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Largemouth Bass

Introduction

Not only is the largemouth bass a favorite of the team at Fishresource.com, it is also the most popular game fish in North America. The largemouth bass (micropterus salmoides), is also commonly known to anglers as the black bass, bigmouth, green bass, green trout, Florida bass, Oswego bass, the southern largemouth and most affectionately as old bucketmouth.

Anglers from far and wide remark about the incredible fight and explosive strikes that the largemouth provides at the end of a line. Full out-of-water leaps give the largemouth bass it's incredible reputation. If you haven't already started fishing for largemouth, we recommend you try. The largemouth bass tops the Fishresource.com list of game fish!

Distribution

The largemouth bass is considered the most widely distributed game fish in North America. This is largely due to their reputation as incredible fighters, however, the largemouth bas is a sturdy survivor that is able to survive and flourish in almost any freshwater river, lake or reservoir.

Like most bass, they tend to remain in the same waters their entire lives, preferring the familiar environment a few hundred yards from their birthplace, and do not wander throughout the body of water in which they live.

Habitat

From shallow muddy streams to deep clear water reserves, largemouths thrive in a variety of waters. However, in all of its diverse habitats, the largemouth is never far from "structure" - any distinct underwater feature or object - including drowned brush piles, logs, stumps, old creek beds, changes in bottom formations, ledges, submerged islands, deep points, docks, bridge supports, etc.

Largemouth bass are attracted to irregular objects ranging from changes in bottom composition to uncharacteristic underwater formations, and especially like structures that offer shade and security. Quoted by many an angler, "You may find structure without bass, but you will never find bass without structure."

Electronic equipment is helpful in finding underwater formations likely to attract large concentrations of fish. Another effective way of recognizing potential fishing hot spots is to visually scan the lake for the largest brush piles and most noticeable structures. Remember, structure means object, and the more irregular the object, the greater the potential of the object to attract, and hold, legions of bass.

Features

Largemouth bass have a generous mouth, and a high ratio of fin surface to body size. Largemouth bass have light greenish to dark green and brownish, sometimes almost black bodies with lighter gray bellies. One way of recognizing a largemouth bass is from their jaw, which extends significantly beyond the rear of the eye.

There are two subspecies of the largemouth bass and they are generally referred to as the northern largemouth and the Florida largemouth. There is very little difference in appearance between the two, however, the Florida largemouth tends to grow faster and larger.

Size

A member of the sunfish family, the largemouth differs only in size from a southern subspecies, the Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) as mentioned above.

Measured from gill to tail, the northern largemouth has from approximately fifty-nine to sixty-eight scales in the lateral line, while the southern largemouth has approximately sixty-nine to seventy-three scales.

In general, you could consider a 6 pound largemouth to be a trophy fish in the north, whereas a 12 pound largemouth in the south would not be uncommon.

Feeding Habits

Bass vary in their eating habits throughout their lifetime. Young bass are indiscriminate feeders, eating almost anything they catch. Older bass, especially big inactive lunker bass, tend to prefer a specialized high-protein diet of golden shiners, shad, crawfish, and salamanders.

Typical bass foods are smaller fish, crayfish, frogs, salamanders and insects, however, one reason why the largemouth bass has such a wide distribution across North America is because of its ability to adapt to almost any type of freshwater and eat such a wide variety of foods.

Largemouth bass generally will shy away from very bright sunlight and most actively feed in dim conditions. On very sunny summer days, expect them to feed early in the morning and early to late evening.

The eyes of the bass contain rods and cones similar to human eyes, and under low light conditions, bass cannot differentiate between lure colours. When vision plays a role during the day, colour may be an important factor in lure selection.

Experimental studies suggest that when in an aggressive state, bass prefer green and blue colours but are repelled by gold and yellow. Some fish may prefer certain hues during different times of the day and season, but most studies are inconclusive. However, anglers that research the common forage and match their lures to similar local bait are generally more successful in their fishing endeavors.

Internal enzyme activity determines the metabolism of the bass. Water temperatures between 68°F and 72°F produce peak enzyme activity and feeding. Bass are cold-blooded and their body temperature matches the surrounding water temperature. Therefore, in water temperatures outside of the ideal range, bass reduce their feeding.

Reproduction

Largemouths usually spawn in the spring when water temperatures are between 60°F and 70°F. However, if water conditions are unsuitable and disrupt the planned spawning season, the fish can wait for as long as sixty days to resume spawning.

As mentioned above, the largemouth bass is actually a member of the sunfish family. And in similar fashion to the sunfish, largemouths tend to create rounded, saucer-like nests generally from between 2 to 4 feet of water and often within ten feet from shore, in bottom conditions ranging from sand to mud, hard clay, rock or gravel.

In discoloured, muddy bodies of water, nests are usually shallow; while in clear lakes nests tend to be deeper. Arranged in about twenty feet intervals, nests require some sort of structure or cover that offers security for their young and discourages predators from infiltrating the breeding grounds.

After the female produces her thirty thousand eggs and deposits them into the nest, the female then leaves the male to guard the nest and eggs, fending off any predators until the young are able to fend for themselves. Once the eggs have been dropped by the female, the male releases his milt over the area, 'sweeping' with his tail to ensure all the eggs are fertilized.

After spawning, the male positions himself over the nest, maintaining a vigilant watch for hungry intruders. If two or three pairs of bass spawn in the same nest, only the dominant pair will remain to guard the young.

For about two to five days after the initial spawning, the female guards the area from her post away from the nest, repelling trespassers that seek entrance to the nest from deep water. Afterwards, she drifts into deeper water or into open pockets in the weeds. There, she suspends her exhausted body between the surface and the bottom, recuperating from the spawning effort. Some females that are not in good physical condition die after spawning, simply unable to recover from the exhausting process. Most females, however, recover quickly. Bass do not feed while recovering their strength after spawning.

Anglers are permitted to fish for bass throughout the spring, because spawning occurs over several months and involves numerous different groups of fish.

Notorious nest raiders are bluegills and salamanders. A large population of bluegills in a lake may stress the spawning female, causing her to lay her eggs prematurely. Even when spawning is successful, the bluegills may drain the efforts of the bass trying to protect the nest, causing the guarding male to die from exhaustion.

If the nest is successfully protected from predators, the young hatch and the male bass continues his watch for a few more days. Afterwards, he moves to deeper water and begins a recuperation period of seven or more days. In a few days the bass fry absorb their yolk sacs, then school in shallow water near protective cover. Their feed consists of microscopic plankton until they reach about two inches in length; at this size, they begin to seek increasingly larger food items such as insects, worms and smaller fishes. A translucent yellow colour and showing a distinctive black stripe down each side, bass fry are a favourite target for other predator fish species.

Spring Techniques

The spring is one of the favourite times of the year for bass fishing with the crew at Fishresource.com. The excitement of the snow melting, the ice finally leaving the lake and the thought of getting back out on the water after a long winter is enough to get us to bundle up and fight the cold in the hopes of hooking a lunker.

The largemouth bass has such a wide variety of prey that the angler has many options available and sometimes making the right choice can be a tough thing to do. It's good to have a solid understanding of how a bass works and the natural prey of the spring waters that you fish.

The largemouth bass is an incredible fish - they have a high ratio of fin surface to body size which enables the bass to maneuver in quick bursts in any direction. Their large mouths and external lips contain extremely sensitive taste buds. Sensitive nostrils can smell traces, in parts per million, of substances in the water. Water temperature makes a difference too, and spring water temperatures are generally cooler, so the bass tend to look for stiller waters that warm faster.

Bass are nearsighted - they have no eyelids and the iris of each eye is fixed in place, which explains why the fish prefer areas with restricted light. Nearsightedness does not, however, prevent bass from observing above the surface of the water on calm days. Above-water sight is limited, but an angler sitting lower in the boat and out of the line-of-vision will scare fewer fish than one standing or fishing from an elevated seat.

Bass become accustomed to sounds and recognize familiar forage by their vibrations. Since injured forage fish send distinct vibrations or "signatures" that excite and entice the bass, "sonic" lures that emit familiar underwater vibrations will draw more fish into the area.

Anglers that use sonic lures must experiment with the lure until finding the distress signals resembling those of the common forage. An alternative to the sonic lure is to trigger a feeding reaction by clipping a portion of the tail of a bait fish, prompting it to elicit distress signals.

Before the spring fish spawn, water temperatures are ideal for some of the best fishing of the year. Because bass spawning occurs throughout the spring, some areas are closed to fishing, lest an over-zealous angler upset the natural balance, doing irreparable harm to the breeding population. This is especially pertinent to smaller lakes, particularly lakes in northern U.S. and Canada, where the warm growing season is short and the limited breeding population is vulnerable to over-fishing. Fish caught during the spring should be carefully reeled in, held by the lower lip and partially out of the water while the hooks are gently removed, and then released.

Bass fishing in the spring is directly influenced by the weather; until the temperature reaches 55°F bass remain sluggish and drastically reduce feeding. Shallow, dark-coloured bays and the western side of a body of water (which absorbs the sun's rays first in the morning) warm faster than other areas of the lake. In these areas, temperatures may be as much as five degrees warmer than surrounding waters.

Just before spawning, bass feed aggressively and do not require specific lures to entice them. It is often thought that they strike during this period when hungry, however, what makes the bass additionally vulnerable at this time is that they also strike out of reflex and a natural instinct to defend - hungry or not.

By drifting into deeper water, casting onto the bank, and by slowly retrieving a quarter-ounce spinner bait (any colour) into the shallows, anglers often hook large bass mere feet from shore. Sometimes smaller male bass assemble in the shallows, in which case some anglers try letting the lure rest on the bottom edge of the deeper water, where larger females hover near the deeper drop-off areas.

When water temperatures are warm enough (60-65°F) to begin the spawn, female bass become cautious and less aggressive. Though no longer feeding, males remain aggressive; they strike at almost anything within the protected nesting area. Do not fish at this time, because the moment a male bass is removed from his designated zone, predators move in and destroy the nest. In addition, male bass are drained after the struggle of being hooked and landed, and a quick release does not ensure the bass have enough strength to successfully guard the nest.

Summer Techniques

Summer fishing conditions generally last from two to six months, depending on the location. By now, the fish and lakes have established warm-water patterns, spawning is complete, plant growth has matured, and the lake ecosystem is at its growing peak.

Bass can be found and caught relatively easily at this time of year. Most bass inhabit the same waters as the fodder fish and recently hatched schools of forage fry - those with varying bottom compositions of mud to rock and ranging from four to twenty-feet deep. Hunting on the deep side of weed beds, or "flats," bass frequent feeding areas surrounded with pockets of plant growth that offers shade, protection, and excellent hunting.

Structures providing shade are bass fishing hot spots. Consider the angle of the sun and the shadows cast from the weed beds to determine where to work the lures. Fish in the outer edges of weed beds, moving with the shadows as the sun changes position throughout the day. In muddy water, present your bait in quick jumps along the deep side of the structure; in clear water, slowly crawl it through pockets in the weeds.

When fishing floating weed beds that do not reach the bottom, hook a six or eight-inch golden shiner at the base of its tale and coax it to swim under the weed bed. This technique hooks big bass that like the cooler shallow waters. We've snared some nice Northern Pike with this method as well!

Alternatively, mimic the pattern of a wounded bait fish using a minnow and a bobber - bass pick up on the "sonic signatures" very well. Lightly hook the minnow under its back fin, and place the bobber above the minnow with enough line in between to allow the minnow to reach inches from the bottom. Add enough weight to let the minnow swim to the surface and drift downwards, imitating a wounded bait fish

On hot summer afternoons, try using dead shiners (from morning fishing) with spinner baits. Try hooking a large dead shiner through both lips on a mid to large treble hook with a tail. This technique is especially worthwhile if pickerel persist to kill live bait; the size of the lure discourages small pickerel, but big bass along the edges of weed beds love the lure. This lure is effective when cast parallel to thick weed beds, or when trolled a few feet off the bottom in water fifteen or twenty feet deep.

In the heat of the summer, do not persist to fish the holes in weed beds with top water lures. During the summer, bass prefer the cooler shady water closer to the bottom, and feed at the surface only on windy, overcast days or under low-light conditions. Avoid tossing top water lures; instead, fish bottom areas with plastic worms, jig-and-minnow combinations, or slow-moving spinner baits. Crank baits work well in muddy water, but in clear water, some fish are startled by loud Crank baits In clear conditions, fish feed predominantly by sight - avoid using rattle-type lures that usually only frighten away potential catches. At least, this has been our experience with these noise makers.

Anglers must familiarize themselves with the usual action of the lure to recognize the unnatural clicks and slack that indicate a strike. Bass strike different lures in various ways, and sometimes inhale and expel a lure before the angler notices a change in line tension. Some bass strike after a lure rebounds off an underwater object, and are hard to detect.

Bass often approach spinner baits. from the side, and hits do not register as distinct pulls. Any movement on spinner baits., therefore, should be answered with a quick pull to set the hook. To enhance the action of the spinner bait, add a stinger (a trailer hook - a No. 2/0 or larger) with a large eye over the point and barb of the hook on the lure.

If by accident a lure is thrown over a tree branch overhanging the water, let it rest for a moment as the bass below position themselves beneath the lure. Relax. This is something we don't do enough of. Once the lure is tugged free, let it sit where it lands beneath the branch, and await a strike. Let spinner baits., Crank baits, jigs, and worms sit for a while if they do not instantly produce a strike.

In discoloured water, bass often strike a plastic worm as it drifts toward the bottom. If the worm reaches the bottom, pull the worm in little jumps across the lake floor. However, in clear water, do not actively hop the plastic worm.

Bass prefer lures that are still-fished and barely moved; otherwise, they may swim away. When the lure is moved, drag it very slowly and cover barely an inch at a time. It is likely that a bass has struck the lure when a change in pressure and line tension occurs, or when the line is lightly twitched and tapped. Some anglers choose weighted worm lures to easily set the hook after a strike, and use stronger 17-pound test line in obstruction-filled waters.

Top water lures are the most popular and easy to fish. They can be used in all depths, thrown into pockets of weeds, twitched, or left unmoving. Larger bass may quietly strike a lure, while smaller bass cause explosive surface strikes. A large bass will swim beneath the sitting lure, and pull the lure into its mouth with the movement of its gills. These strikes are easy to miss because the fish leaves behind only a small surface whirlpool in its wake. Anglers fishing with top water lures require a lot of patience; many bass strike a lure left sitting unmoved for more than two or three minutes.

Deep Water Techniques

Most bass are caught in waters from four to twenty feet deep, but in southern California, the deep lakes were stocked with northern largemouths (in the 1940's) and the Florida subspecies (in the1950's). Large bass over twenty pounds have been caught in these lakes. The largest largemouth, twenty-two pounds four ounces, was taken from Montgomery Lake in Georgia. In deep lakes, bass inhabit the same structures as in shallow lakes, only the submerged formations are very deep.

Trolling for deep-water lunkers is expensive. A depth finder is needed for finding structures at depths exceeding eighty feet, and the lures (at over five dollars each) are often snagged on bottom obstacles. Anglers use large reels, a heavy rod, lead-core line testing up to thirty pounds, and large deep-diving Crank baits, and lures resembling small rainbow trout.

When trolling for deep-water bass, there may be over 100 yards of line between the rod and the lure. Tension between the rod and the lure is weak. Some anglers prefer to maintain a hold on the rod, rather than using a holder, in case they miss subtle strikes.

Night Techniques

In the summer, night bass fishing changes according to the lake conditions. Lakes that are muddy produce more fish during the day. In clear-water lakes that are busy with recreational water skiers and boaters during the day, fish actively feed at night once the waters quiet.

The best night fishing conditions are dark nights with no moon. Bass are light sensitive and turn away from well-lit areas - anglers must not shine a light directly over the water. Smother bright flashlights with red cellophane while changing lures, or bring a "Moon-Glo" softlight.

Large lunkers move into the shallows at night after the water calms. They feed among brush piles, sandy beach areas, boating docks, swimming floats, and along rocky ridges. Cast traditional surface lures on a spinning tackle around these favourite areas to land some impressive lunker bass. Spinning tackle reduces the possibility of line tangles and backlash, and removes many of the hassles of night fishing.

Whatever you choose to use, you must ensure a steady retrieve rate. At night, the fish follow the lure by its sound, and any disruption in the lure's pattern may avert the fish. This explains why anglers may hear splashes in the area surrounding the lure, but will not feel a tug on the line - the fish likely missed the lure because of a variation in the retrieve.

Winter Techniques

Cold-water fishing is difficult, because fish do not actively feed in water temperatures below 45-50°F. When the water reaches these temperatures, the bass school together, barely moving. Bass in southern lakes move into deeper water near submerged trees and rock piles, posing a challenge to anglers.

In lakes in the deep south, cast along the shoreline and flat weed beds with spinner baits. or plastic worms. Large bass feed actively in the sun-warmed shallows.

Do not overlook the fishing offered by small northern ponds. Most small ponds are fewer than ten feet deep, but contain large bass that resist fighting in the cold water. When fishing small farm ponds in the winter, use a plastic worm with a small split shot above the hook. The slight weight allows the angler to feel bottom, while reducing the chance of a snag.

When winter fishing in open lakes, focus on submerged timber near the shoreline and a deep drop-off. Use vertical jigging with spoons. Simply drop the lure among the submerged timber brush, and jig the lure up and down. The lure resembles a dying shad, killed from the cold.

Bass feed on dying shad, so expect a hit on the downward motion of the lure. Set the hook quickly when the lure hesitates its downward sinking. Anglers can also use spinner baits. jigged vertically, or may cast the lure and retrieve it with a slight vertical pulling action. Fish the lure very slowly, and where one bass is caught, there is a high likelihood that other bass are schooled at the same depth.

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