Transition Bass

[TODDY]

O.K. I fished a west metro lake this past weekend. Minimal beds were seen but I started shallow anyway. It was a small lake and water temp (surface) was already at 68°. This should possibly be towards the end of the spawn, right? Well no fish were caught, or seen, shallow. Not even panfish.

Moved out to slightly deeper water, 8-13 ft. Some weeds but not any sort of distinct edge to help concentrate fish. No deeper fish marked thinking the sunfish may be out here and hoping the bass would follow. TOUGH BITE to say the least. I tried a lot of different things. What techniques do you guys use when fish seem to disappear?

Thanks!

TODDY (Frazzled)

[Deitz Dittrich]

Just because the water temp was 68 deosnt mean that they are post spawn. The water temp JUMPED up this year when we had those two days in a row that were near 100 degrees.. it takes a few days at mid to upper 60's to get the bass in full spawn mode.

[Moe Szyslak]

Up north this last weekend we fished a small lake, 66-68 degrees and a few beds but no one home. Moved to adjacent lake which was at 70 degrees and beds galore. Could have thrown a bare hook in the lake and caught fish.

[EBass]

Quote:

Up north this last weekend we fished a small lake, 66-68 degrees and a few beds but no one home. Moved to adjacent lake which was at 70 degrees and beds galore. Could have thrown a bare hook in the lake and caught fish.

Same deal for us up narth, but we went to the river instead of another lake and I caught a rock bass. BOO! This has been a sorry opener for me. Oh and I broke my crankbait rod:(

[Tim_Anderson]

We did really well fishing extremely shallow. The bass were in 18" of water or less. I did not see one bass on a bed. Those that we caught were skinny and beat up looking. They were cruising and chasing minnows. It was a challenge fishing that shallow with a big heavy boat and it took everything the Terrova had to move me at times! I tried deeper water all the way out to the breakline with no results. Scum frog was the ticket. Great topwater fun!

[RonWBasser]

Last year in north central MN where I am it was June 10th before the bass really showed up on beds. Water had been in the mid 60's for awhile but it took a surface temp of 70 before they were really on beds. Those rockbass are also on beds around the same time so bed size is important. The basketball size ones are rockys usually. The 2 to 3 footers are bass.

[Branta Bros.]

Scum frog was the ticket. Great topwater fun!

I AGREE!!!

[TonkaBass]

Not too shabby branta... you like that feathered tail huh!

[Branta Bros.]

yeah, I picked it up from this guy that I know....He's just a weekend angler tho.

[ShoreGuy1984]

There is a spot, that I fish from shore, where I can see down into the water quite will. I was at this spot today and noticed a Bass swimming and hovering over two beds. The two beds were about 4 feet apart from one another. Did this male Bass have two beds? I always thought they only had one.