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Spawning Bass and Wild Shiners

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Spawning Bass and Wild Shiners

Hugh discusses the best way to use wild shiners when trying to attract bass.

Spawning Bass and Wild Shiners

Spawning bass will hit a shiner. Not always hitting the wild shiner with eating it in mind. Usually the purpose is to let the shiner know he is in the wrong place. The angler can read this situation. If the shiner is hit and then the bass does nothing- the probability is that the bass is spawning. The shiner will be lethargic; just sort of moping around. the shiner s air sack has been destroyed. The angler can t see it. The angler is able to read it by the shiners behavior. The shiner is useless for the spawning bass. Might as well throw this shiner away. A bass on the bed does not see it as a threat and will not hit it again. To catch the bedding bass requires a bunch of shiners. When the bass is frustrated and determined to stop the shiners from entering the protected zone. Then the bass will eat.

The use of a dead shiner on bedding bass is a highly effective technique. Put the shiner in the protected zone and wait. No matter how many times the bass stuns the shiner it does not leave. Finally , the bass eats it. The key is that the dead shiner must lay across something that holds it above the bottom- like a piece of wood or grass. Natural wind and current will make the dead shiner move a little. The use of a dead shiner requires patience, time and determination on the part of the angler. Lip hooking is the most effective method with dead bait.

The difference between how a bedding bass strikes a shiner and an eating bass strikes a shiner is based on the bass s purpose. It is necessary for the angler to read his bites and determine which kind of strike he had. In Florida, the bass start bedding in November and continue through April. It is not the same bass. In the spawning grounds there will be spawning bass, pre-spawn bass and post spawn bass all at the same time. Reading the strike correctly will improve the angler s catch.