Lake Fishing; Bass Behavior Questions

[TheBig1]

Ok, please forgive my ignorance.  I'm trying to figure out this bass fishing thing while doing it from a boat.  This question will pertain to one lake's demographics in particular to which I can then project your answers to other lakes.  The lake freezes, so the question doesn't pertain to winter fishing, it's more along the lines of where they are during the prespawn, where they'll be coming from, and where I should look for spawning areas.

 

I understand that "deep" is relative, meaning that one lake with a maximum depth of 30' can be approached with relatively the same approach as a lake with a maximum depth of 10'.  The same principles apply.  But I have a few questions.  I want to start small and hopefully be able to apply the same applications to bigger lakes but I figure if I can't do this with a small lake then there's no sense in wasting time on a bigger body of water.

 

So I'm fishing a lake that is 165 acres with a maximum depth of approximately 30' near the outlet with rip rap along about 100 yard stretch.  Coming out of that section the depth obviously decreases and comes to anywhere between 5' to 8' where there is a lot of vegetation during the warm weather months.  I guess my first dumb question would be, do all of these fish, bass, retreat during the winter months to the deepest part of the lake or do they stay in their own general area in the relative deepest section of thier area of the lake?  This is the first question I need answered before the spring thaw and prespawn so I know where to even begin my search. 

 

Next, spawning areas.  In a lake of a relatively small area, will these fish spawn on only one area of the lake or, again, will they spawn in their own relative area of residence?  Meaning, will there be one central spawning area or multiple spawning areas around the lake? 

 

I guess I'm looking for the technical answers to my questions about bass behavior.  I'm the person who needs to learn and understand those basics principles of behavior.  I'm tired of throwing a texas rigged worm anywhere that has water, I want to learn and maximize my limited time and effort.

 

Thank you in advance for your time.

[DocNsanE]

I'm sure others on this board will be able to provide better answers but I'll give it a shot.

 

Do you have access to a topo of the lake? First thing I would do would be to identify spawning areas. These should be relatively flat areas in shallower water. As far as I know there could very well be multiple prime spawning locations on a given body of water, some might be better than others and attract more fish though.

 

Once you have identified the potential spawning areas, look at the points  and drop-offs leading up to those. The fish will usually start moving towards the spawning areas following the thaw but will hold to deeper water that has access to the shallower water. If you can find a piece of structure around that area, that could be a prime location to fish. I may be wrong but I believe that in the early pre-spawn fish will hold to cover in deeper water and move up to the shallower water to feed and then quickly retreat to the deeper water again.

 

With a bit of work on a topo map you should be able to limit your search to a few key areas and save yourself a lot of time on the water.

 

Again I'm no expert on the matter, I'm just trying to repeat the things that I've read or watched in various videos I've found online. I'm looking forward to seeing what some of the more experienced anglers on this site have to say on the subject.

 

Best of luck!

[TheBig1]

Thanks Doc, I'm not an expert either, which is why I posed the question here.  Thank you for your response, I've read and have heard those things also but am just lost at how to put them to practice.  That's why I'm trying to understand where they are now and where they will go then to give me a better chance of finding said areas to put those principles of drop offs and cover to practice.  I do have a topo map of the lake but I guess I'm just lost at this whole thing.  Again, I'm tired of just wetting a worm in the water, I want to find them, even if I am unable to catch them at that time.

[Catt]

I'm sure others on this board will be able to provide better answers but I'll give it a shot.

Do you have access to a topo of the lake? First thing I would do would be to identify spawning areas. These should be relatively flat areas in shallower water. As far as I know there could very well be multiple prime spawning locations on a given body of water, some might be better than others and attract more fish though.

Once you have identified the potential spawning areas, look at the points and drop-offs leading up to those. The fish will usually start moving towards the spawning areas following the thaw but will hold to deeper water that has access to the shallower water. If you can find a piece of structure around that area, that could be a prime location to fish. I may be wrong but I believe that in the early pre-spawn fish will hold to cover in deeper water and move up to the shallower water to feed and then quickly retreat to the deeper water again.

With a bit of work on a topo map you should be able to limit your search to a few key areas and save yourself a lot of time on the water.

Again I'm no expert on the matter, I'm just trying to repeat the things that I've read or watched in various videos I've found online. I'm looking forward to seeing what some of the more experienced anglers on this site have to say on the subject.

Best of luck!

[scaleface]

  I fish a 200 acre lake often . Some bass spawn on the flats  leading into the coves, in the rear of the coves , in the middle of the coves, main lake ,even on stumps and riprap too. They spawn all over. 

[F14A-B]

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/largemouth-seasonal-habits.html

Study this really well, awesome info here!

Also Topo maps like was said, contact local fishing clubs, tackle shops,etc.. Gather all the intell you can get. Some of it may be misinformation though.. What drives a LMB?

These fish do the same things year after year, learn it well, and repeat for a lifetime..

[Sam]

Where they are during the prespawn, where they'll be coming from, and where I should look for spawning areas.?

During prespawn they are in deeper water, holding to any structure or drop offs they can find.

When the water temperature reaches 60* they start to move to the spawning areas.

The bass have a "road system" that they follow to the spawning areas each year and you need to find that "roadway" by studying your maps and being on the water to see the structure and cover they may follow. Note responses above.

Look for shallower water where the males can make the beds. These areas can be anywhere - mouths of creeks, backs of creeks, middle of creeks, in grass, close to the shoreline, on rock, etc. Look for a white colored patch on the bottom. This is their bed. And it can be anywhere in the lake that a male thinks will make a good place for his female.

 

Do all of these fish, bass, retreat during the winter months to the deepest part of the lake or do they stay in their own general area in the relative deepest section of thier area of the lake? 

Not all will head deep. Some will stay in deep water near shallow water and sun themselves during the day; some will find rocks and rip rap banks to hold for the warmer water; and the majority will go deep and will hold to any structure, rock or grass they can find.

When you catch bass that have been deep in the winter they will be a silver color. The green will appear when they finish spawning and move to shallower and warmer water.

It is thought that a bass will remain in their familiar section of a lake or river. After releasing the bass they will swim back to their same areas. When the water level reduces or on tidal rivers the tide goes out, the bass will stay in their general area but move to deeper water.

 

Will there be one central spawning area or multiple spawning areas around the lake? 

All around the lake.

Bass will spawn in their general areas so the beds will be all over the lake.

 

May I suggest you subscribe to some bass magazines to read the articles on the spawn and how to catch them while on their beds?  Or check out YouTube for any videos on the subject.

 

Just remember that the bass will be directly affected by the water temperature which directs their behavior in all lakes and rivers.

 

Good luck and please let us know how you do with the spawn. Post pics.

[TheBig1]

Alone, I'll be sure to check that out sometime today.  Thank you very much.

 

Sam, thank you for your reply.  That actually answered what I was looking for about whether bass tend to congregate in one area on congregate in their living areas around the lake as well as answering the question on whether they spawn all in the same area or in different areas around the lake.  I had always wondered these things and thought that this is where I would start.

 

If I score you guys will be sure to see some pics.

[tatertester]

Just a thought, but, maybe your trying to assimilate too much at one time....Why not just start with a basic plan that includes several lures, 2 or 3 points or coves(inside turns)or weed cover , and fish shallow to deeper just to locate bass.....Fish,fish and fish some more , practice and don't let yourself be consumed with too many aspects of your end goal of catching fish....Enjoy your time on the water and the fish will be around somewhere.

[TheBig1]

Thanks Tater, I'll most certainly start to do just that.

[Ozark_Basser]

Definitely get a topo map and do some reading on seasonal patterns but take those readings with a grain of salt. You will most likely see an improvement the first time you go out.