Solving The Table Rock Post-Spawn  Puzzle

By John Neporadny Jr.

Bass live a simple life, but bass anglers are always trying to make it seem more complicated. Whereas humans burden themselves with career goals and worries about being accepted by their peers, a bass has only three needs in life: finding a comfortable place to stay, keeping its belly full and procreating.  During their procreating cycle, bass are most vulnerable in the pre-spawn stage when they are feasting in preparation for the rigors of spawning  and while  nesting when they will strike at anything to protect the nest.  The post-spawn period tends to frustrate the average angler because the fish have become sluggish  and are mainly interested in finding comfortable resting spots on their journey to their deep-water summertime sanctuaries. A bass migrates from the spawning bank to its summertime haunt along a basic route no matter what lake you fish throughout the country.  In most cases, the spawning banks will be pea gravel, grass or mud flats in a cove or pocket.  After spawning, bass will travel along a depression (ditch, canal or creek channel) to  the first secondary point in the cove where it will congregate with others and  spend some time resting around available cover such as submerged trees, weeds or rocks. The pack will then move out of the cove to the final  rest-and-relaxation spot, a main lake point.  The post-spawn ends during this layover period on the main point, but only a subtle difference in the bass' behavior indicates when this occurs.  During later stages of the post-spawn, the invigorated bass  chase baitfish, but their energy depletes rapidly and they have to return to their  resting spots.   The transition from post-spawn to  summertime patterns occurs when bass move a little deeper on the point and chase baitfish longer and more frequently. A Table Rock angler  who consistently catches post-spawn bass by  pinpointing these holding spots near the spawning  banks and the main lake is Bobby Sullivan from Cape Fair, Mo. The post-spawn's climax is the prime time for a technique that works well on revitalized bass. "These are usually fish that have healed to the point that they are starting to chase baitfish again, " says   Sullivan, a veteran tournament angler. "They are laying  out in the submerged trees and when bait flies through there, they grab it."  The bass seem to prefer a  faster moving bait now rather than the slow-falling lures they  desired earlier in the post-spawn. Since he wants to trigger a reaction strike from these suspended fish, Sullivan cranks a fast-moving lure, a 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Trap lipless crankbait, through the submerged timber.   A high-speed retrieve that bangs the lure through the trees produces best for Sullivan.  He works the lure with  a 6 1/2-foot  rod and bait-cast reel filled with 14-pound test line. Finding the right depth is the key to catching these suspended fish.  Through a trial-and-error process, Sullivan finds the right depth by casting past the trees and counting while the lure falls.  He varies the count until he finds a zone where he gets a strike, then he keeps working the bait at that same depth. Sometimes he  even lets the Rat-L-Trap sink to the bottom and rapidly reels it back  to catch  bass that are moving up or down in the trees. The Rat-L-Trap technique only lasts a couple of weeks since the bass at this time are nearly recuperated from their spawning endeavor. A Carolina rig still induces more bites than Sullivan's tactic, but burning the Rat-L-Trap through the submerged trees triggers more bites from uncooperative heavyweight bass. Solving the post-spawn puzzle becomes a simpler task if you think like a bass.  Simply  follow the bass' migration route back to deeper water and intercept them with this deadly Table Rock tactic. For information on shows, lodging and attractions in the Table Rock Lake or Lake Taneycomo area or to receive a free vacation guide, call the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-BRANSON or visit the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB web site at www.explorebranson.com Copies of John Neporadny's book "THE Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Guide" are available on this web site. Click here to order your copy today.