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| Post Spawn Blues —
What to do! |
| — By Sherry D. Ruslink |
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| Post spawn
generally causes anglers to question their ability in locating and catching bass. Many
anglers are presently facing the inevitable question: where are the bass hiding? — Rest assured the bass are
there, close to their spawning flat, travelling the route they utilized to enter areas for
nesting. Post spawn is characterized by bass moving back to areas they call home. During
this time of rest and recuperation, bass show a tendency towards lethargy and inactivity,
which generally lasts about 2 weeks. Post spawn may deal anglers a low blow in catching
numbers of bass, but remember, it won't last long, and the bass will still bite. |
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| On any given lake,
not all bass are doing the same thing at the same time. Given this premise that bass have
individual biological time clocks, will help ease the blues while fishing for post spawn
bass. Starting in the upper end of lakes, bass will begin the first wave of their spawn on
the northwest sides of the lake and coves. |
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| Like a giant wave,
the spawn will creep slowly down the lake to the lower end over a period of several weeks
to a couple of months. The water temperature must be conducive to eggs warming enough to
hatch, and with that knowledge the upper ends will warm the quickest, while the lower end
will be the last area to warm enough for a spawn to take place. As well, most female bass
will not lay all their eggs in one nest with one male partner. Fear that their eggs will
be destroyed, females will wave in and out of nesting areas, mating with different males
over several weeks. Therefore, an area may have prespawn, spawn, and post spawn going on,
all at the same time. Females stage and recuperate in the same areas, which are most apt
to be secondary points right off of a creek channel that leads to a protected spawning
territory. |
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| The difference in a
prespawn and post spawn female is the activity level. Post spawn bass will not expend much
energy in chasing baitfish because they are physically spent. They will suspend in more
open water, during the transition period from post spawn to summer phases, and basically
be in an inactive state for several weeks. On the other hand, male bass have a tendency to
hang around in the shallows and feed more actively on vulnerable forage, before
transistioning to summer homes. |
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| While experiencing
post spawn in one area of the lake, try fishing other areas that might still be in
prespawn or spawn, or has transistioned from post spawn already. Prime post spawn and
transitional structure is long sloping points, humps, roadbeds ditches, and tankdams that
will serve as migratory routes for bass to travel. Stopovers from one area to another need
to have ideal cover which will serve as shade and offer them protection from other
predators. Stumps, trees, grass, ledges, tire reefs, and rocks will give bass a place of
comfort and security, and give them an advantage in ambushing their prey. |
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| While fishing for
post spawn bass may not be to the liking of most anglers, there are alternatives to the
actual post spawners, as mentioned above. Experiment a little and attempt to find what
stage of the game the bass are in, and then move to the upper end or lower end according
to the different stages until all bass are through with the 3 phases of prespawn, spawn,
and post spawn. |
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