Alright, let’s talk about catchin’ them big ol’ bass, the ones they call largemouth. You know, the kind that make your heart jump outta your chest when you pull ’em outta the water. I ain’t no fancy fisherman with all them highfalutin’ gadgets, but I know a thing or two about gettin’ these fish to bite, especially when they’re beddin’.
What’s this “beddin’” all about? Well, it’s like this: them bass, they get all lovey-dovey in the spring and summer, dependin’ on where you are. The mama bass, she finds herself a nice spot, kinda shallow, maybe with some weeds or sticks around, and she makes herself a nest. That’s her bed. She ain’t lookin’ for no mattress and blankets, mind you, just a little cleared-out spot on the bottom. That’s where she lays her eggs.
Now, when she’s on that bed, she’s protective, like a mama bear with her cubs. She don’t want nothin’ gettin’ near them eggs. And that’s where we come in. We gotta use that to our advantage.
First thing’s first, you gotta find them beds. This ain’t always easy, but it ain’t rocket science neither. You gotta look for them shallow areas, like I said. Keep your eyes peeled for little clearings, maybe with a bit of a fan shape. Sometimes, you can even see the mama bass sittin’ right there on the bed, keepin’ watch.
Now, let’s talk about what kinda bait to use. Them fancy fellas, they got all sorts of crazy lures with names I can’t even pronounce. But you don’t need all that. I like to keep it simple. Soft plastic baits, that’s the ticket. Worms, lizards, them kinda things. They wiggle and jiggle just like the real deal, and that drives them bass crazy.
You can try them spinnerbaits and them chatterbaits too, the ones that make a lot of noise and flash. Sometimes that gets their attention. But honestly, I think them soft plastics work best. You can cast ’em right into the bed and let ’em sit there, twitchin’ ’em a little bit. That mama bass, she’ll see that as a threat and she’ll come right over and smack it.
- Worms: Them wiggly things, bass can’t resist ’em.
- Lizards: Look real enough to fool even the smartest old bass.
- Spinnerbaits: Good for gettin’ their attention, but maybe not the best for beddin’ bass.
- Chatterbaits: Make a lot of noise, can work sometimes.
But here’s the real secret, and listen up close ’cause this is important: it ain’t just about the bait, it’s about how you act. You can’t just go stompin’ around like a bull in a china shop. Them bass, they ain’t stupid. They see you or hear you comin’, they ain’t gonna bite. You gotta be sneaky.
Stay back as far as you can. If you gotta, mark the bed somehow, maybe with a stick or somethin’, and then make blind casts. Don’t let that mama bass see you. If she does, she’ll get spooked and she won’t bite nothin’. And don’t be makin’ a bunch of noise. Keep it quiet.
And another thing, don’t just cast right on top of her head. That’ll just scare her. Try castin’ past the bed and then slowly workin’ your bait back towards it. That way, it looks more natural, like somethin’ that just happened to wander into her territory.
Now, sometimes, them bass, they’ll just “short strike” your bait. That means they’ll nip at it but they won’t really take it. That can be frustrating, but don’t give up. Just keep tryin’. Change up your bait, change up your presentation. Sooner or later, you’ll figure out what they want.
Catchin’ beddin’ bass ain’t always easy, but it sure is fun. There’s nothin’ like the feeling of pullin’ a big ol’ mama bass outta her bed. Just remember what I told you: find the beds, use the right bait, be sneaky, and don’t give up. And most importantly, have fun out there. That’s what fishin’ is all about.
And remember one last thing. Always let the big mamas go. They got babies to look after. Keep a few of the smaller ones for eatin’ if you want, but let them big ones go so they can make more bass for us to catch later. That’s just common sense.
Tags: [largemouth bass, bass fishing, bedding bass, bass spawning, fishing tips, soft plastic baits, bass behavior, spring fishing, summer fishing]
