Baby Sitting Bass

I know we've all talked about fishing for bedding fish. But what about after the spawn and they are guarding the fry. I went out yesterday and had 4 over 4lbs that were real easy to catch, as they were guarding their fry. I used a floating worm, and when it got near the fry the bass were on it..All fish were released. NOW comes the question which causes more problems to the fishery? A. pulling bass from a bed or B. taking them from grauding the young fry, that become food for the bluegills near by???

Both? The thing is, you have to try a lot harder to get a fish on the bed to strike. You get within a couple feet of a fish after the fry have hatched and you get nailed, so you're going to get them "accidentally" anyway. I always wondered what makes the fry more attractive to the bluegill between the time they hatch and when the males stop guarding them? They are still a lot smaller than the crappie minnows that bluegill molest when the adult leaves them.

I personally do not fish for nesting bass. It reminds me of a poem I wrote many years ago.

Butterflies

The morning's dew
Was too heavy for flight
Folded wings were forescent
To dawn's early light
So fast, so brave they fly
Rules of flight they defy
So delicate, so fragile they die
Why then did I take her
From a long weed-bend
On my finger tips her golden felt
To vow never sin again

A real kunundrum is this....

After just a few days, both the male and female turn canibalistic, and will eat the fry themselves. So, maybe by catching bass after the spawn and keeping them, we are helping the resource by protecting the fry...

Actually, I'd like to see spawning tournaments completely done away with, and I'd like to see "recreational" fishing during that time at least regulated to catch and immeadiate release.

Danny