If there’s one thing consistent about the late spring/early summer period, it’s that the bass in your part of the country will probably be in some phase of the spawn. Even in the extreme south, there are likely still a few stragglers on beds this time of year, and seeing a big female bass locked on a spawning bed is like a drug to many anglers – a test of wills in its purest form. If you like sight fishing and want to take a fishing road trip – here are some of the best destinations in the world. Check one out this year. OK, so they’re not ALL lakes, but you get the point. With literally thousands of acres of shallow canals, drainage ditches, flats, and bays – the California Delta offers bass virtually unlimited amounts of suitable fish spawning habitat. Did we mention it’s also got some giant bass? Although the Delta doesn’t have super clear water, the tides and copious grass beds usually keep it clear enough to spot a giant locked on her nest. Referred to by some as Florida’s inland sea, sprawling Lake Okeechobee is only 12 feet deep at its deepest point – meaning that no matter where a bass decides to fan out a nest, you stand a good chance of seeing it.
During the spawn, 5 bass stringers over 30 pounds are common, and fish over 10 pounds are plucked off beds each year. Another southern giant, Toledo Bend Reservoir straddles the Louisiana/Texas border, and provides die-hard sight fishermen a Texas-sized opportunity at the fish of a lifetime. Toledo bend has both numbers and giants, and the water is generally clear enough during the spawn to keep a guy busy setting the hook all day long. Although not known for producing giants like the previous three, the Ozarks are an absolute blast for the sight fishing aficionado, mostly due to their super clear water and tremendous numbers of bass. Table Rock is the crown jewel of the Ozarks, and when they’re on beds in force, you can expect an almost unlimited opportunity to pole down on bass in the 2-5 pound range. It’s also possible to go for the Ozarks slam – and fool a largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass in the same day. As fun as bed fishing for largemouth is, at times it can be equally frustrating due to their propensity for refusing even the most well-presented offerings.
Smallmouth bass on the other hand are almost suicidal when spawning, which makes targeting giant Great Lakes bronzebacks a must add for any sightfisherman. Sturgeon Bay was recently voted the number one bass lake in the country, and if you want a legitimate shot at a 6 pound bronzeback – it should be tops on your list. Better known for trout fishing and potatoes, Idaho also features one of the best “hidden gem” bass fisheries in the country. Coeur d’Alene’s 25 miles of clear mountain water harbor both largemouth and smallmouth up to 7 pounds, and when they’re up shallow doing their business – it can be downright legendary. The scenery ain’t bad either – it’s nestled into the Western Rockies. Probably the least famous of all the Tennessee River impoundments, Wilson Lake makes this list for precisely that reason – you’re more likely to find a stretch of untapped spawners here than any other place in the system. It’s also got great big largemouth and an excellent smallmouth fishery.
If water clarity is decent, you’ll have ample opportunity to get your fill of bed fishing.Skip to page content VideoslSkiinglBloglTravellBookslGift VoucherslDuke of Edinburgh's AwardlShop by BrandlSign up to our emails Fishing Bivvys and Shelters Fishing Chairs, Beds and Tables Tackle and Bait Boxes Carp Bait and Boilies Rod Rests and Alarms Carp and Specialist Terminal Tackle Seat Boxes and Trolleys Match Rods and Poles Match and Pole Terminal Tackle Match and Pole Rigs Fly and Game Fishing Fly Fishing Terminal Tackle Fly and Game Fishing Tools Spin and Predator Rods Spin and Predator Reels Predator Fishing Terminal Tackle Wire Traces and Rigs Sea Fishing Terminal Tackle Sea Fishing Rigs and Trace Fishing Clothing and Footwear Fishing Shirts and Tops Fishing Kits and Bundles Match and Pole Fishing Kits Find amazing deals on a top range of fishing equipment from GO Outdoors.
From rods and reels to lines and tackle boxes - it’s all available to buy online right now. From beginner’s fishing rods that are ideal for children and beginners who are just getting into the sport, to strong and powerful professional rods capable of helping experienced anglers land the biggest catches. If it’s fishing clothing you are looking for, then GO Outdoors has a great range which includes fishing jackets from Prologic and Ron Thompson, to fishing hats, gloves, fishing socks and camouflage clothing. Our match rods and poles from the likes of Shakespeare and Leeda offer great value for money, while our floats, hooks and incredible variety of baits will ensure you stand the best possible chance of a successful day out. Buy all of your fishing equipment with confidence from GO Outdoors.Many anglers who consistently fish certain areas, prepare their own specific fishing areas by building their own crappie beds, and if you build them, they will come... Still, if you do not have the time or inclination to build crappie beds, or if you fish different areas and that makes building a crappie bed impractical, just look for the ones that nature builds!
There are many ways to build crappie beds, but perhaps the easiest, at least for temporary, short term use, is to simply submerge some brush. Tree limbs, left over lumber, etc. work well. Bait the area with some type of fabric sacking such as a gunny sack or, as my parents called them, toe sack filled with dry dog food or cotton seed meal. The reason for this is that bait fish such as minnows and other little fish are attracted to the free meal when bits seep through the fabric. The real bonus is that where you find bait fish, you will find the crappie.Once you have located a crappie bed, there are some things you need to be aware of in order to maximize your potential catch. The best hooks to use are either number 1 or number 2 brass hooks. The reason brass hooks are better are because brass hooks bend easily. If the hook gets caught up in the brush, it will bend so that you can reel it in rather than breaking your line and having to rehook. If you are in a position where you can put your boat directly over the crappie bed, do so.
If you can not, you will need to fish using a bobber, and just cast your like right into the areas in which you suspect your target lies. The trickiest part is finding the depth at which the crappie are suspended. Once you find this sweet spot, you should be able to sit there all day long and reel in slab after slab. If you are right over the bed, try attaching a little lead sinker about a foot to a foot and a half above your hook, and let it fall down to your target depth. Just change depths until you find the area the crappie are hanging, and it should hold while you catch your limit. Consider using a small buoy marker to help keep track of your spot as you drift, and remember that if you are unsure of where to find the crappie, cast in all direction, just retrieve your line slowly and stop pretty often until you hit on the area for which you are looking.Remember that crappie are social fish. They pretty much hang out together, and if you have fished in a particular area for several minutes without a bite, you probably should move on to another area, but once you have gotten a bite, chances are you will get another.