pipsi
Junior Member
Posts: 37 
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Post by pipsi on May 19, 2020 6:57:49 GMT -5
Went to Struble with a buddy for a few hours. Only a few crappie fisherman on the lake. I was targeting bass so no competition is always a good start tot the day. Used my new Garmin fish finder which was fun to play with. Water temp was around 64* for most of the lake. Bottom was very flat and the deepest spot I went over was 12'. Anyway I work the bank with no success until I hit the riprap in the back and caught a nice 4lb bass on a rapala 6-10' diving crankbait. I hit the riprap 3 more times with multiple baits and no other hits. Continued trying the bank and my buddy caught a small bass on a jig. I then got about a 3lb bass on a spinnerbait in about 3 feet of water a good 20 feet off the bank. She was definitely getting ready to spawn. I started to fish more in that 3 foot water column and caught a nice 4.5lb maybe even 5lb bass. She was super fat and loaded with eggs. No other hits after that. Fished 3 hours and caught 3 big bass so a good day. Hopefully this warm weather has turned the corner for fishing.  |
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Post by Me on May 19, 2020 7:33:06 GMT -5
you really shouldn't be targeting spawning bass, I know it's fun and all. but chances a bass returns to it's bed are low if they get stressed out from a catch. Just a little heads up.
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pipsi
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by pipsi on May 19, 2020 12:56:30 GMT -5
I appreciate the feedback but I wasn't targeting spawning bass. I was fishing 3 foot of water with low visibility so I couldn't in any way see them. This fish definitely had not spawned yet.
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Post by MasterBaiter on May 19, 2020 15:43:30 GMT -5
As many studies have shown, targeting spawning bass has minor impact on spawning success which is why most of the big time southern bass states have no problem with bed fishing. As long as proper care is taken for the fish just do it anyway. PA laws are behind the curve on this one. Anyway, quality day looking for big prespawn females, nice fish Pipsi!
Note: yes, technically in PA it is illegal to cast to a fish while on a bed, so watch your back if you do!
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pipsi
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by pipsi on May 19, 2020 16:11:25 GMT -5
Thanks for helping clarify the issue. How many fisherman do you think have been caught "targeting" spawning bass? It seems impossible to police such a thing. Like I said these fish were 20 feet off the bank so think they were prespawn. Usually those spawners are much tighter.
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Post by icemole on May 19, 2020 17:36:54 GMT -5
Like many of our laws we are supposed to self regulate... which goes out the window when someone sees a 3lb or better bass on a bed. We are supposed to catch and "immediately" release any bass caught yet guys will fuddle around for 10-15mins snapping pictures and weighing fish even 1lbers. IDK if they still do it but there were guys running kayak tourney's during the C+R season which is a clear violation of the "no tourney" rule in the book - claimed it didn't apply to them ?
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Post by afishinado on May 20, 2020 7:59:53 GMT -5
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