see the fun in it.

To each their own, I just don't see the fun in it.

Exactly - to each their own. I can't see passing up an opportunity to catch the largest fish in the lake once it reveals itself.

Plus if you are tournement fishing it's an oppertunity to get a monster and come up in the bass fishing league.

I see your point though Short, also I really don't know if the bass even have a successful spawn if they are caught?

Do they make another bed?

My understanding of males and beds are that most male bass make the beds and the female bass can be selective as to which bed she suits best for the eggs? Maybe someone can correct me or verify this. I would think if released where he was caught he'd return to his original bed.

Sorry for the underline, my computer is messing up.

Up here, it's catch and immediate release, so any tournaments before the 3rd Saturday in June are paper only.From what I've seen, the males normally return to the nest. I sometimes see females on the nest with the males, but usually they are just outside the nest area, or cruising. If two fish are in the "act" I leave them alone. Can't bring myself to break that up, LOL.

Ya this is a "play it by ear" situation for me. As I have gotten older I defenetely tend to leave the spawning bass alone and let them do their thing. If I see a large female say 6+ I'll try for it and if I get her I let her go after a quick photo. I dont mess around with 1-3 pound males protecting their nests. I'd rather throw swimbaits and spinners for those females as they roam around for nests than to sit there for 30 minutes trying to tick her off enough to get bit. Some guys are all about sight fishing which is cool but I hate seeing people take large females from nests before they lay their eggs. Really I always hate seeing large females taken....

I know that if you catch a male he is more than likely to go back to his nest to gaurd it. I have seen this happen many times. As for females, if you let them go they can continue to spawn but it depends greatly from fish to fish. Some bass are stressed out more after a catch and wont try again, others will continue a few hours later......

Bed fishing as part of the sport is in the "eye of the beholder". I hear lots of criticism from bass fishermen if they see someone catch a bass and keep it for a meal. Yet these sport fishermen will catch a bass from the bed, destroying all the spawn or fry. In all probability, in 60 percent of cases the bass also is killed, due to its already stressed condition from the spawn and as the result of hauling it around in a bouncing boat livewell for 4 or 5 hours. There was a time when anyone catching a bass from the bed was black-listed from tournaments. Now its put fish in the boat regardless of what method you use. Money does strange things to peoples values.

I have chuckle at all the misconseptions about bed fishing

Do you mind sharing some insight about this?

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