Catching Bass After The Spawn

After the female bass has deposited her eggs in the nest, the male will stay near the nest to protect it for about a week after spawning. During this time the male is not a feeding fish, however, he can be provoked into attacking a lure which is presented very close to the nest in a defensive effort. After spawning both the male and female become active feeders again.

An abundance of minnows and crayfish combined with sufficient cover will keep the adult bass near the spawning area for an extended period of time. With adequate food and habitat there is no need for them to leave, especially if there is deep water close by such as a creek channel or a sharp drop off. After the spawn the individual fish begin to shift into their summer rhythm. They begin to gather into schools and move from individual feeding to foraging as a school. During this time of transition a variety of bait or lures will be effective.

As the fish move away from nesting their appetite will be increased and as a result the zone in which bait will be effective will be enlarged. This is referred to as an enlarged strike area. Both spinnerbaits and buzzbaits can be quite effective during this time since the bass are more inclined to "chase" than at other times of the year. This again is the result of their increased appetite after reduced feeding during spawning. The color of the bait used should be determined by the clarity of the water. Hard or soft plastic jerkbaits also work well after spawn into early summer. Rig a soft bodied lure weedless and it can be used in the thickest of covers. This bait will also create less noise as it enters the water and can be used in a drop bait technique.

While the fish are in shallows after the spawn, topwater baits will produce well. When using a topwater bait during late spring and early summer a smaller sized lure should be used. This is because the food supply which the topwater bait mimics is still small during this time of year.

During the time following the spawn until the fish move into deeper water and adapt their summer behavior fishing can be quite exciting. It will be necessary to spend a little more time formulating your fishing strategy and refining your bait presentation. Depend upon the bass themselves to dictate your fishing technique by being aware of their varied behaviors.