Effectively tired of mediocre catches, I was convinced the best way to a really big fish was with a shiner. Without question, more big bass in Florida are caught on wild golden shiners than every other method combined, and I was ready to take the leap.
But, as I perused the bait shop, my mind began racing, as it always does when in the presence of ribbon-tailed worms and oversized swimbaits. I forced myself back and headed for the bait tank, but was immediately disappointed by the lackluster shiner supply and the absence of any large baits.
“Do you have any BIG shiners?” I asked the owner.
“No” he replied. “We only get those during bed season.”
At that point, I began to taste stomach acid in the back of my throat, and promptly left.
There’s something about “bed fishing” that has never jived with me. Now, before anyone flies off the handle, I have to admit that I have, on occasion, carried a few spawners to the weigh-in stage. However, now that I’m spending a far greater amount of time pursuing bass for reasons other than prize money, I’m having a harder time justifying some otherwise “accepted” practices.
Another case in point: Last week, while filming underwater videos in a clear-water spring, I watched as two out-of-towners sat anchored, badgering spawning bass with shiners, in the same location for 4 hours. While I watched, I couldn’t help but wonder: What does it prove if they catch a trophy?
In my mind, it shows no demonstration of any knowledge or skill whatsoever, and certainly nothing to ever be proud of.
But then, stepping back a bit, how do such practices differ from those of fishing for spawners that aren’t visible to fisherman, by making repeated presentations to cover?
Still unsure of my take on the spawn-fishing controversy, I tried to justify the mentality the same way I do nearly everything I don’t understand: through science.
For years, we have been taught that fishing for spawning bass does little or nothing to harm a fishery overall. The primary pieces of evidence for this theory are a number of studies conducted several years ago – some decades ago – that found the overall population dynamics of bass in any given body of water fluctuate due to other, more impactful reasons than what occurs as a result of fishing pressure on spawners. In other words, habitat, weather, forage and other factors are what really determine population size. In addition, the same studies concluded that angling pressure on spawning adults has little effect on the overall number of bass fry spawned in a given body of water.
Many of these early studies were conducted in Florida, very near my home. Pushing scientific justification even more, I decided to discuss these theories with members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the guys in the trenches every day. I was very surprised to learn their opinions.
One research scientist in particular concluded that the studies could well be considered inconclusive. Ineffective methods used for sampling young-of-the-year bass just didn’t prove much, he said. In his mind, fishing for spawning bass may or may not be detrimental to many populations of fish.
The state of Florida is going to great lengths to find out more. Recent studies include actual underwater observations – we’re talking scientists with snorkels here – that last for several years on multiple bodies of water. There are “control” lakes without anglers, as well as waters exposed to fishing pressure closely matching the efforts of today’s high-tech bassers. In the end, a very realistic look into the effects of fishing pressure on spawning bass should be the result.
I will scrutinize the data when completed, and plan to share the results here. In addition, numerous other projects are being conducted throughout the Sunshine State that may very well push bass research to levels not yet seen. It’s becoming apparent that government agencies across the country are figuring out that big bass equate to big money.
But getting back to our discussion at hand, what’s your take on fishing for spawning bass? Is there reason to believe that today’s super-efficient anglers can truly impact a fishery? Or are we just kidding ourselves as to our ability to alter the overall plans of Mother Nature?
And if data suggests that targeting spawning bass is causing a negative impact, how, then, do we stop this from happening? Would partial season closure be a reasonable answer? While some anglers would argue tirelessly in favor of what’s best for the fish, at what point do we actually sacrifice fishing?
For me, things seem to be different. While observing a lunker spawning in a remote backwater creek, the last thing on my mind is trying to catch her. Instead, I feel lucky to be able to get a small view into the mysterious underwater world she inhabits every day. Catching her while she plays defense doesn’t prove a thing.
At any rate, I’m anxious to learn more, and thankful that the scientific community continues to look into the role of spawning bass. Perhaps, in the near future, we’ll find reason to re-address the subject.
(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)
