Ohio Game Fishing banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Bed Fishing Baits?

Jump to Latest
41 - 60 of 69 Posts
#47 ·
Good stuff ncraft150 and Reel Man I did go off track a little next time I won't post anything only if it is related to first post. Thanks for the good input.

Good Luck
 
#49 ·
Just make sure it its a small bluegill. If its to big the bass will just push it away, but if its small he will eat without hesitating. And make sure you use no weights make it look as natural as possible then cast it just at or past the bed and back away about 10 feet from the shore so it dont see you and within about 10 seconds BAM!! I also tend to hook the bluegill in toward the back. Good Luck.
 
#50 ·
johnboy, i like to take the watermellon or the pumpkin seed and dip the tail and just a lil bit of the hind legs in a chartruse dye, give it just a lil more "flash"
 
#51 ·
I would also say that my favorite bed fishing bait is NONE. I would much rather get :S

The ethics of bed fishing is perfectly “on” topic in this thread. But, either way, the TOS does not require that we stay on topic within each thread. In fact, I would argue that the majority of threads stray from the original topic.

Fishing beds is far worse than just keeping your limit. I think that it is a total hypocrisy to “release” fish taken off beds in a tournament. In “releasing” the fish, the tournament can maintain a sense of ethical fishing practices (a cornerstone to bass fishing tournaments). However, it is unlikely that the fish will find their way back to the beds before it has been totally ravaged (if it ever returns). Therefore, while the adult fish was released, the FUTURE generation was destroyed with the aid of the angler. Preach catch and release, and then pull bass off the beds? I would respect the angler and tournament more if they just had a fish fry after the tournament. At least then they would be honest with themselves and everyone else. I would simply rather abstain from fishing if my only recourse was to fish beds.

Now, before I’m attacked for stating my opinion (which is fine). I’m not writing this to personally attack anyone (just attacking the practice of bed fishing). I just want to state my opinion. Many people may not realize the potential damage that bed-fishing can do to a fishery (especially an entire tournament of bed fishers). A large part of this site is education. While many may not agree with my opinion, I hope that others will at least consider the potential damage that bed fishing can do. The average catch and eat angler can only kill five bass a day……how many bass are destroyed by taking a single bass off the bed?
 
#52 ·
rooster, i understand your point...to some extent. in ohio bass are hit hard. the spawn time is hit hard, we all know this. but where i am from none of the lakes seem to be suffering. every tournament there are bags on fish weighed in over 17lbs. using poratges lakes as an exampl, that lake has 2-5tournaments on it on just about everyweek. yet people still catch fish. if the fish pops. we suffering due to bed fishing, then the numbers or size would not be there. also, and this is from personal experience, i witnessed schools of 50 + small bass swimming . i see this at every lake i go to. please support yourself and your arguement by showing me where and what fisheries are hurting due to bedfishing and only bedfishing.
 
#55 ·
There was an In Fisherman article a few years ago that was basically a biological justification for a closed bass season (during the spawn). I’m still looking for the magazine (I think that it was a bass special), and I will scan the article once it is located. They made a large distinction between the effects of bed fishing in the southern states, and bed fishing in the northern states.
 
Discussion starter · #57 ·
I'm guessing the article is going to say it effects the northern states more because the bass have a shorter growing season which takes them longer to mature. I say look at Portage Lakes for example. It gets some serious bed fishing pressure in the spawn since it is so clear and the beds are easy to spot. How many lakes in Ohio do you know of that produce quality bass consistantly like this lake does? Last weekend in a tournament it took almost 18 pounds with 5 fish to win. This bag included 2 5 pounders.
 
#58 ·
besides, why are you guys preaching? it's not like we are telling you to go and fish beds. personally, I usally don't, but will and have if i feel the need, it's my personal choice and nothing you say will persuade me to change my mind.
 
#59 ·
I understand that I’m not going to change YOUR mind, and that is not my intent. It is your choice to fish beds, and it is also your choice to practice C&R or keep a limit of bass every time you fish. However, I do hope to persuade other anglers (which may not have an opinion) that bed fishing is unethical and can have a negative influence on a bass fishery.

I’m preaching because I love to fish for bass, and want bass fisheries to be to be as close to their potential as possible. The very same reason that BASS preaches catch and release.

The In Fisherman article explained that bed fishing is more detrimental in northern lakes because of the short window of opportunity for the spawn. However, I still have not found the magazine.

I’m glad to hear that Portage Lakes is CURRENTLY a great bass fishery. However, just imagine how good it would be if nature was allowed to take its course!
 
#60 ·
If I have to fish the beds I will if that will give shot at winning a tourney I will. But I usually try to find fish that haven't or already spawned. There are always early and late spawners.
Anybody use a dropshot on the beds I seen it in Bassmaster Mag. I might try this year.
 
41 - 60 of 69 Posts
About this Discussion
68 Replies
24 Participants
Last post:
Bassnpro1
Ohio Game Fishing
posts
3M
members
65K
Since
2004
A forum community dedicated to Ohio’s fishers and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Lake Erie Fishing Reports Northeast Ohio Fishing Reports Central Ohio Fishing Reports Southwest Ohio Fishing Reports Lake Erie General Discussions