The spawn is in full swing in the lakes and rivers in Iowa. I know that an article about catching spawning fish might not sit well with everybody but I practice catch and release and strongly encourage everyone to do the same. 

First and foremost fish need a hard surface to build a nest on.  I didn’t say a hard bottom because I have seen fish spawning on top of logs if a sand or rock bottom wasn’t available to them, and even in the crouch of flooded trees in extreme high water. 

When going out looking for beds a quality pair of polarized sunglasses are a must.  Head for a backwater lake but while in route keep an eye out for small tributary creeks. If the conditions are right I have seen creeks no more than 20 feet wide be literally lined with bass on beds. 

Water clarity will determine how deep a bass will build its nest. The cleaner the water the deeper a bass will build.  It’s been my experience that the larger (more weary) fish will build theirs beds as deep as possible - usually deep enough where you can just make out the outline of the bed. 

Once you’ve located a spawning ground you have to evaluate the stage of the spawn that the fish are in.  This will be partially determined by the moon phase - meaning most fish will actually drop their eggs on the full moon.  When you see a bed and not a fish you can bet she is not far away. Start fan casting the area with a spinnerbait or soft plastic jerk bait like a Zoom Fluke.  This happened just a few days ago on a trip to McGregor. The bass had already built their beds but the full moon wasn’t for two more weeks and the morning was cloudy and rainy.  We caught a bunch of bass by running a spinnerbait just under the surface in an area where we were seeing empty beds until the sun broke through and the fish got back on the nests. 

When you see a nest and you see the fish spook off and not return in less than a minute this fish is going to be very difficult to catch. Make a mental note of something on shore that lines up with the bed, continue on then come back later and make long casts toward your reference point on shore so you are coming in contact with the bed without being close enough to spook the bass. 

When you see a nest and the fish spooks off but comes back immediately or doesn’t leave at all then that is a very catchable fish.  I’ll position my boat so I can see the entire nest without a glare, make a cast past the bed and drag your bait onto the bed if the fish is still on the bed then “bump” it in the side and let your bait drop, the fish will spin around and hit the bait, you may have to do this a couple of times to get her mad enough to really engulf the bait. 

If the bass is sitting just off the bed you can count on her keeping an eye on your bait. Very slowly drag your bait across the bed while you watch the fish until you get a reaction out of the bass. When this happens that is the spot you want to make multiple casts to.  When the bass noses down on your lure watch the bass not your bait!  They can suck your bait in and spit it out faster than you can react to your lure being gone.  What is happening is the fish is inhaling your lure not to eat it but to move it off of its nest. It’s going to suck your lure in by flaring it’s gills, lift it’s head and spit your lure back out in one swift motion.  By watching the fish and not the lure you will increase your hook up ratio, when the bass is nose down to your bait and you see its gills flare, set your hook. 

As far as what to throw at a bedding bass I don’t think the fish are very picky - they just want whatever it is off their nest.  There are more knowledgeable and well equipped fishermen out there than ever before and the fishing across Iowa has never been better.  Catch and release works and we are making a difference. Until next time keep your lure wet.