We are going to have to see some pictures in order to diagnose the issue with those two bass. Thanks for sharing with us
re: Two 10+ Pounders
re: Two 10+ Pounders
I won't say where or how, but the darndest thing happened on Friday. While fishing, I made a long cast of about 30 yards to bring a lure through what looked like an ambush point. There was a big swirl. Ten minutes later, I landed a 10.4# Largemouth.
Here is the thing: while I brought the fish near the bank, we noticed a second, slightly larger bass in the water. It was following the hooked fish around. Later, the two fish were spotted together again. Both were females, both were large, and both were cruising the same area (a drop off near a channel, not a nesting area), as if in a school. I had always assumed the big fish were loners.
The second fish was later caught, and weighed 11 lbs.
Does anyone have an explanation for this behavior?
Hank
I won't say where or how, but the darndest thing happened on Friday. While fishing, I made a long cast of about 30 yards to bring a lure through what looked like an ambush point. There was a big swirl. Ten minutes later, I landed a 10.4# Largemouth.
Here is the thing: while I brought the fish near the bank, we noticed a second, slightly larger bass in the water. It was following the hooked fish around. Later, the two fish were spotted together again. Both were females, both were large, and both were cruising the same area (a drop off near a channel, not a nesting area), as if in a school. I had always assumed the big fish were loners.
The second fish was later caught, and weighed 11 lbs.
Does anyone have an explanation for this behavior?
Hank
1 - 20 of 47 Posts
I never hit the water without a camera for this reason! 
congrats, henry. i know details, so can vouch for your story! but i didn't know about the 2nd big fish until i saw your report this morning. very, very cool. // joel
I have photos. But it's a private lake and I'm keeping it low key for the owner's sake. I'll say this much: the lake is stocked with trout, so the bass are getting plenty of protein.
And besides, you don't need photos to answer the question: do large females work in pairs/schools? I've never seen it before.
Joel: I just found out about the 2nd big fish today. The angler who witnessed my fish landed the 2nd one after I left. The property manager was there.
H
And besides, you don't need photos to answer the question: do large females work in pairs/schools? I've never seen it before.
Joel: I just found out about the 2nd big fish today. The angler who witnessed my fish landed the 2nd one after I left. The property manager was there.
H
I always thought the females stage together during prespawn before making the move to the shallows??not an expert but I always thought this..im sure because of the cold weather we experienced this spring there will be many late bloomers!
dang man two 10 pounders! all I can say is wow..Im glad you took pics and I respect that you want to keep them confidential..congrats!
dang man two 10 pounders! all I can say is wow..Im glad you took pics and I respect that you want to keep them confidential..congrats!
Thanks man. Well, it isn't a total secret. Some detective work would yield a result.
I agree about the weather playing a role. I can't remember a season when the big spawners were this active - and shallow - late in the year. Usually, they become rare after the spawn, but it seems lots of fish have not yet spawned. This pair were behaving like pre-spawn, schooling fish, while other bass I caught that day were on or near beds, or even off them.
I agree about the weather playing a role. I can't remember a season when the big spawners were this active - and shallow - late in the year. Usually, they become rare after the spawn, but it seems lots of fish have not yet spawned. This pair were behaving like pre-spawn, schooling fish, while other bass I caught that day were on or near beds, or even off them.
I caught a 6.7 and 8.7 females I am assuming back in March on back to back casts from same bank position however one cast was toward say 10:00 and other 2:00 positions.
No way to take pics without revealing the lake? Nice catches for sure and sounds like trout are feeding the girls nicely
No way to take pics without revealing the lake? Nice catches for sure and sounds like trout are feeding the girls nicely
I caught a 6.10 pounder 3 weeks ago that had no belly whatsoever..a week later my buddy caught a 7.6 near the same area with no belly..had me thinking that they weren't even staging yet and the cold weather had them lethargic..I know usually after they drop their eggs they get like that but I was thinking due to the cold weather there was no way that was the case..
I did some bassin over the weekend and got some possible bucks in the shallows..they were dark and beefy but small..1.5-2lbs..but they were all over the shallows..
I did some bassin over the weekend and got some possible bucks in the shallows..they were dark and beefy but small..1.5-2lbs..but they were all over the shallows..
Nice job....
seen big females cruise around together ALOT......first place I ever recall seeing it was in the 80's at a place called Crutchfields....Nats dad will know that spot. .....13lber has come from that pond and several 10 plus and you could watch some of them cruise around. getting them to hit was another story. Got a quarry I fish and you can see them as well.... seen it in a few other places as well.
I don't have an explanation for it other than females like to gather and gossip....."did you hear that ole roy fell for Macks spinnerbait, dumb ole roy"
seen big females cruise around together ALOT......first place I ever recall seeing it was in the 80's at a place called Crutchfields....Nats dad will know that spot. .....13lber has come from that pond and several 10 plus and you could watch some of them cruise around. getting them to hit was another story. Got a quarry I fish and you can see them as well.... seen it in a few other places as well.
I don't have an explanation for it other than females like to gather and gossip....."did you hear that ole roy fell for Macks spinnerbait, dumb ole roy"
I've seen some pics/ stories of multiple large females hitting the same a rig or swimbait. Heard of guys getting 40+ lb limits on the same spot as well.(out west)
LOL i was about to say the same thing...We are going to have to see some pictures in order to diagnose the issue with those two bass. Thanks for sharing with us
Have seen more than one large female near one nest several times. They will spawn in other male's nest as well.
I read somewhere that sometimes big females do hang out together, at least sometimes. I think it was by a guy that studies big bass that they tag and track in Texas.
On at least five occasions I have seen a school of big females (3- 6 fish all huge) prior to spawn together. Often they have been doing an unusual behavior or rubbing on tree limbs that were in the water. They would all be swimming and rubbing up on the limbs and almost doing circles ( or rolling ) on the limbs. I was told by somebody that they were "scratching" to loosen up their eggs. Maybe , maybe not but it's a real thing and it happens before the spawn. I have not had any luck getting them to hit a lure at this time though. I was up on a steep hill once looking down on a large pond in the woods and watched some monsters scratching and rolling for at least an hour. Tried weightless lizards in the tree and didn't get a nudge. I've also seen three or four huge ones an inch under the surface tight together in small cuts late winter that were maybe ten feet deep and it looked like they were just sunning. Couldn't get them to hit either.
re: Two 10+ Pounders
On many bodies of water, after they spawn, the females drop back to regain energy lost to the spawning cycle. Once recovered, they often school together to feed and regain more strength. After this schooling phase, it's on to a more summer time pattern.
It's actually not uncommon to see more schooling fish follow a hooked fish in the excitement of the feeding going on.
I suppose this schooling can take place on ponds as well as I'm lakes, there are just more fish to school in a lake and it can become quite an event!
To fish is human!
On many bodies of water, after they spawn, the females drop back to regain energy lost to the spawning cycle. Once recovered, they often school together to feed and regain more strength. After this schooling phase, it's on to a more summer time pattern.
It's actually not uncommon to see more schooling fish follow a hooked fish in the excitement of the feeding going on.
I suppose this schooling can take place on ponds as well as I'm lakes, there are just more fish to school in a lake and it can become quite an event!
To fish is human!
\\I have photos. But it's a private lake and I'm keeping it low key for the owner's sake. I'll say this much: the lake is stocked with trout, so the bass are getting plenty of protein.
And besides, you don't need photos to answer the question: do large females work in pairs/schools? I've never seen it before.
Joel: I just found out about the 2nd big fish today. The angler who witnessed my fish landed the 2nd one after I left. The property manager was there.
H
I'd love to see photos, not so I will believe, but because I rarely get to see photos of 10 pound bass. If you know how to photoshop, could you post them, but obliterate any background clues that could even remotely give away the location?
I have heard of guys in tournaments striking it rich in one little area. A buddy of mine and his partner weighed a 39 lb bag in a tournament at Harris several years ago. They caught them all in the same little area and were culling 6-7 lb fish. Its also not uncommon to have followers trying to take the lure from a hooked fish.
I have seen it in the summer as well. seen it several times in 2 mill ponds in the heat of the summer.On at least five occasions I have seen a school of big females (3- 6 fish all huge) prior to spawn together. Often they have been doing an unusual behavior or rubbing on tree limbs that were in the water. They would all be swimming and rubbing up on the limbs and almost doing circles ( or rolling ) on the limbs. I was told by somebody that they were "scratching" to loosen up their eggs. Maybe , maybe not but it's a real thing and it happens before the spawn. I have not had any luck getting them to hit a lure at this time though. I was up on a steep hill once looking down on a large pond in the woods and watched some monsters scratching and rolling for at least an hour. Tried weightless lizards in the tree and didn't get a nudge. I've also seen three or four huge ones an inch under the surface tight together in small cuts late winter that were maybe ten feet deep and it looked like they were just sunning. Couldn't get them to hit either.
Cruthfields had some BIG monster bass and the one thing that Crutchfields had that I have never seen before or since was that it was loaded with HUGE golden shiners. A lot of these shiners were over 12 inches in length and you could actually catch them on a devils horse twitched on top.
what is the connection between rainbow trout and 10+lb bass? I hear they make a hecka of a lunker! in Ca most if not all of the state record bass come from rainbow trout stocked lakesI have photos. But it's a private lake and I'm keeping it low key for the owner's sake. I'll say this much: the lake is stocked with trout, so the bass are getting plenty of protein.
And besides, you don't need photos to answer the question: do large females work in pairs/schools? I've never seen it before.
Joel: I just found out about the 2nd big fish today. The angler who witnessed my fish landed the 2nd one after I left. The property manager was there.
H
1 - 20 of 47 Posts
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