6 lbs. and plum full of eggs yesterday

[kc]

I caught one about 6 lbs on Barkley two years ago, first week end in June, up by the bushes on a surface bait that I know was spawning. How did I know she was spawning? Eggs were coming out of her after I landed her. They definitely spawn at different times probably sooner and later than we think.

[crazyfishinnut]

I had 2 big girls that had not dropped her eggs yet at Barkley A 4.5 and a 5.3 At sundays weigh in there were a few with fresh busted tails. The water levels and temp have a lot to do with it But A fish will not make a bed if the water is not stable.

[bigwormy]

i know the fish was full of eggs b/c i have been bass fishing my whole life and that fish was full of eggs. never seen a bass that fat that was not full of eggs. the place he caught it was small but 40-50 foot deep in places. and when i say small, you can see one end to the other. trolling motor only lake. it is a very difficult place to fish b/c its extrememly clear and usually only catch dinks. however, there was a 7.2 caught out of there also this year.

[Jbyrd]

i know the fish was full of eggs b/c i have been bass fishing my whole life and that fish was full of eggs. never seen a bass that fat that was not full of eggs. the place he caught it was small but 40-50 foot deep in places. and when i say small, you can see one end to the other. trolling motor only lake. it is a very difficult place to fish b/c its extrememly clear and usually only catch dinks. however, there was a 7.2 caught out of there also this year.

The fact the the fish was caught out of a small lake makes it even more possible that the fish didn't have eggs in it. The water temp raises in small lakes faster than big lakes such as barkley as the gentle man said about the 2 he caught last week. Thorefore the spawn is earlier and the fish feed back up and get fat sooner. The small lake usually means more stable water and thus ideal conditions for an early spawn
As for baseing the facts just on being fat you have never seen a bass caught on dale ,cumberland or barren in november . They are ready to explode and are not looking to spawn. Just gorging them selves on shad and living thru the winter.........

[bigwormy]

The fact the the fish was caught out of a small lake makes it even more possible that the fish didn't have eggs in it. The water temp raises in small lakes faster than big lakes such as barkley as the gentle man said about the 2 he caught last week. Thorefore the spawn is earlier and the fish feed back up and get fat sooner. The small lake usually means more stable water and thus ideal conditions for an early spawn
As for baseing the facts just on being fat you have never seen a bass caught on dale ,cumberland or barren in november . They are ready to explode and are not looking to spawn. Just gorging them selves on shad and living thru the winter.........

jbyrd, i am not a novice here as you might think.im not trying to be arguementative with you either. however, i saw the fish with my own eyes and i have been bass fishing for a long time. i would bet my house on it that fish was full of eggs. i know everything you have stated is correct with lake conditions and the size of the lake. but i also know believe what i saw. and to let u know, i have saw many bass caught in november on dale. and i know they may be big, but let me tell you again, they were no way near as big as the fish i saw.

[Bobby Headrick]

With the widley fluctuating temps and water levels, even small bodies of water have bee affected, it is not impossible for fish to still be spawning. They will spawn when they are ready to spawn and nature has programed them to spawn when it is the best time for their eggs and fry to survive. Just because our calender and our prior seasons say it is time to spawn, fish do not read. They go by natures clock. Are seasons have been different the last several years and the spring has been weird latley. too cold in March and also cold in April. A few years ago I caught one over 11lbs the first week of June that just came off the nest. She had just spawned out when I caught her, I also caught her buck, he weighed over 4.5. And yes she had been on the nest and it was a small bodie of water. trolling motor only. So there is really no set time for them to spawn, they will spawn when the time is right for them.