WRB

The air temps where in the 90's the water 65 to 70 degrees, so that shouldn't have been a major factor. With the number of big bas stuffed into the livewells, that is a major factor and why BASS needs to pick up big fish from the pro's on the water, when needed. Thank for replying and 2 weighin's would of helped because of the double limits of 10 bass. WRB

Your question was "cruising" bass and the thread is jumping bass, two different things. Cruisers during pre spawn are looking over the spawing areas for bedding sites and generally very difficult to catch because food isn't on their agenda. Cruising bass the balance of the year are patrolling their territory and can be caught as long as they don't detect your presence. Sight fishing comes from targeting either bedding bass or cruisers, you see the bass before you cast to it. Bass move around smaller lakes and ponds on a regular pattern, so you can see them and move down in front of where they are heading and wait for the bass to come to you. Jumping fish aren't always bass, lots of fish jump. Carp and catfish both jump on occasions, but they are brown, not green. If the fish are making a loud slap on the water, they are more than likely carp. If you see a baitfish jump, then the splashes are more than likely bass. Believe or not a dead sticked surface lure with a few twitches works better for big bass that you are targeting, when you see a swirl or splash. Faster reaction lures work better for fish holding on a ambush site or just cover water to locate active bass. WRB

Bob, thank you for replying. I agree that food is a critical factor. Howver the lake Casitas comparison is a good example where genes are the key factor. The food supply being the same for both NLMB and FLMB, the growth rates should be similar, not 50% greater for the FLMB. Yes, they fit a different nitch, they are also different bass that happen to look similar. I have a pitcure for comparison of these two bass, just don't know how to attach it. C & R has created a almost cult following in CA and other states. What is ironic is I was a pioneer is trying to get BASS to adopt C & R, because the tournaments were removing tons of bass and that didn't look good to the public. Now tournament fisherman release over stressed bass that only provide food for the crawdads, turtles and birds. Agian, thank you. WRB

What I thought as one of the best C & R tournaments ran by BASS was the Falcon lake Elite 50 event. The bass looked healthy at the weigh in; dorsal fins erect, tails curled or wagging, good coloration. It appeared that the pro's and tank staff were doing a good job of keeping the bass alive and healthy. The first two days of this type of event requires the pros to have back seaters and also requires the boats to keep up to 10 bass in the livewells designed for 5 bass limits. When you are catching big bass, the problems escalate, big bass are more sensitive to stress from being in a livewell, plus they require more DO and cool water to stay healthy. The big bass bite was also comming later in the day and that met culling bass later in the day, that may have been in the livewell for several hours. This can lead to post stress mortality of C & R bass. The reports of a big fish kill started a few days after the tournament. True, who knows for sure, but a few dead floaters can create a big stir. Gene Gillihand is a well known biologist and his aticle is appropriate. http://www.state.tn.us/twra/fish/Reservoir/blackbass/livebass2.pdf WRB

The FLMB transplanted to California occupy a different nitch in the deep cool reserviors than the NLMB in the same lakes. FLMB prefer larger baitfish then NLMB due to their native lakes and rivers having golden shiners as forage, for example. The NLMB prefers smaller baitfish and is genetically developed to prey on sunfish for example. Lake Casitas, in California, is a good example; back in February of 1971, I caught a 12 lb 4 oz NLMB that was 27 1/2 inches long. In 1981, 10 years later, I caught a 18 lb 11 oz FLMB, same month, location and lure. The FLMB was 28 1/2 inches long, however had a girth of 28 inches, where the NLMB girth was only 20 1/2 inches. Same lake with the same forage and the FLMB was nearly 50% heavier. Why? The answer is, IMO, that FLMB prefer the larger baitfish, in this lake that was planted rainbow trout that average about 1/2 lb. The NLMB in the same lake didn't feed on the planted trout, the FLMB did. The forage base was excellent for both NLMB and FLMB during there young adult growing period, however the FLMB adapted to the deeper water zone where the trout lived and continued to grow at a faster rate then the NLMB in the same lake. If Floridia stocks it's lakes and rivers with large bait fish like the golden shiner and smaller baitfish like threadfin shad, plus reduces fishing pressure by outlawing fishing with live bait, then Floridia could have giant FLMB like California. WRB

Bob, you mentioned a relative weight to length chart to determine healthy verse under feed bass, was it posted? The other questions are; do you evalute FLMB strain differently from NLMB strians? If not why? You are from Texas, are you associated with the Share a Lunker program? Are you familar with the Share a Lunker program's genetic engineering (DNA gene splicing) to improve FLMB growth potential? or lower water temperature survivability to increase their range of distribution? It has been my experience that NLMB rarely exceed a length to girth ratio of 85%, where FLMB normally exceed that ratio where abundant prey is available in California impoundments. Florida, the natural range for FLMB, the bass have apparently poor young adult size (1 1/2 to 3lbs) forage availble and don't achieve the same growth rates the FLMB bass do in CA and TX. Califronia FLMB have grown over 20 lbs in lakes without planted trout (lake Hodges for example), however those lakes have good populations of mid size prey fish, threadfin shad, sunfish and crawfish available, no larger bait fish however. WRB

The traditional Carolina rig consist of a heavy 1/2 to 1 oz sliding sinker, bead, swivel, leader and soft plastic creature or worm. The weight goes on the main, the bead follows and the sivel is tied on to act as a weight stopper. The leader can be whatever you want it to be; monofilament or fluorocarbon up to 48" long or so. The finesse C-rig out west is called a slip shot rig and consist of a lighter mojo or Pro-Jo cylinder weight, glass bead, Peg-It or Carolina stopper, no swivel and the main line is used without a leader. The advantages are; one knot and a direct connection to the hook for better feel of strike detection and ease of changing the distance between the weight stopper and hook. The slip shot rig uses weights from 1/8 oz to 5/8 oz depending on the depth, wind and line size. Roboworms are high floaters and work very well for either C-rig or slip shot. WRB

Lets hope that mr. Lusk replies to your inquiry. Not being a biologist, we as anglers can eleuate the health of the lake or pond by the size of the bass and population of the fishery. The first thing a biologist would do is access both those issues by electro shocking survey and evaulating the forgage base. Bass are usually the last fish added into a new pond or reservior, the forage base should be established first, then the predators are added into the mix, based on population density by acre feet of water and available structure, cover and prey. Over population of year classes of bass can be very detrimental to the health of a small lake or large pond. Selective harvest and or slot limits are generally based on year class distribution. What type of prey is abundant or sparse and the dominate year class of the bass in the lake or pond. If you are catching bass with big heads and skinny bodies, the lake or pond is over populated. If the bass appear healthy with several year classes are being caught routinely, then the lake or pond is more than like in good condition. Over harvesting bass by fishing pressure alone is possible on smaller lakes and ponds with heavy fishing pressure. Larger reseverviors, say over 10,000 acres, fishing pressure alone has minimal impact on the bass population ability to sustain a healthy level. Water fluctuations, severe drought and dease have a much greater impact on bass populations than sport fishing harvest. WRB

If the weather is cloudy and rainy, then it's not post cold front conditions, just the opposite. The term cold front is confusing at it means the back side of the weather system and front of the higher pressure approaching. The low pressure of the rainy weather is due to falling barometric pressures, which is generally good for fishing. After the weather system passes, the cold windy clearing sky indicates the higher pressure cold front of the system is pushing through the area. Whatever the weather, don't get too caught up with it, especailly in a warm water discharging power generation lake. The air may be unconfortable, but the bass live in the water that isn't changing temperature, due to the weather. Fish the inside of the weed line early and move out to the outside weed line where any rocky structure is located and fish those isolated areas. If the water is off color, go with darker soft plastics with brighter highlights like; black grape with blue neon stripe or june bug with red flake, in lieu of the standard watermellon green/red flake that everyone else is using. Dropshot. T-rigged or C-rigged worms and Senko's all work well. Slow down, enjoy your day on the water and dress warm. WRB

Thanks. Your bass looks really healthy, dorsal fin upright in defensive posture, good color, don't think you need to worry how you handled that bass. That is a giant NLMB! congratulations. WRB

This is one of my favorite topics; the value of big bass verses average size bass. Tournament fisherman make thier living catching 3 pound average young adult bass, where 5 bass limits equal 15 lbs will get a check at 90% of the events. To win a tournament event the angler may need to have at least 1 kicker or big bass 5 lbs or more. That isn't my main point however, it's the value of truely big or giant bass that I'm talking about. Events like Falcon Elite 50 this last weekend and the Amistad event comming up, that focuses the value of big bass on the bass fishing world. Every bass fisherman or fisherwomen dreams of catching the bass of a lifetime, their personal best or PB 5 bass weight, if you tournament fish. The true giant; a NLMB over 10 lbs or a FLMB over 15 lbs are special bass and should be protected by those who bass fish. Killing these special big bass is common, but usually not intentional. The big bass are fragile and don't survive in livewells very well for several reasons. 1. Excessive handling to show off the catch, which is only natural. Taking photographs, weighing, etc. The handling over stresses the bigger bass. On average the survival rate for big bass in less than 33% for C & R. Livewells aren't designed for big bass, low DO levels and high water tempaeratures ( over 70 ), combined with excessive handleing are primary factors leading to high mortality rates. 2. Live bait fishing during the pre spawn to post spawn period. It is easier to catch big bass on live bait, so more are caught by live bait fisherman. It's not the gut hooking, althought that can be an issue, it's the simple fact that more big bass find their way into home freezers or mishandled. Tournament fisherman don't fish with live bait during an event, but some do during fun fishing. If big bass excite fisherman to go out and purchase tackle, boats and get them involved in bass fishing with the promise or dream of catching one, then big bass have a value beyond prize money, they are the sole of our sport and we should treat them as the valuable treasure they are. WRB

Thats a good Florida bass in Florida today, In CA the FLMB girth tends to be around 85% to 95% of the length and that is why they weigh so much more. Roberts Fish Mounts does a great job with replica's for the west coast bass; E-Mail trophyfish@tmail.com WRB

The formula I use is; L x L X G /1200 = weight in pounds. 27 X 27 X 20.5 = 14,944.5 /1200 = 12.45 lbs. L = length with the mouth close to tip of lower jaw to center of flattened tail. G = girth measures aroung the widest area with the dorsal fin flattened. This has proven accurate within 5%, you may prefer the Tackle Warehouse calculation better! I just entered my 18.8 and 19.3 measurements using the *** calculate and they are both new world records! If that was true. WRB

The link has changed;http://www.huddlestondeluxe.com/ WRB

Did you take the time to read your answered questions? WRB WRB I did not see the answers to the questions just the comments below. My mistake and meant no disrespect. Thats what I thought, becuase my answers aren't highlighted or easy to find, like the replies from folks that know how to use computers. I don't believe you must focus all your energy on catching giant bass, you miss out on the fun of bass fishing doing that. Some asked if I knew Bill Murphy and yes I did and didn't, we were in the same club together. Big bass fisherman can be very secretive and loners, Bill and I were both way to competitve to be good friends at that age. I was from Ventura county about 180 miles north of SD and therefor an outsider. I really regret those foolish secretive years wasted on ego and is one reason I share detailed lure presentation and knowledge today. WRB

Yes, we were both in the Picses bass club back in those days. SD lakes got hammered when the word got out. Castaic and Casitas both got hammered in the late 80's and 90's when the word got out on those lakes. Stripers have shut down the main lake Castiac giant bass bite and Casitas is closed to outside boats, but still has a giant bass bite. I only caught one 15+ at Casitas last year and had a few located when the lake closed, should go rent a tin boat and fish it. WRB

It helps to be located where DD bass live. 1955 I managed to catch 2 DD LMB; 12 lb on a crawdad from a private rock quarry lake and 11 lbs on a waterdog from Lake Havasu while on Easter vacation. The 11 should still be the lake record. !969, 14 years latter was the next DD bass; 14 lb 5 oz., from Lower Otay, my first giant FLMB, and a lake record for 2 days. By 1971 my total was over a 100, 10+ bass from the San Diego area lakes; Lower Otay, Wolford and San Vincente. It was at the time I decided to stop fishing with live bait because, IMO, live bait fishing was the primary cause of the giant bass population culasping in those lakes. WRB PS; the SD area lakes were only open 3 days a week, that is approx 300 days of fishing or a 10+ every 3 days. To say the bass fishing back then on those lakes was wide open is an under statement.

Did you take the time to read your answered questions? WRB

I haven't chipped in on frontal conditions up to this point. Barometric pressure affects on bass are misunderstood, IMO. The most severe storms, for example only change the atmosphic presseure about 100 millibars. Humans feel astmosphic changes more than bass do and tend to apply the pressure changes to how they feel. Consider a 100 millibar pressure change affect on the water surface; it equals about 3 inch of water added weight to the bass. Yes they feel the change, but I don't believe the pressure change has a major impact. What does have an major impact is the change in light intensity due the increased, then decreased moisture in the atmosphere. Low pressure forms a depression the moist air moves into and that triggers activity as the eccosystem becomes more active. The low pressure is pushed out by a frontal high pressure, winds increase, the moisture is push out and the atmosphere becomes extremely clear, increasing the light intesity. The astospheric changes from claim moist conditions to clear windy conditions has a dramatic affect on the shallow water eccosystem. Everyone has frontal conditions from time to time. The lowland lakes and reserviors that are shallow are affected more than the deeper highland and hill land type reserviors becuase the light intensity changes and wind affects are more dramatic. Where I live and fish it is easier to move to deepr water where the climatic changes have less impact, so that is what I do; fish deepr water. In a shallow water enviroment, like Florida for example, you must try to locate active bass and they aren't too active after feeding during the low pressure system. The bright sky conditions usually cause the bass to seek sancturary under cover in shallow water, so that is the best place to start; near or in the cover with presentations that target inactive bass. WRB

If you are questioning largemouth bass, then the age is dependant of the water temperature they live; the warmer the year round average climate is, the shorter the life spawn. Oldest bass that I have ever heard of was a smallmouth in Miane; 23 years old. Califronia northern strain largemouth bass, the oldest that I had aged by biologist Larry Bothoff was a San Vincente male bass that weighed nearly 7 lbs and was 17 years old. The 18 lb 11 oz bass, photo somewhere on this site, was 15 years old, also validated by scale study. My PB 19.3 I didn't get a pore scale from and believe it was over 12 years old because the fish was in excellent condition. All the giants in the bass family are females and spawning is the greatest danger to their health, followed by desease and then being caught and mishandled. WRB WRB

You must fish for big bass to catch big bass,.sounds contrite but it's the truth. Learn to fish jigs, big worms and swimbaits on the major points around the lake you fish and your luck will change. WRB

4. Bass is a bass. The statement is valid, you can't compare a FLMB to a NLMB they are as different as a spotted bass and smallmouth bass. Someday we will have separate records for each; FLMB are a different specie. Having had the opportunity to bass fish in nearly every state and country that has bass populations for over a 40 year period, IMO bass are bass where ever you go, that is to say northern LMB behave the same in Arkansas as they do in Arizona. I have caught LMB in lakes north of Lake Of The Woods in Ontario Canada, that the locals didn't know they were in that lake. Once fishing for smallmouth, came across a secondary cove with a weed bed that looked like largemouth water and they were there, spawning in July. That is the furthest north that I have caught a NLMB. continued... in regards to perfered water temperature, that is dependant on the environment or lake classification where the specific "bass" (FLMB, NLMB, SM or Spotted) is located. Within their natural range you may be able to state a prefered summer or warm water range. The winter range is simply the warmest the bass can find with good DO levels and and prey. The pre-spawn, spawn cycle are definately tied to water temperature. If LMB spawn too early in cool water, less than 60 degrees, the eggs take to long to hatch; about 12 days, for the male bass to protect from eggg eaters, too warm; above 70 degrees, the bass must compete with bluegill (bream) for spawning sites and protect the eggs that only take 2 days to hacth. Both too cool and too warm of water relates to low spawn recruitment. The warm water or summer periods is open to available prey, confort zone/water temperature/sanctuary, prey sources are abundant. The fall transition again tied to cooling water temperatures and climate. To state the FLMB prefer 75 to 85 degrees doesn't take into account for FLMB transplanted into the northern LMB southern range; California and Texas for prime examples. California reserviors that have a good FLMB population rarely have surface water temperatures that exceed 80 degrees and the bass go deeper during the warm water period to seek the thermocline where the water is closer to 70 degrees. I don't know what Amistad, Falcon, Fork and the other Texas lakes core water temperature are, or where the FLMB prefer to locate during the warm water period. The pre-spawn and spawn are very similar to CA. WRB

Lake Castiac, May 1991 around 9:30A. I was tutoring a local pro tournament bass fishing freind in his boat how to fish jigs so he could catch a kicker once in awhile. I had a box of jigs and decided to take along a spare rod rigged with a customized Scrouinger jig as a backup. We had jig fished fo 3 hours and were running up the lake to another location when I noticed 3 or 4 blue herons standing on a point trying to catch fish and a lot big splashes near them. We stopped and I made a cast toward the splashes and got into a non stop bite until I broke off the only Scrounger I had. I offered Gary to take the rod, but he refused and was happy to help net bass, release them and keep count. The point has a saddle where the bass had pushed up a school of trout and trapped them. The surface water temperature was about 72 degrees and a month past post spawn. The point is surrounded by 150+ deep water. Light wind with high overcast, mild May weather conditions. The original Scroungers had small 3/0 hook and I modified it with a long shank 6/0 worm hook tied to the cut off original hook. I was using a prototype rainbow trout sluggo on a 1/2 oz Scrounger head. This lure was a secret at the time. WRB

I agree with Cook's statement. Except where I fish the shoreline is generally pounded by weekend fisherman and knowledgeable bass fisherman out west tend to fish more outside structure where the bstter size bass locate in deeper water just above the thermocline during the warm water periods. The bass tend to move up towards the shore at night when the boat traffic is off the water. Deep water offers the bass a sancturary, baitfish like threadfin shad and planted trout. Crawdads during the day tend to hide in deep rocky cover and move up at night and threadfin shad tend to move to wood cover at night, so the foloow thier food source. Lakes without fishing pressure could be different, just don't get the opportunity to fish private lakes often enough to know the patterns. You may be reading into something that isn't there; if the water temperature is confortable for the bass, then it isn't a factor. The bass have located where they want to be and not forced to locate elsewhere due to water temperature issues. If the water temperature wasn't confortable, the bass won't be there. Hope that helps to clarify the statement. I don't mind discussing the temperature issues, having a debate, everyone has a right to there opinions and hopefully the information can be helpful to readers. I have no time for and will not respond to personal attacks. WRB

Your point is? How long do you think it takes to catch hook and land big bass? You obviously have never caught big bass or several big bass during a feeding freenzy or you wouldn't ask the question. The longest time I have ever played a bass is about 2 minutes, usually about 1 minute. The people I wanted to know about the catch knew, plus my partner let a few more know. When you are trying to catch world record size bass the last thing you want is more boat traffic. Instead of questioning if I caught those bass, which is well known fact in the big bass circles, you should of ask where, when and on what lure. WRB