Bass Travel

[jimmieO]

Ok. Got to thinking about this, did a little research, didn't find anything I felt good about. So,....

How far do you think bass travel? For example, our tournament Saturday was on a lake that is probably 25 miles from dam to dam. There were approximately 100 fish weighed, and every last one of them was dropped back in the water right there at the dock. How far and when do you think these bass travel?????

My theory is that most of these bass hold tight around the first structure/cover they find and sit tight for a day or so before wandering. I still don't know if they travel far after that....what are some of your thoughts?????? Do you think they can find a way back to their "home" or their bed????

[Gatorbassman]

There's a post from a year or two ago where Randall talks about a bass who has been caught four different times and released at the boat ramp. This bass was caught each time on the same fish attractor that's 2 miles from the ramp. There are pictures to proove it.

[Gatorbassman]

Here it is.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1169105646/0#0

[jimmieO]

Thanks man. That is an amazing story!

[Triton21]

There was a Radio study done in the '70s 0r '80s that studied multiple bass and most returned to the place they were caught.  One even traveled 20 miles.

[Team9nine]

I've posted about it quite a bit, and it varies from water to water, but a majority of the time it seems like fish will hang around the immediate (1 mile) marina/release area for the first 30 days or so. After that, they will continue to disperse, but the largest majority will still stay within a 3-5 mile distance from release in most case.

There are quite a few studies and research papers online now detailing this subject, just takes some time to look for them.

-T9

[Sam]

Article and books I have read and Bassmasters Universities I have attended have told me this:

How Far Do Bass Travel in a Body of Water?

Some travel up to two miles while others much less.

Some have their "milk run" and go to and from their favorite points to points during the day and week.

How Far Do Bass Travel from Cover and Structure?

Clear Water - About six feet from cover or structure and they can be swimming around all over the place.

Stained Water - They hold to around 3 feet out from the cover or structure.

Dirty Water - Hold tight to cover and structure.

That is why you want to:

Fish the outside limbs of a fallen tree, then the middle and then towards the bank.

Hit the cover and structure with your lure.

The guys will give you more information.

Get some good bass books or magazines and read about your adversary so you will understand their habits, the weather impact, the seasons and water temperatures that will affect their behavior.  

As for how far do they travel when you release them?  A guy in my bass club won a Sunday club tournament on Lake Gaston by fishing the ramps that had tournaments on Saturday.

[BASS fisherman]

I too have read reports of radio telemetry studies done on bass.

Basically they have found that some bass are constantly moving, some move here and there, and a few stay put and dont move at all.  

[Catt]

How Far Do Bass Travel in a Body of Water?

A couple years back 2 bass over 10 pounds were caught down around the Housen' Bayou and Six Mile areas on Toledo Bend both were weighted in at Toledo Tackle up at Pendleton Bridge; both bass were released at the bridge and caught again a couple weeks later in the same Housen' Bayou and Six Mile areas. The distance between catch areas and the release areas is some 12-15 miles.

How Far Do Bass Travel from Cover and Structure?

I often catch bass that have moved onto feeding flats from deep structure that is 75-150 yards away.

This is why:

I set up between their living room and their kitchen; double your odds and fish em coming and going.