Some Keys to Fishing Spawning Beds
We are moving into the spawn, and I thought I would share some thoughts on finding and fishing spawning beds. The first thing you have to do is to find the spawning areas that the bass like to bed in and that generally is shallow hard bottom areas of the lake. There is a lot of little keys to finding hard bottom areas the first being red clay banks, they generally produce hard bottom areas, as do muscle shells. Next is lily pad stems as they only grow on a hard bottom surface, and cover can also produce a hard bottom area like around tree stumps or old lay downs around banks; I've seen times when the bass actually lay out on top of the stumps.
Once you have found the correct area one of the most important things in fishing is to work your bait slow. I've seen times when I would just let a Tight-Line Jig just lay on the bottom, maybe twitch it but basically let it stay on the bottom for sometimes a minute or more. Bed fishing can be very frustrating as there are times when you can actually see the bass move in and out from the bed but never take your bait, so here is where patience is a virtue and if you were blessed with patience you can probably catch bedding fish. On Guntersville where the water is generally either muddy or dark stained it is very hard to see fish on the bed so you have to use your knowledge of the area to feel confident you're fishing a bedding area. Those of us who have fished the lake for several years have a good feel for these areas, but the bottom structure changes over time and what once was may not always be!
Lastly fish big bates in spawning beds, bass are very protective and a big bait challenges their protective nature and forces them to strike and it could be the monster you are looking for!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270