My dad and I got on this topic the other day, and he won't do it. He believes it has negative effects on spawning bass. I don't have much knowledge on the subject,so I ask for the oppinions of you guys.

Thanks for the input.

If you fish at all during the spring you are bed fishing whether doing it intentionally or not. If you are fishing at all during the spawn in water 10' or less you stand a good chance of landing on a few beds. Even fishing out deeper you are still getting bites from fish that are on beds. I prefer to be honest with myself and say I have no issue with it rather than be a hypocrite. Past that I don't think it affects the fish too much if guys respect the fish a bit and get her back in the water or at least take great care of her if you are in a tournament. If that was the case Fork would have no fish in it. You can literally walk from boat to boat without your feet getting wet every spring out there. Besides I am pretty sure TP&W knows a little more about it than I do so as long as its legal and they allow it I have no issues with it.

If you catch them, take a pic and put them back in, I don't see it being a problem.

If you catch them, put them in the livewell and carry them to the marina jerking them out of the livewell to show everybody you see and get your attention fix for the day, I could definitely see some adverse affects from it.

I've seen things on fork that would make you want to quit fishin'. absolute no respect for such a worthy advesary...other than that I agree with Mr.Perry...............

i know what you are saying. I have seen a few folks be pretty careless when bed fishing. Also I hate to see people repeatedly catch the same fish over and over. You almost have to be stealthy about it out there as you will have company in a heartbeat and a line will form to catcha solid fish just as soon as you release it if others see you catch it. The practice of bed fishing is not bad but unfortunately a few idiots tend to give us all a black eye.

There are billions of fry spawned during an average season in every respectable bass lake, which is more than the lake could support. Habitat, water quality, and mother nature deturmine that less than a fraction of 1% ever make it to keeper status. Survival of the fittest is what makes the species thrive as well as being adaptable to the conditions. There is a zero chance that anglers will have a significant impact on a fishery due to fishing during the spawn, especially in southern lakes.
fish away!

It's as if some people can't develope the skills to catch them the rest of the year and take it out on them when they can see them......sad...

I can't speak for you but I know I get bored after a day or two of bed fishing and just start targeting staging fish or post spawn fish.

Not all fish spawn at the same time..... you can sight fish in the summer and fall also....

Exactly.......

What Mark said....

I like it but as soon as I am catch it big or small it is released where I caught it so it can get back to its bed. Plus its interesting to see how they act.