Be Patient with Bedding Bass

Probably the biggest reason why some anglers don’t catch bedding fish is that they lack the patience that’s often necessary. They might think, Well, that fish just isn’t ready to be caught, but a lot of guys miss fish that are actually catchable. They make a few casts, the fish runs off and the anglers move on too. Usually the whole deal falls apart because the approach is all wrong in the first place.

When I see a bass on a bed that’s worth spending some time with, I’ll ease up and stay as low as possible to the fish. Then I’ll make a long cast beyond the bed and drag the bait into it. I’ll let it die or suspend it and watch how the fish reacts. If the bass acts like it’s uncomfortable and wants to leave, first I’ll try moving the boat off to one side or the other ­– if possible – and will present the bait from a different angle. If the fish still acts fidgety, I leave and come back later. Before I go, though, I’ll make note of some features that will tell me exactly where the bed is without having to see it. When I return, I make a few blind-casts at the bed and change the angle of the cast.

Sometimes a different angle isn’t as important as a different bait color and bait size. Depending on the fishery, a big swimbait or jig might work. At other times a smaller Texas-rigged creature bait or lizard will get inhaled. I’ve heard people claim that loud colors are best for bedding fish, but I haven’t found that to be so. Natural colors have always worked better for me.

There is no ideal bedding area in most lakes. It depends on what the bass have to work with. One thing is for sure, if there are some big shallow flats with vegetation and sandy bottoms, you can bet everybody else is going in there looking for beds.

Look for fish where other fishermen might not look because they’re not so obvious, and make sure you’re wearing a good pair of sunglasses when you do. I like green-mirrored Costa del Mar sunglasses for when it’s bright and sunny with a glare on the water, and silver mirror or smoke-colored for when it’s overcast.