There is no secret that the best place to fish for spawning bass in lakes is in the shallows. Bass will be positioned in areas such as the backs of creeks, coves, gravel flats and sandy openings around shoreline vegetation.
In these shallow areas of lakes, you can sight fish for spawning bass either from a boat or the bank. Approach carefully and maneuver cautiously in these shallow areas as you can and will spook bass right off the beds if you are careless. Another consideration when fishing for spawning bass are the regulations on your lake and the impact catching spawning bass may have. Definitely reeling in a large female from her bed will disrupt her spawning cycle.
However, as long as that fish is returned after caught, she will return to her pre-catch spawning activities. Additionally, some lakes and even entire states have restrictions on specifically targeting spawning bass on beds. Not to worry, there are alternative places during the largemouth bass spawn to catch fish. Most anglers believe that there is only one place to find bass during the spawning season, as described above. However, one of the greatest misunderstood largemouth bass spawning facts is that they can only be found in shallow flats during the spawn.
Of course, the largemouth bass spawn will drive fish shallow but not all bass in an entire lake will be in that single spot. In fact, there are two other spots to target when fishing for spawning bass on lakes. The first place you can find fish during the spawn in transitional areas. Transitional areas are distinct and well-defined places on the lake where deeper water meets shallower water. Look for depth changes well over feet in a short distance. Although most anglers will focus on shallow water during the bass spawning season, these transitional zones hold bass that are either not spawning yet or are using the area to feed.
Fish these spots throughout the day as bass will often move to and from these transitional areas over the course of the day. The second place that holds fish during the largemouth bass spawning season are places with dense cover adjacent to open shallow water. Bass use these areas to feed aggressively just prior to spawning. Large sunken brush piles, large underwater boulder outcrops and dense submerged shorelines are all ideal places for fishing for spawning bass on lakes.
It is also worth noting that these same areas are also productive spots for post-spawn bass fishing to catch bass moving out of spawning grounds and kicking it back into feeding mode.
Catching spawning bass comes down to two basic strategies. Which one you use depends on which spots you are fishing for spawning bass. If you are targeting spawning bass on beds, these are the best bed fishing baits to throw.
If you fish near heavy cover your tippet should test not less than 5 kilograms. Largemouth bass have big mouths and prefer eating large prey, so use 2 to 8 flies that imitate aquatic creatures like dragonfly nymphs there are dozens of patterns , baitfish the Muddler Minnow and Strip Leech are good choices and frogs. Poppers also work well in low light, and the surface take of a large bass as the sun sets is always a memorable event!
There are many inland waters public and private dams, lakes and rivers across South Africa that offer excellent fishing for largemouth bass. These are too numerous to mention here. For advice on the best waters in the province you intend fishing, consult a national bass angling magazine or make contact with the local chapter of SA Bass or a good dedicated fishing tackle shop.
Biodata Range: The smallmouth is native to the eastern seaboard of North America, but it inhabits cooler waters than largemouth bass. It was first brought to the Jonkershoek hatchery in Stellenbosch in for angling purposes, and was then stocked in selected waters elsewhere in the country.
The most successful stockings have been in Western Cape rivers, where the bass have adapted so well that they have virtually decimated the indigenous fishes of the fynbos region. Size and Weight: Although it grows more slowly than largemouth bass, it can still attain 40 centimetres and 1 kilo after three years in productive waters. Habitat: The smallmouth is also very structure-orientated, and is particularly partial to rocky reefs and ledges because of the abundance of crabs, aquatic insects and minnows in these places.
During summer, fish in stillwaters seek the comfort of the cooler water below the thermocline which is usually from 2 to 3 metres below surface. Behaviour: The smallmouth bass is also territorial and preys on smaller fishes, frogs and aquatic insects. During warmer months, it is commonly active in early morning and late afternoon. It is bolder than the large-mouth, and often approaches divers doing fish-survey work in the clear Western Cape rivers.
The smallmouth breeds in spring, usually 2 to 3 weeks earlier than its largemouth brethren. The male guards the nest and fry. It is an excellent gamefish that readily take patterns intended for yellowfish and it is also provides very good eating, and is more tasty than the largemouth. Season: The best times to catch smallmouth bass are in spring and autumn; in summer focus on early mornings and late afternoons.
Smallmouth bass prefer cooler water, so expect good catches in winter too. It stands to reason that you should focus your efforts where there is an abundance of rock. In the absence of any surface activity, start with an intermediate line. Smallmouth are easily caught on a well-presented fly and I have had fish on, then lost them, only to catch them several casts later with signs of hook damage on the jaw.
Cast towards the structure and allow the fly to sink, watching the fly line closely in case of a take on the drop. When the fly reaches the target zone start retrieving it in short strips.
Of course, this is directly related to water temperature as well, as the water is much warmer in Florida in February, then Minnesota, obviously.
Moon Phase The most controversial spawning factor, where there is some disagreement among seasoned anglers, is moon phase.
Some will swear that the full moon after the first solid warming trend in spring, will bring a big wave of spawners to the shallows. There is a lot of evidence to back this up, at least when it comes to large fish being on beds and more readily caught.
Records seem to indicate that the largest bass of the season come on full moons when bass are spawning, with the second most being caught around the new moon phase during the spawn. The spawn is a really fun time to be on the water. Get a good pair of polarized glasses and cruise the shallows. You might stumble on your next personal best!
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