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VOLUME 2 largeMOUTH BaSS

FISHING GUIDEFACULTY OF

www.facultyoffishing.com

IntroductIon:The Largemouth Bass is part of the sunfish family and is con-

sidered to be a species of the Black Bass. It inhabits many different bodies of water around North America. From the deep reservoirs of the southern United States to the cool lakes of the Canadian Shield, Largemouth Bass thrive and are popular game fish.

Other common names include Largie, Blacks, Black Bass, and Bigmouth, to name a few.

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumChordata

ClassActinoptervgii

orderPerciformes

FamilyCentrarchidae

genusMicropterus

sPeCiesM. salmoides

This guide has been prepared as a reference for anglers wanting to learn more about Largemouth Bass. It offers a great complement to the material contained within the lessons on Largemouth Bass.

We start with a quick overview of the species, then cover different aspects of Largemouth Bass as they occur throughout Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter seasons.

We hope you enjoy the material and thank you for being a part of Faculty of Fishing.

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Overview: ScIentIfIc claSSIfIcatIon: MIcropteruS SalMoIdeS

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deScrIptIon:The skin of a Largemouth Bass is generally greenish

with a tinge of yellow. Black vertical bars or diamonds are commonly visible along their side. The upper jaw of Largemouth Bass extends beyond the eye.

The characteristics of the water system can have an influ-ence on their exact coloring and appearance. These variations in habitat can influence the color, shape and size of the fish residing within that environment. Largemouth living in an environment of clear water and lighter bottoms will often be lighter in color; whereas the water or bottom is darker, the fish

will also take on a darker green color.

Males are generally smaller than females. The average size of Largemouth from one body of water to another can differ, depending on where they are found. There are 2 subspecies of Largemouth Bass in North America - the Florida Large-mouth and the Northern Largemouth. The Florida Large-mouth strain is larger than their relatives, the Northern Largemouth. In addition, Largemouth found in the south-ern states are typically bigger due to the longer growing sea-son. Another contributing factor in determining the size of fish is the type and quantity of the forage.

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dIStrIbutIon:Largemouth can be found in many water systems throughout

the United States and southern parts of Canada. Largemouth, though native to North America, have expanded beyond their native waters and now inhabit many different bodies of water around the world.

HabItat:Largemouth Bass are found in many types of water systems,

from small ponds to larger lakes, rivers and reservoirs around North America. As mentioned, cover is the main component that every largemouth will use throughout their life cycle. They will seek weedy areas, stumps, trees, brush piles, docks, overhangs or any other type of cover offering them shade and a good ambush point for feeding.

Typically, Largemouth favor eutrophic and mesotrophic type water systems where vegetation and forage exist in the same vicin-ity. These two important components provide a Largemouth with

everything needed for growth and survival.

Largemouth are fairly adaptable and will use of many dif-ferent types of habitats within a given body of water. Some fish may become resident to shallow sloppy weed areas and spend much of the year within this area. Whereas other fish, even within the same body of water, may take to the outside weed lines near deep water and venture out to open water areas to feed on pelagic prey like shad.

Regardless of the water system and seasonal inf luences, Largemouth are very much drawn to ‘cover’. This require-ment occurs from the day they hatch till the day they die. It is the way they live and survive within in their environ-ment. This preference of habitat makes them a popular fish among many anglers. Anglers enjoy the challenge of pulling the fish from their often jungle-like environment. When hooked, anglers quickly gain respect for not only the fish but for the challenges imposed by their homes.

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BiOlOgy:

SenSeSLargemouth use their senses to understand and survive within

their watery world. The different conditions that exist in their environments determine which primary sense a largemouth will rely upon. For example, where water clarity is low the lateral line may play a large role. Where the clarity is high and weed growth minimal, vision can be very important. Let’s review each:

VISIonThe capability of this sense is greatly determined by water clarity. The fish have the ability to see in all directions and above the water surface. They rely on vision to detect danger, locate food, and navigate around their world. Where water clarity is fairly high, Largemouth can detect colors; thus, lure preference should accommodate the surroundings. Use natural color lures in clear water and bolder, brighter colored ones in stained water. Anglers should always avoid wearing bright colored clothing, making sudden movements or cast-ing shadows on likely holding spots. The Largemouth’s eye is much more sensitive than the human eye and therefore they will seek shady areas when the sun and corresponding light intensity are high.

SMellLargemouth will use smell

to identify food and avoid predators. Anglers should always avoid contact with foreign odors like gasoline, lotions or oils that can be transferred to their lures. Anglers should also consider using scents: Scents can make the bait smell more appealing to the Largemouth and also help mask any foreign smells that may exist.

taSteLargemouth use taste, but it is believed that this is relatively unimportant when compared to many other fish species. Many anglers believe they use taste to sample their meal by quickly taking in the bait while maintaining the ability to quickly ex-pel it if it does not meet their approval. This process can happen very quickly, where the bait is in and out of the fish’s mouth before an angler watching their bait disappear could process the event and react to set the hook.

HearIngA fairly keen sense that is used by Largemouth Bass, in which they especially rely on this sense in murky water conditions, is hearing. Anglers can benefit from a Largemouth’s dependence on hearing by picking lures that have rattles or make noises that attract and trigger the fish to bite. As Largemouth are often found in fairly shallow water, anglers should be conscious of the noise they make when approaching a fishing spot. Be careful to not bang around the boat or drop things on a boat’s deck.

feel / lateral lIneThe lateral line picks up vibrations within the water and translates them to the fish’s brain. The lateral line can actually allow a blind largemouth bass to find and eat food through the interpretation and processing of the direction and strength of vibrations that are given off by its prey. Anglers can use lures that transmit vibrations, especially in water that have very low water clarity to help stimu-late the lateral line of a nearby bass.

barotrauMaLargemouth are susceptible to the effects of barotrauma.

Research indicates that when Largemouth caught at depths of greater than 25 feet can suffer the negative impacts of baro-trauma. Because Largemouth often inhabit shallower habitats, the problem of barotraumas is often only of concern in certain bodies of water and only during certain times of the year. Fac-tors affecting the degree to which barotrauma can impact the Largemouth include depth, speed at which the fish is brought out of deep water, water temperature and relative healthiness of the individual fish.

Water propertIeS / cHaracterIStIcSA Largemouth Bass’s optimal summer water temperature is in

the range of 77 to 86 ºF. Much of a their activities and seasonal locations are linked to different water temperatures. Warm wa-ter speeds up their metabolism resulting in increased feeding re-quirements, where cold water temperatures in the range of 40

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oF or less will cause Largemouth to become virtually dormant, laying on the bottom and limiting most of their feeding activity. Typically, when able, Largemouth Bass will avoid temperatures above the mid to upper 90 oF range. When temperatures rise above this range, they will move to deeper water.

Largemouth Bass can survive in environments with lower oxy-gen levels than Smallmouth Bass but still need more than many other types of fish species. A pH of 6.5 to 8.5 is the preferred level for Largemouth Bass, though they can tolerate certain lev-els above or below this.

PerSOnaliTy:

An observation of Largemouth is that social structure often allows the biggest fish to claim the best spot. This often results in the fish having the first choice on any food that is within the vicinity. During certain times of the year Largemouth will also form schools, which often results in competition between fish in the school. When food or bait is presented among the group, the competition to feed begins and several bass may race to eat the food or lure.

FOrage:

As most anglers that have targeted Largemouth Bass know, the main staple in their diet is very dependant on the type of for-age within the water system and the seasonal influences on the Largemouth and their prey. Young Largemouth feed on insects and smaller types of forage within their environments. As they grow bigger, so do their menu choices and preferences. Adult Largemouth have even been known to feed on snakes, mice or baby ducks that may be swimming overhead.

Though known to feed on many types of prey, the main staples of adult Largemouth Bass include crayfish, forage fish (perch, minnows, sunfish, bluegills, etc.), pelagic baitfish (shad, ale-wives), insects (mayflies, hellgrammites, water beetles, dragon-flies, etc.), leeches, and frogs.

Warmer water conditions trigger a faster metabolism causing bass to feed more often. Cool water conditions of less than 40ºF are such that Largemouth will seldom feed. They are not burning much energy and therefore do not need to replenish as regularly.

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Crayfish

Mayfly

Grasshopper

FrogMinnow

Alewife

Shad

Perch

Bluegill Leech

Rainbow Trout

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SeaSOnSSpringtime is an important season for the Largemouth Bass.

This season triggers them to migrate from their wintering areas and begin feeding after a long winter of minimal feeding. Another important part to the spring season is that it is time for spawning.

early SprIngAs the water temperature begins to warm with the spring

season’s longer days and increased sun intensity, Largemouth will begin to feed. Usually a water temperature increase to the low 50 ºF will trigger largemouth to begin feeding. Typically, most fish will be caught as they feed while cruising the shallows during the early spring. Low light conditions and the attrac-tion of the baitfish and other food sources to the warmer water offered in the shallows makes this the perfect hunting ground for feeding Largemouth in the spring.

For anglers, lures like spinnerbaits, rattletraps, jigs and soft or hard minnow shaped baits can be great options in the ear-ly spring. They allow the angler to cover water and key in on cruising.

As the spring season advances, Largemouth will become even more active as they begin moving in and out of their actual spawning areas. They also begin to really start feeding and will go into a binge-eating rampage for a short time as the tempera-ture of the water climbs into the low 60ºF range.

When keying in on locations to catch Largemouth Bass just prior to the spawn, focus on areas of emerging vegetation that

is on the edge of their spawning grounds. Anglers should also fish right up on the spawning area as there are often roaming Largemouth that may be coaxed into biting.

Springtime brings many new feeding opportunities for fish. Many new forage options are introduced as crayfish come out of their winter hibernation or new prey fish species and insects are born. With each of these comes the need to capitalize on the new feeding opportunities of the Largemouth by choosing baits that will represent most closely the prey that they are fo-cused on. At times, these new feeding opportunities may trig-ger the fish to key in on that food for a very short time and if you have the right bait and the right timing, you have the recipe for some of the most memorable fishing days of the whole year.

SpaWnAs the water begins to warm to the low 60 oF range, males

will come into shallow bays, channels and backwaters to make beds. Typically the beds will be made on bottoms of sand, mud or gravel in areas that are protected from the prevailing winds. Usually, the beds are found between 1 and 4 feet of water, but may occur in deeper water where water clarity is higher.

The male moves onto the spawning areas and prepares the beds by fanning the bottom with his tail to clear a round-shaped spawning bed. Where available, male bass will make their beds next to objects, like logs, or near vegetation like hy-drilla, reeds, bulrushes or other similar types of weeds.

Once the bed is made and the water temperature rises to and remains in the mid 60’s oF, the spawn begins and the female moves onto the nest to deposit her eggs. The female then leaves the bed to go and rest in deeper water, whereas the male holds on the nest to guard the eggs. His job is to continuously fan the area to prevent silt from settling on the eggs and protect the eggs from predators.

The incubation period is very closely tied to the water tem-perature. It can be as short as 2-3 days when water temperatures are above 70 oF and as long as 1 week, when the water tempera-ture is between in mid to upper 60’s oF.

After hatching, the male still provides protection by guard-ing the fry. Initially the fry ball and male largemouth hold tight to the bed but with time, the male and fry will move off the bed in search of the protection of nearby cover.

tranSItIon to SuMMerAfter the spawn, the females will move to deeper water where

they rest and recuperate from the stresses of the spawn. Eventu-ally, the males will also migrate to deeper water to recuperate.

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SPRING

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Both the male and female Largemouth will move to shallower water to feed but spend most of their time in deeper water.

The post-spawn blues can make fishing tough and anglers often find them to be some of the toughest fishing days of the year.

SuMMerThe summer season is associated with increases in water tem-

perature, higher sun angles and much stronger light penetration. Bass seek out water temperatures in the 76-80 ºF range and try to avoid areas where temperatures exceed 80 ºF.

During this season, cover becomes a very important part of a bass’ world. They seek out and make their homes in and around cover. The shade of the cover provides protection from the sun-light and the perfect place from which to ambush their next meal.

Largemouth will often relate to shallower water during the dusk and dawn times, then move to deeper cover like an outside weed edge near deep structure. The most active feeding time is usually during the lower light times of the day. Anglers should start in the shallows during the early part of the day and then move deeper as the sun gets higher in the sky and again return to the shallower water in the evenings. Anglers should use wa-ter clarity to help determine how far into deep water to move: clearer water means a higher potential for bass to use deep water.

When set up using the vegetation, bass will often also relate to the typical prey that also inhabit these environments. Forage can include insects, crayfish, leeches, frogs, and juvenile fish like perch, bluegills or other members of the sunfish family. Anglers can catch fish on many different lures during the summer.

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SUMMER

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early fallWith the shorter days, water temperatures begin to drop

and largemouth, like in the early spring, will begin to use the shallows more often and for longer periods of the day. The cooling water attracts prey up into this area and as largemouth are required to feed in preparation for the long winter season they stay up with the prey to take advantage of the feeding opportunities. Also, with less light intensity and survivable water temperatures, the conditions can allow the bass to stay shallow all day.

MId-fallAs the fall progresses, the fall turnover occurs as surface

temperatures cool to the same temperature of the deeper wa-ter. The thermocline disappears and the body of water assumes much of the same temperature from the surface to the bottom. Largemouth will begin to spread out and can be found almost anywhere. Finding them can be challenging and tough fishing conditions can last up to 2 weeks.

late fallThe cooler and cooler weather starts to take effect on the body

of water and the surface water temperaturewill drop below that of the deeper water. This will move largemouth towards the deeper water and they begin to set up very close to their winter-ing areas. As the water temperature drops from the low 50’s ºF into the 40’s ºF range, largemouth will begin to slowdown and become sluggish. Fish can still be caught but presentations must be slower.

WInterAs the winter season sets in largemouth are typically set up in

their winter homes. With the cold water, the metabolism of the largemouth slows right down and very little feeding will occur. As water temperatures drop below 40 ºF bass rarely feed and fishing conditions are very very tough.

To learn more please check out the many different lessons brought to you by the Faculty of Fishing!

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FALL WINTER