Bass Behavior

[MassYak85]

Are there any specific articles/videos/DVD's that you guys found especially helpful to better understand bass behavior. I've really only been serious into bass fishing for the past few years, that is I took an effort to better understand all the different techniques and the basics of what the bass do under different conditions. Whereas before it was pretty much: Go to the lake....are they hitting on weightless worms? No?------> Are they hitting on spinnerbaits? No? -----> Clueless. And it was pretty much just me beating the bank, fishing deeper than 10 feet was completely out of my comfort zone. Right now I feel I have a better grasp on tackle and technique selection, and have a basic feel of seasonal patterns, but there are still days I feel lost and just can't make a confident guess at where the fish are. What helped you out the most in understanding bass behavior? (Besides time on the water obviously)

[HeavyDluxe]

I read and just started re-reading Largemouth Bass: An In-Fisherman Handbook of Strategies ... I think the suggestion originally came from a poster here, and I got it on the 'Zon for cheap (electronically).

There are tons of other great articles out there, but this book has (so far) proved to be a good, one-stop shop for information.

[WRB]

Do a search for my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar, should help to get you started, dated but still good info.

Bill Murphy's book In Pursuit of Giant Bass has some good bass behavior related info.

Understanding how bass relate to both structure, cover and the primary prey source is very important. There are lots of very good threads on this site regarding structure fishing by Catt, check them out.

Good fishing.

Tom

 

[thirtysixit]

6 hours ago, HeavyDluxe said:

I read and just started re-reading Largemouth Bass: An In-Fisherman Handbook of Strategies ... I think the suggestion originally came from a poster here, and I got it on the 'Zon for cheap (electronically).

There are tons of other great articles out there, but this book has (so far) proved to be a good, one-stop shop for information.

THIS THIS THIS THIS THISssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[davecon]

Check out Glen Lau's videos "Big Mouth" and "Big Mouth Forever".

Absolutely amazing. I have them and watch every few months.

One was filmed in the Silver River in Ocala, the other in thre Rainbow River in Dunnellon. I have fished the Rainbow many times. Water is crystal clear and therefore was great for filming as is the Silver River.

You won't be sorry.

Seems I learn something new every time I watch the videos

Just Google Glen Lau.

[MassYak85]

Thanks for the replies guys! I'll definitely take a look at all of those when I get the chance. 

[Raul]

 

[Turkey sandwich]

2 hours ago, Raul said:

 

There is some excellent footage in this video!  

 

The In Fisherman largemouth and smallmouth series have some pretty good information and lay out a lot of general information about behavior.  Bob Clouser's fly fishing smallmouth book is also a great resource for the general information, even if you don't own a fly rod, same for John Tartuliani's Smallmouth in Streams.  Some of the best books that have helped my lure choices and presentation have been books on fly fishing.  Yes, there are differences in tackle and conditions, but some of the presentation details you'll get from reading how to dead drift flies and mend line are applicable to any river situation, dammed reservoirs with current, etc and listening to/reading someone like Bob Clouser or Lefty Kreh talk about imitating baitfish with streamers is immediately applicable to any minnow immitation you throw.   I also like Greg Vinall's Why Fish Don't See Your Lures... because it provides insight into color properties at various depths and water clarifies (though some of you guys may have run him off the forum a few months back.  Let's simply agree to disagree on this one  ).  A lot of he older heads on here reference Spoon Plugging a good bit, and I'm still guilty of not picking up a copy.   

 

Is your primary concern finding the fish, or how to gauge activity level/ideal presentations?  That might help give you specific answers or point you to the right books/articles/videos. 

["hamma"]

I got alot out of several years of bassmasters magazine, Ironicly its mostly geared to southern fishing but I did apply and adapt to up here. Also, In-Fisherman and every tv show I could watch. But,...There were 2 books put out by Ted Ancher called Bass Bets. That were actually reviews of New England lakes and ponds, He interviewed tourny anglers about their favorite waters and provided a in depth report showing area's/spots, and what they used to catch fish. Quite valuable for any New England angler 

[HeavyDluxe]

2 hours ago, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:

There were 2 books put out by Ted Ancher called Bass Bets. That were actually reviews of New England lakes and ponds...

These look awesome... but also look very difficult to find.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, HeavyDluxe said:

These look awesome... but also look very difficult to find.

https://www.facebook.com/Bass-Bets-Books-594942927237561/

A-Jay

[HeavyDluxe]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Bass-Bets-Books-594942927237561/about/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&tab=page_info

A-Jay

Doesn't seem to want to load for me, A-Jay... I keep getting a redirect error.  How'd you find whatever page this is (and I'll go hunting for it)? 

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, HeavyDluxe said:

Doesn't seem to want to load for me, A-Jay... I keep getting a redirect error.  How'd you find whatever page this is (and I'll go hunting for it)? 

https://www.facebook.com/Bass-Bets-Books-594942927237561/

This works

A-Jay

[Paul Roberts]

Workin' on it! A YT channel and a book or two.

Where did I learn about bass behavior? Long-time serious angler and naturalist (no, not naturist ), fisheries and wildlife technician, university researcher in eco-physiology, ... never really stopped asking questions and looking deeper and further than most. I've hit much of the angling literature as well as exhaustive reviews of the scientific literature. I know one thing for certain: I'll die with still lots of questions. 

There are two ways to go about it, and both are important: study and time on the water. The first so that you gain more from the second -know more of what to look for. 

Read all you can. I'll ditto the IF series (all editions), and magazine. There's a lot on this site too, including a good biology section that apparently doesn't get visited as often as maybe it deserves. Most anglers are focused on techniques and tackle. Most don't care why something works. But they do care when it doesn't! Bass aren't chasing lures all the time and there are some pretty good reasons for it. That's what's on my plate and I'm... working at it. Just hope I don't keel over before I have something ready to put out there. Wish me luck... and longevity.

[Oufb90]

I like Youtubing different things a lot. Different techniques and different lures. It's a good source. 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Paul Roberts said:

Workin' on it! A YT channel and a book or two.

Where did I learn about bass behavior? Long-time serious angler and naturalist (no, not naturist ), fisheries and wildlife technician, university researcher in eco-physiology, ... never really stopped asking questions and looking deeper and further than most. I've hit much of the angling literature as well as exhaustive reviews of the scientific literature. I know one thing for certain: I'll die with still lots of questions. 

There are two ways to go about it, and both are important: study and time on the water. The first so that you gain more from the second -know more of what to look for. 

Read all you can. I'll ditto the IF series (all editions), and magazine. There's a lot on this site too, including a good biology section that apparently doesn't get visited as often as maybe it deserves. Most anglers are focused on techniques and tackle. Most don't care why something works. But they do care when it doesn't! Bass aren't chasing lures all the time and there are some pretty good reasons for it. That's what's on my plate and I'm... working at it. Just hope I don't keel over before I have something ready to put out there. Wish me luck... and longevity.

Do it sooner than later while you can!

Tom

[BassnChris]

Thank you......I would have said thanks sooner.....but I've been busy waiting the video!

[lo n slo]

before i joined these forums i was a long time reader of the articles on this site and still do. they are well researched and well written. 

[timsford]

I grew up reading bassmaster, in fisherman, North American fisherman, and bassin magazine. I don't think the last 2 are still published but the first two taught me a lot of new techniques and how to fish them, and also about how bass act based on seasonal and weather conditions and basically most of what I know now. I also learned a lot from older books by bill dance and roland martin, bill murphys book, and a few sets of hardback books published by bassmaster and in fisherman. I have learned a few things off the internet, but mostly techniques since I had been bass fishing a long time before the Internet became what it is now. Nowadays though sites like this and others have a lot of articles that help so I'd definitely start there.