Prepping for September

WalterK · 08-08-2018, 08:44 PM

OK, so it has been a long wait for September to finally get here.
I believe that the Bass start to spawn in September, so it is time for me to start to prepare.

I have done the basic hardware prep by re-spooling, and cleaning the reels and rods. I have serviced the outboard, started it and made sure that it is ready for the season. I have a fresh COC. My flotation is current and I am ready to go.

Now this is were this forum comes in to play.

What does spawning mean to me?
Is this when I irritate a bass by buzzing the nest so that they attack my lure?

How do I locate a nest?
Is this a visual identification, or can a fish finder be of use?

Does your fishing style differ during spawn ?
If so, how?

When does spawn end ?
What do we do after spawn?

Guys, I really need to catch a few fish this season.
Any help will be appreciated.

Jim_From_Zim · 08-09-2018, 06:10 AM

(08-08-2018, 08:44 PM)WalterK Wrote: OK, so it has been a long wait for September to finally get here.
I believe that the Bass start to spawn in September, so it is time for me to start to prepare.

I have done the basic hardware prep by re-spooling, and cleaning the reels and rods. I have serviced the outboard, started it and made sure that it is ready for the season. I have a fresh COC. My flotation is current and I am ready to go.

Now this is were this forum comes in to play.

What does spawning mean to me?
Is this when I irritate a bass by buzzing the nest so that they attack my lure?

How do I locate a nest?
Is this a visual identification, or can a fish finder be of use?

Does your fishing style differ during spawn ?
If so, how?

When does spawn end ?
What do we do after spawn?

Guys, I really need to catch a few fish this season.
Any help will be appreciated.

Eish... Too many questions for my mobile to handle.
W, let me get into the office next monday and I'll give a better reply when i have enough time to open my laptop

But the basic answer to all your questions is this: its a plotting game and they spawn when the water temp gets to 68/69 deg F or 16/17 deg C

Toadee · 08-13-2018, 09:15 AM

Aarghh! Dont.Pull.Fish.Off.Nests!

This is not the US! We do not have the abundant populations that they do.

WalterK · 08-13-2018, 07:39 PM

Thanks Toadee

Your answer will have a positive affect on me and I respect your reply.
The reason that I asked is that I really do not know what spawning means to me.
It is marketed as the best and easiest time to catch bass.

Now to take the question a step further, I would generally catch, weigh and release.
If I do manage to snag a fish off its nest and release it in close proximity, would it be able to find it's way back to the nest?

Does your method of fishing change during spawning?
Would I continue to target a school?
How would I know when I am on a nest?

Any advise is appreciated.

Gary Myburgh · (This post was last modified: 09-06-2018, 05:40 PM by Gary Myburgh.)

(08-08-2018, 08:44 PM)WalterK Wrote: OK, so it has been a long wait for September to finally get here.
I believe that the Bass start to spawn in September, so it is time for me to start to prepare.

I have done the basic hardware prep by re-spooling, and cleaning the reels and rods. I have serviced the outboard, started it and made sure that it is ready for the season. I have a fresh COC. My flotation is current and I am ready to go.

Now this is were this forum comes in to play.

What does spawning mean to me?
Is this when I irritate a bass by buzzing the nest so that they attack my lure?

How do I locate a nest?
Is this a visual identification, or can a fish finder be of use?

Does your fishing style differ during spawn ?
If so, how?

When does spawn end ?
What do we do after spawn?

Guys, I really need to catch a few fish this season.
Any help will be appreciated.

(09-06-2018, 05:29 PM)Gary Myburgh Wrote:
(08-08-2018, 08:44 PM)WalterK Wrote: OK, so it has been a long wait for September to finally get here.
I believe that the Bass start to spawn in September, so it is time for me to start to prepare.

I have done the basic hardware prep by re-spooling, and cleaning the reels and rods. I have serviced the outboard, started it and made sure that it is ready for the season. I have a fresh COC. My flotation is current and I am ready to go.

Now this is were this forum comes in to play.

What does spawning mean to me?
Is this when I irritate a bass by buzzing the nest so that they attack my lure?
NO, DONT BUZZ the NESTS. FIND THEM THEN WORK THEM CAREFULLY> MOSTLY THE FISH WILL ONLY BE INTERESTED IN MOVING THE BAIT OUT OF THE NEST RATHER THAN ACTUALLY EATING IT

How do I locate a nest?
Is this a visual identification, or can a fish finder be of use?
VISUAL or by EXPLORATION. LOOK FOR SUNNY GRAVEL BANKS WITH 2' - 8' depth

Does your fishing style differ during spawn ?
If so, how?
YES< DEFINITELY. YOU NEED TO WORK ON KEEPING THE BAIT IN THE NEST AND EITHER GETTING THE FISH TO PICK IT UP TO MOVE IT OR TO ATTACK IT>

When does spawn end ?
What do we do after spawn?
DEPENDS ON THE WATER. IN CLAN AND EBENEZER SMALLIES CAN START SPAWNING IN JULY WITH LARGEMOUTH STARTING ONLY WHEN WATER HITS ABOUT 16. IN VAAL DAM SPAWNING CAN BE AS LATE AS OCT/NOV.

Guys, I really need to catch a few fish this season.
Any help will be appreciated.

You basically find the nests by knowing what to look for.
In the early spawn you will see the males working/cleaning the nests if the water is sufficiently clear. . Later the big females will come on.
Once you have found nesting fish you can find others by looking for banks/water with similar orientation and depth.

Good luck.

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Prepping for September