Largie/Smallie spawning?

[bmc]

I was out on Deer Lake, north of Deer River last Friday and did pretty well on the largemouth. No big ones though, all males in the shallows making beds. I did't see any bass that would've went over 2 lbs. I'm guessing the spawn is just starting? I also tried a couple rock piles in secluded bays with no luck for smallies, didn't even see any. I also saw a pair of muskies in the act of spawining and had a 20-25lb hit my tube bait....what a rush! I'm new into bass fishing, but got the bug bigtime! I'm strictly C & R on bass, unless I get a smallie over 20" then it's on the wall. Any thoughts on the spawning activity? I had my best luck on brown/fleck tube baits and berkley black/purple 7" power worms.

Thanks,
Brian

[This message has been edited by bmc (edited 06-10-2004).]

[Cooter]

bmc - Have found similar conditions in the Eau Claire area. Male largemouths are on beds, have seen a few bigger females shallow. Can be a great time to catch those big gals, just fish a little deeper from where the males are on beds. Also tried for smallies last week, thought the water temp. was warm enough but found none shallow. This recent cool weather and rain should delay things, I believe the best is yet to come for the smallies. Your bait selection sounds fine, but give leeches a try, especially for the smallies - they can't resist them. Fish as often as possible as the big females won't be in for long - you need to be at the right place at the right time.

[Dan Wood]

Most are done now from what I've seen. I've seen a lot of bass fry in the shallows over the past two weeks. That brief spell of warm weather finished it off for most I think.

Last weekend I saw tons of bass fry that were pretty good size (at least a week old or older). Still some fish around the nests guarding fry and all of that, but the spawn is over for the most part in the metro area. I'm sure there are lakes in the north that still have some spawn activity in progress.

[bmc]

My brother and I were back out on Deer today and had similar success to my last trip, but the fish were a little bigger! A majority of the largies we caught were in the 13-14" range, with a few smaller one's mixed in. The hot bait was a Berkley Power minnow in two tone gray color. We rigged them on a 2/0 hook and fished them jerk bait style. We also caught a few fish on a sliding sinker about 18" up from a Berkley pumpkin seed colored 7" power worm. Still no big bass seen and no smallies seen or caught either. This lake is extremely clear and deep, lots of structure too. Do largies and smallies in general, spawn around the same time? Guess I'll just have to keep going out there till the bigger bass show up. Hopefully this summer is the one for a 20" + smallie for the wall!

Brian