We fished for the bass on the beds at Lanier but let them go as soon as I took a couple of pictures. There is not law against trying to catch bedding bass, even if you plan to keep them. Is it unethical? A Georgia Fisheries Biologists in Georgia Outdoor News says it does not hurt the bass population, even if you keep the big ones.
Fishing for bedding bass is a decision a fisherman must make for himself. If you decide to try for them, you can either let them go immediately, which means they will probably return to the bed, or you can keep them. Check the information available and decide.
If you do decide to fish for them, the trick my partner used Saturday will work for you. When we saw a bed he would throw a white "Getitz" into the bed and let is sit there. Often the bass would circle it and make a run at it before hitting it. He kept one rigged and ready on a spinning rod with ten pound test. The Getitz was rigged Texas style with a 4/0 hook and a 1/8 the ounce slip sinker.
The biggest bass was bedded just off the bank in front of a bush. When my partner threw to it, his line looped over a limb on the bush. The Getitz barely touched the water an the fish exploded on it, almost coming out of the water to eat it. She put up a good fight although he landed her as quickly as possible.
A jig and pig is also a good choice to catch bedding bass. Let it sit in the bed like a crawfish eating eggs until the bass can not stand it any more. This type fishing takes patience. Several years ago in a club tournament my partner and I cast to two bedding bass for almost three hours. He finally got the big female, which looked like she weighed over 10 pounds, to suck in a top water Rapala. The hook pulled out almost as soon as he hooked her and she went right back to the bed by a stump.
A little later I decided to buzz a Rat-L-Trap by her, trying to make here mad enough to hit. I thought I hooked the stump when it stopped in the water and did not realize the fish had hit it until she jumped, throwing my lure back at me. The fish was still by the stump when we left!
Consider all your options. Let me know what you think about fishing for bedding bass.? Give us your report, or for more information, go to the bulletin board or contact me at fishing.guide@about.com. Send me your email address for a newsletter about upcoming articles, fishing facts and internet info.
