by Jake Bussolini
No matter where I turn to read fishing articles, many written by seasoned professional anglers, I keep reading how great it is to fish for bass during their spawning periods. Articles about specific tournaments nearly always reference the quality of the fishing as it relates to the spawning habits of the fish. This makes me wonder if experienced anglers are as serious about conservation and protection of the species, as they lead us to believe they are.
My belief is that we should not fish for spawning fish during the peak spawning times. The spawn is the period of time when all species of fish are preparing the crop of new fish of the future. If no spawn took place, the quantity and quality of fish would deteriorate for future years.
There are more and more scientists and conservationists writing about how the trauma of being caught, time after time, eventually makes a fish reluctant to strike out at food. Is it not safe to conclude that a female full of eggs, if caught during the spawning period, will not release as healthy crop of eggs to be fertilized by the mail of the species. Is it not safe to assume that a male, caught while preparing a nest for the female, will be less healthy and potent if he is caught during this critical period. Being caught, even if eventually released, has been proven to produce higher than previously thought level of terminal conditions for fish. A recent study published in a popular national fishing magazine indicated that the death rate of some large fish is as high as 70% after being caught and released, no matter how well the fish is handled when caught. This is an alarming number.
Of course tournament anglers love a tournament that takes place during a bass spawning period. These anglers know exactly where and when the mature fish are to be found. During the early spawn, the males are in the shallow water preparing the nest and the females are out near the drop-offs eating heavily. The male eventually bring the female in to the nest where she can be easily spotted by an experienced angler. The male fertilizes the eggs and sometimes stays around the nest guarding the eggs. The challenge of catching these spawning fish is significantly reduced during this critical period. Some anglers say that fish at these periods of the spawn are harder to catch, increasing their challenge. I say that given the choice, I have a better chance of catching a fish if I know exactly where it is located, than I do if I have to scout the fish out.
It isn’t always possible to determine exactly when the spawn occurs, but when that period is known to me, I stay away from the shallow water and leave the mature fish to create the healthy catch for the next season or two. Not fishing the spawning beds might produce smaller fish, but it might just help insure a bigger crop of fish for the future.
Jake Bussolini is a freelance writer who has published several books about freshwater fishing. His books can be viewed at Books By Jake