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Will bass make new beds every year or ever use any from the previous spawn?
Just curious....hit Lake Tapps again today and saw a few beds but
no fish on them yet.

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Comment by Mike Bess on May 20, 2009 at 11:06am
One of the coolest things I've ever seen was watching about a 40+ inch Musky munch on a 14-16inch sucker. It had it side ways in its mouth and it looked like a shark attack because of all the blood in the water. It was grinding it into the bottom for a while, then slid off to the side of the boat, flipped the fish around head first and swallowed it.
Comment by Kevin Bye on May 20, 2009 at 9:00am
Thanks for all the information folks. There seems to be a large collection of suckers.
While fishing with Todd on Sunday,we saw plenty....then saw a musky on the hunt for them,maybe this would explain why they weren't smacking our baits.
Comment by Mike Bess on May 19, 2009 at 3:43pm
FYI Todd- the fish you were seeing the other day are Largescale Suckers not Pikie Minnows. They have been in Tapps for a long time but I've been seeing more than usual. Yes, Pikies would be a huge problem considering they prey on all smaller fish and are similar to a squaw fish. Now that I think about it, I believe they are one in the same.. I have never seen the LS sucker cause a problem with eating egg out of beds especially smallie beds. I have noticed that the suckers tend to spawn in areas of the lake that the bass don't use to spawn, plus they would get their A$$ kicked by the smallmouths.
Comment by Mike Bess on May 19, 2009 at 12:19am
Todd, don't know how to answer your post without coming across as a knowitall but while not all of the fish have spawned yet a good many have. In fact I was out the other day and a friend of mine spotted a LM on a bed. A male that looked as though he was guarding eggs. You would be surpised in what type of weather patterns they will do their thing in.
D
Comment by Keith Brooks on May 18, 2009 at 7:15pm
It is very common to see bass bedding in the same location year after year. If you see beds this time of year but do not see fish assume they are near. Often bass will move off the beds due to weather changes, especially cold fronts that drop water temps. If you fish adjacent cover you will probably find them feeding up getting ready to lock on... I usaully look to the deeper ends of docks or any near by weed edge.
Comment by Roy E. Hawes on May 18, 2009 at 4:57pm
even if you dont see them on beds, you mihgt want to flip a few times on them anyways...and then watch the surrounding areas for movement. A lot of times if they aren't fully committed, they will be just off the bed or in the nearest cover near the bed.
Comment by Todd Reis on May 18, 2009 at 4:40pm
Mike,
I do not think the bass have spawned yet on Tapps. I've been fishing the lake since the end of March and early April. There have not been any fish on or even near the "old spots" from last year..yet. Though I will say the bass are starting to come up onto the flats and are in the "near vicinity" of those beds. What I did see yesterday with Kevin are a great number of Pikies Minnows in the shallow bays and where I have seen Smallies before. That is very concerning to me..for one, they are not going to allow those bass back and 2, they are using those "old beds". There are tons,pods i guess of those suckers, pikies whatever you want to call them in that lake right now.And when they spawn you'll have 3 times the pop you have right now...
What I would like to see and hear is that those Tiger fisherpersons that are taking the over 50 inch fish out of the lake to eat.Don't take them.I've heard that there have been a couple taken in the last few weeks. Not sure if I believe it or not. But if those predators are being taken then you can see what is or what has been happening..a over abundance of Pikies.Which will obliterate the whole population of bass,trout,kokes,silvers and panfish and essentially will take over the lake.
So to Musky fisherpersons I am asking you,don't take those Tigers. They are there for a purpose. Those "big fish" eat the bigger pikies.
And in turn those bass will be able to come back to those beds and there will be a better bass population for you bass guys and girls..Thanks
Comment by Mike Bess on May 18, 2009 at 9:49am
Kevin,
Those beds you are seeing empty are for a reason- I'm pretty sure they are done spawning. Ron is right they will use the same areas year in year out. There are some areas on Tapps, even the exact bed location that have fish on them every year. In fact I have 10-15 beds that have I believe the same fish on it every year. Now in other lakes (WA) there were areas that I fished years ago that had spawning fish, but now they don't. Why, who knows. Maybe pressure or something I haven't thought of. Ron???
Comment by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on May 17, 2009 at 11:10pm
They will use the best bed location every year which means yes they will use the same part of the bottom every year, but they make a new nest the old one's usually gone a week after it's vacated.
Comment by P.J. Koshi on May 17, 2009 at 9:53pm
I have read many times that bass if possible will return to the same bed location as the previous year. If it is impossible to build a bed at the location of the previous one they will undoubtly find a new spot to spawn. They have something biological similar to a Salmon that sends them in that direction, but Marc or Ron could probably give you a more detailed scientific answer.

PJ

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