Ask The Pros

Will another female come to a bed I've fished before?

Question:
I caught a 7 pounder off a bed the other day, and I want to know now that that big female is gone will another one take her place on that bed? Im kinda new to the whole sight fishing process and would like to know what happens after the fish is gone.

-Jason

Answer:
Females come to the bed when their eggs are ripe and ready to be fertilized. She only stays long enough to lay her eggs, then she leaves. The male fertilizes the eggs as they are expelled, then he pushes them into the center of the bed, where he stays and helps keep then clean until they hatch, become "swim up fry" and go off to seek their fortunes. When the female finishes depositing her eggs, she goes away and it's not unusual for another female to come along and lay eggs in the same nest with the male who is guarding it. Most of the time, the male actually goes out to seek another female, although he never ventures too far from his nest, once he has it swept clean. So, the direct answer to your question is, "Yes, another female will come to the bed, especially if the male works to seek her out."

Good fishing!

Bob Lusk