Some teaser pictures for the bass fans

DanElliot · **Joined:** Mon Apr 08, 2002 8:59 am **Posts:** 4329

I took a few pictures of some bass spawning and protecting their nests. I didnt know how the pictures would turn out with the glare of the water but as you'll see they came in pretty clear. Judging by the looks of these guys a couple of them were 4-5 lbs. A lowly bullhead was scavenging the area and got too close to the nest. The bass just plowed into it like an angry linebacker looking for the quarterback. Only 42 more sleeps for the bass guys.

Fishn-Hunter · **Posted:** Sat May 12, 2007 9:24 pm

Hey great shots Dan. Is there any truth to the rumor I here about Bass season opening a week early this year?

Fishn-Hunter · **Posted:** Sat May 12, 2007 9:43 pm

Correct me if I am wrong but are there not still alot of bass spawning at that time? Last few years I have noticed a fair number of fish still on beds durring the first week or two of the season as it was. So an early opener seems pushin it to me. But hey thats my opinion.

iceman · **Posted:** Sun May 13, 2007 8:40 am

fishing for spawning bass after the season opens is leagal, BUT it is not good for the fish. Once that fish is taken off the nest the fry have no protection. It is up to the disscretion of the angler whether to fish for them or leave them alone. I would hope all anglers would leave them alone.
That is the reason that the Quinte fishing series has made the first tournament largemouth only to protect the smallies still on the beds, mainly in L.O. The big lake is also off limits. Hopefully anglers not in the series will not fish the as well. This will greatly help our bass fishery.

Mako · **Posted:** Sun May 13, 2007 9:37 pm

What is the exact date for the bass opener this year?

DanElliot · **Joined:** Mon Apr 08, 2002 8:59 am **Posts:** 4329

Mako,
The MNR made a slight regulation change to the regs. The old opening date was "The last saturday in June". The changed reg is now "The fourth saturday in June" This year there are 5 saturdays in June. The opener falls on June23rd.

teppy · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2007 8:43 am

In the smaller/shallower lakes the bass will spawn earlier vs the the great lakes or Simcoe,they take longer to warm up.
As the lakes warm the largemouth will search out warm water to spawn. A main part of the lake could be 56 degrees but a back bay with some docks and a dark bottom could easily be 62 degrees or more. So largies will move in here. If they are spawning now which I have no doubt in most lakes they are, and the pictures show it than they generally need 6 weeks after to rear there young and protect them from predators.(pike,bluegill,crappie and rock bass)
I fished Quinte last year on opener and never saw a largie on the bed,where I was they were gorging on baitfish. I think it is a great move that they took smallies out of the quinte series on the first tx date.
Now in my opinion they could still open it a week earlier cause really every lake we have has an abundance of bass. they could make it catch and immediate release only and still not harm the fishery.
teppy

ps Great pics Dan

Mako · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2007 9:35 pm

Thanks Dan for the info.

Last years opener on the bay was one of my best. My thumb was destroyed. This year I'm staying for a whole week I might need gloves.

Big Bass, Donairs and County Cider can't get better than that. :lol:

Cheers

Aron

sleepin with the fishes · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2007 11:19 am

[
I fished Quinte last year on opener and never saw a largie on the bed,where I was they were gorging on baitfish. I think it is a great move that they took smallies out of the quinte series on the first tx date.
Now in my opinion they could still open it a week earlier cause really every lake we have has an abundance of bass. they could make it catch and immediate release only and still not harm the fishery.
teppy

I believe you share the opinion of others. When bass season opens on June 23rd they are now in the "open Category", meaning if you have a license you are allowed a daily limit. So during the time we are not allowed to cull bass for a daily keep does that mean we are not allowed to fish for them?

I haven't been able to find anything stating in the MNR guidelines that says you are not allowed to fish for bass during these dates, just that your not allowed to keep any. Whne I emailed the MNR regarding fish that were open for Ice fishing on my lake I was informed everything was open other then Muskie. So he was basically telling me bass was open which was a direct opposte of the guidlines.

When i fish portions of the U.S and the bass season isn't open, it doesn't mean that your not allowed to fish for them yout only allowed not to keep them. I remember my first trip to Pennslyvania bass fishing during May, we arrived at a tackle shop to purchase licenses and ask some questions. When I asked if bass was open the fellow replied "no". I asked then how are all these people fishing prespawn bass, to which he replied " as long as you don't keep them there are no rules stating that you can't fish for them only for keeping them".

Which IMO should be practiced in Ontario to. I would never pull a bass of a bed, but for pre spawn bass fishing I would gladly love to fish this period. Think of the bass caught during the opener of Walleye, they were not on the beds yet but were staging and were very active, I would love to angle for these fish, but in Ontario where the bass populations are exploding it's considered taboo, which IMO is Crap.

steve-hamilton · **Joined:** Fri Apr 25, 2003 7:40 am **Posts:** 1776

sleepin', bass simply aren't that hard to catch.....if you need to catch them before the season opens, under the "umbrella" that your not keeping them, so its ok to fish for them....well....

nothing to say to you sir....cept your acting the role of a poacher.

teppy · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2007 10:58 pm

You can not target any fish that the season is not open on. In fact if you hold the conservation licence you can not target Muskie as well. Incidental is by accident ----> targeting an out of season fish is what Steve said .....
poaching.
teppy

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Some teaser pictures for the bass fans

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