Do Largemouth Bass Live In Schools?

[smr_hga]

Ok so at my little pond in the winter months I kept seeing schools of 15+ largemouth bass all the same size swimming around the lake. (I live in florida so the water doesn't freeze) I tried to get one to bite my hook but they all just ignored it and swam on. Now when I go fishing I sometimes see bass in groups of 3 or 4 around the bank. Sometimes I get them to take my lure but I'm still confused why they are gathered up like this. Is it because it's spawning season? I thought they spawned further out anyways...

[Bluebasser86]

Yes, largemouth bass are school fish and will typically school with similar sized fish. 

[Ozark_Basser]

Bass will also spawn in very shallow water right next to the bank if they have to. The clearer the water, the farther out and deeper they will spawn.

[shanksmare]

Its like most things in life - it all depends. Sometimes and some places they do, other times and places not so much. Naturally, they seem to school up more when there are schooled up  baitfish in the area. Sometimes you can catch a lot of bass from a single piece of isolated cover. So I guess the bass were schooled up (to some extent ) in that cover.

[Sam]

Yes.

 

However if you read the literature about the largemouth bass you will understand that the larger ladies may not "school" with the other bass but either 1) stake out their own area or 2) travel with one or two other bass from place to place.

 

However, bass are schooling fish and it is great to hit a school of three pounders when they approve of your bait.

[Paul Roberts]

Technically, no. Here's a previous thread on the subject:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/147120-school-bass/

 

What you might be seeing in your pond are fish in winter aggregation, or possibly prespawn -depending on when your fish spawn. In central FL you might have water cold enough to create winter aggregations, and in south FL the latter is likely. The smaller summer groups you mention are probably hunting together.

[WRB]

Glen Lau in his Largemouth Forever video claims there are 2 groups of LMB, bass in small groups and school bass clearly shown in this video.

I have witnessed large schools of big bass working together to corral rainbow trout and benefited from these wolf packs. You also see and catch loners and small groups of 3 to 5 or so bass in home areas. Seeing bass grouped together during the spawn period is a different situation, these bass are not feeding.

Tom

PS, didn't see Pauls post above.

[Josh Smith]

Technically, it's an aggregation, not a school.

Feral dogs may join into a loose pack for purposes of hunting larger game, but generally, unlike wolves, are not true pack animals.

The same is true with regard to black b ass and schools. Thus, the different terminology.

Josh

[Catt]

I highly suggest y'all read the thread Paul linked!

Quite possible the best discussion ever

[the reel ess]

At least in the ponds I fish they don't seem to school much. And one of these ponds is more of a reservoir. It seems also that the bigger they are the more likely they are to be alone. You don't expect to throw to the same spot and pull out multiple big fish. Now they might be in the same general area because conditions dictate it. I just don't see schooling activity. But I don't see shad either. These places have bluegill and/or gold shiners. Only once have I "gotten into" what I'd call a school where I was catching one every cast and they were competing for the lure. They were small and didn't last long.

[Big C]

C'mon guys they don't live in schools, they go home after class.

[BassNWA]

I got into about 40 largemouth bass tonight on Beaver lake in Arkansas prespawn.  I’ve never seen largemouth school like white-bass before.   Chasing shad pockets top water.  Most were 1-4 lbs.  Caught about 10.  It was like heaven dropping bowling balls all around my boat for about 15 min.  On Beaver we see whites, hybrids, and stripers do this often. 

[Surfcaster79]

On 5/13/2015 at 10:51 AM, WRB said:

Glen Lau in his Largemouth Forever video claims there are 2 groups of LMB, bass in small groups and school bass clearly shown in this video.

I have witnessed large schools of big bass working together to corral rainbow trout and benefited from these wolf packs. You also see and catch loners and small groups of 3 to 5 or so bass in home areas. Seeing bass grouped together during the spawn period is a different situation, these bass are not feeding.

Tom

PS, didn't see Pauls post above.

 

 

I agree with this. I think your chances are slim to none you'll catch a trophy while hitting a school of 1lb fish... however, I would bet after those 1lb fish leave the big girls will be right behind.