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Well, I was hoping to hit this lake before the smallmouth got to far along in their spawn and I was close. Water temps I found were 59-62*. The fish are definitely bedding up and while that's a bummer, it gave me an opportunity to fish for females with one of my favorite techniques:

Early in the spawn on this lake, when the bass are still getting settled but not yet committed to the bed or the act of spawning entirely, I like to cruise about the 8 foot range and spot the beds and the bass near them in and around docks. The fish protecting the bedding area/nests are usually the males, but early and for a short time after the spawn the larger females are close by! Once I spot an occupied bed I cast as close to shore as possible alongside the nearest dock with a belly weighted Zoom 6" lizard in green or pumpkinseed, I keep my rod tip high and retrieve the bait with a twitch now and then. The females are usually up under the docks in the shade and will smack them!

If I'm out by the two spawning flats/points on this lake I will fish the same lure but I will position along the grass line that starts at the edge of the two sandy/rocky spawning flats, it is very easy to see as the water goes from light to dark. I will cast from about 6ft out into the deeper water and let the bait sink on a slack line all the way to the bottom (12-18ft in spots), I will give one bump and start to slow roll it along the bottom just above the grass, this can also pick up largemouth at times although I didn't see any today. These techniques will work for the majority of the spawn, saving you the humiliation waiting in line to bonk a nested male in the head until it lashes out at your lure! :)

On that note, it's that time of year again and I know loads of people will be out nest ripping the bass.....I can accept it. I know it will never stop no matter how weak it is. Please at least do the fish a favor and STOP USING LIGHT LINE!! Good Lord, if I have to catch one more fish just to pull a strand of 6-8lb test, the lure and or the weight it's dragging around out of the fishes face! It's ridiculous. Now sure, the fish could have been lost pre-spawn and is just still sporting the tackle but I doubt it. Especially when there's zero sign of rust or age on the plastic.

Here's the thing, spawning bass could care less about you, your lure, your line, rod, reel, clothing, hook, ego etc...while it's guarding a nest and making itself vulnerable and making us all more future bass to catch, just use a soft plastic or a jig, something YOU can see, don't run anything less than 20lb test, in fact RUN BRAID! The bass is merely being aggravated and picking up the 'thing' and relocating it away from it's nest, don't believe me...get one fired up and then don't set the hook and see what happens?! Then do it five more times in a row just to be sure it wasn't a fluke LOL. The bass will swim a ways away and spit it out every time....then be sure to move along as the five+ boats behind you are awaiting their turn to be Roland Martin.

There is no need E-V-E-R to run sub 10lb test on a truly "nested" bass, smallie, largie it does not matter. Do what you want, I won't pound on anyone anymore for bed fishing, but for Pete's sake think about the poor bass during this time and its swiss-cheesed mouth and get it over with without leaving it wearing jewelry. Remember, all they are trying to do is make you more bass to catch....and for the record YES I used to love bed fishing for a few years in my 20's but it got real boring real quick and I lost interest after realizing just how devoid of skill the act is. Over the years I developed a sense of pity for the fish, that's all. And for all the people that argue "it doesn't hurt the fish" and "they swim right back to their nests", true on both counts but what's eating the eggs while they're having their photo op? how many times in one spawning season is that single fish being caught? How many people are using it as a time to harvest? Non of these things are illegal or wrong for that matter and I apologize to the people I've ripped in the past for bed fishing, I'll just turn my attention to helping them do it in a way that causes the least amount of stress for the fish and call it good...

Rant over...tight lines everyone, B8.

bothellbassman

4/18/2016 6:13:00 PM

Well said B8!
Nice lookin smallies...

bob johansen

4/19/2016 7:24:00 AM

Excellent report! I agree on the braid. I switched years ago to Power Pro Braid on both spinning gear and casting gear.

8theB8

4/19/2016 7:32:00 AM

Thanks Bothell and as always, thanks Bob.

As far as braid, I'm not talking light, 30-50lb. I used to use my flipping rod back in the day, just cut the bait off, put on something bright and have at it! It's not a question of 'if' but 'when' a bedded bass will strike and typically they are exposed so no need for jaw breaking hooksets either.

Amx

4/19/2016 7:52:00 AM

I 'like' it when I see a boat with a guy or 2 standing in the front cruising in and out of the docks just looking for beds. Once in awhile they'll make a cast. Last spring I watched a guy doing that. He made a couple casts in one spot, then moved along. As he came along side we talked, he had 1 fish, I had 3 or 4. As I moved on thru the area he'd 'fished' I caught 2 more, one a 3 lbder. As I'm sitting in the front seat I don't even see most beds, or most fish swimming along. But I still catch them, and not with a jig, worm, or dropshot type lures on that piticular day. And when I toss a worm under a dock, I'm fishing for fish, not beds, doesn't mean I never fish beds, also I use 10lb test and very seldom/been years since I broke off a fish under a dock, or bed, and that was with 6lb test in brush, yes I thought I had 10 lb on that rod, but..., so I changed to 10lb that day. That's one great thing about spinning reels, very easy and quick to change a spool with different line. :-)

Amx

4/19/2016 7:53:00 AM

A couple rods I use have 10lb test braid, a couple others have 30 and 50 lb, depending on the lure used, and where I plan to fish that lure.

8theB8

4/19/2016 7:59:00 AM

Please keep in mind I'm talking about specifically bed fishing with light line! Everybody should use whatever pound test is appropriate for a given technique but when somebody is specifically targeting bedded fish I'm saying up your line so you eliminate the risk of snapping them off as bedded fish do not care about line size.

Dan

4/19/2016 11:01:00 PM

Interesting advice about the braided line. I tried some of dat about 6 years ago on my bait caster. Stuff was unbelievable strong, cast well but between getting an occasional impossible bird's nest & having trouble getting my knots to hold, I got so frustrated I couldn't stand it. Lost more fish on the 20 lb braided due to knot issues than I ever did on 6-10 lb mono. Got any hints on brands, knots...?

8theB8

4/19/2016 11:05:00 PM

Super glue. Tie a knot and put a couple drops on. Other than that keep experimenting with knots until you find one you like. I've always used the Palomar and never had a knot failure with braid. Good luck, thanks for asking.

Jamesb

4/20/2016 8:46:00 PM

Thanks for the post anyone every get any largemouth's out of Goodwin? All I usually see are smallmouth bass photos. As for line not fishing for salmon so don't use 30lb test. I normally do top water or spinnerbaits or crank baits use 4-8lbs test is all. Never needed more around here biggest bass I have landed is 4lbs. I like small spinning reels and short rods 6ft or less as my boat isn't that big. I do toss a bait cast reel mostly with 6lb test with buzz baits, rat L traps and spinner baits. I lose a fish once in a while but more cause the knot comes undone then getting snapped off. I use my drag if I have too if I hook anything big. Good post and glad someone has time to fish during the week rest of us have day jobs.

James

Dan

4/20/2016 11:13:00 PM

There used to be some hefty largemouth bass in Goodwin. While I haven't fished it for a few years, I wouldn't be surprised if they got beat down by the Smallies. Several of my favorite Largemouth haunts (Lake Whatcom & Banks in the 80s) used to produce quite a few 5 lb+ Largies. But once the smallmouth got established the largemouth fishing went way down. Have to really work to find Largemouth on Banks & they have virtually disappeared in Whatcom (have seen only one in past 5 years). Funny how in the Midwest the seem to co-exist pretty well in many lakes. Not so much in the PNW.
Hey, bass fans, check out the classified for a couple of unique bass bar stools I have to find a new home for!

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