Winter Bass

[basserman]

i would like to hear some peoples thought on catching winter time bass
i have been called some bad names on another site because have caught winter time bass that are spawning
i hope some of you have seen by my pics and report that we have a very good bass system down here that has never been stocked
i have never caught a bass for food and i treat every bass with the best of their health in mind
i would just like to hear other peoples thought on the bass at this time of year!
P.S. it was a sydney fishing site ::)

[agnes_jack]

Basserman
I wouldnt call you names.
My personal choice would be to leave them alone during spawning.
Even with very careful handling it is still very likely that thier spawning may be disrupted. Its personal choice.

Regards, Tony :D

[basserman]

thanks tony
with all this new info i think i might need to change my ways
just not sure what to target over winter now!
bream are outside on thire spawn bass are moveing for theirs MMMH might need to become one of those rude blackie fisherman (NOT) ;D

[Jeremy87]

To fish or not to fish. That is the question. . .
Maybe you could try some dams over the winter period.

[basserman]

yeh only a bummer is i'm in port macquarie closest dam to us is over the ranges about 4 hour drive away :'( nah will be good once the parts for my bigger boat come in and get that all fixed again i will be able to chase snapper [smiley=stop.gif]OPPS no they are spawning LOL ;D nah for real but i like to get out and chase some green eyed sharks and the pearlies at this time of the year ;D and we all live in hope of a good yellowfin session [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[harryhoy]

basser - all I would say is that catching fish during spawning can induce undue stress on the animal. In some cases the animal may reabsorb the eggs. There has been some research done on this subject and I will try to dig it up.

Its up to you whether you target spawning bass but it may pay to keep this in mind when you do.

[Fitzy]

I dont go fishing for them in the tidal reaches during spawn season. They've got enough hassles breeding without me adding to the list.
I think the closed season is a good idea.
I do however fish in the local lakes in winter, best time to get the big girls.


fitzy..

[basserman]

yeh i'm going to follow all your advice and leave them be this winter
i guess we are lucky down here as we have a excalent bass fishery and i never thought about it much as lot of bass fisherman chase them still in winter ???
but after this advice and it makes sence i will skip the session this year and just stay in the upper reaches and play with the small ones and the odd big one that didn't make the trip to spawn ;D
i do tottaly agree with you but fitzy i think alot of our fish need closed spawning seisson and not just our freash water fish
i would like to see the snapper closed for a short time to help those big girls out and other like the bream that get raped when they move to the beaches to spawn >:(
but i guess thats another topic ;)