Largemouth Bass Food Size

[bigbaitfisher]

There is a chart, somewhere in existence, that shows how big of forage fish that certain sized largemouth can consume.  It's come to my attention that Shad has been in a recent FLW article, but the chart that I have seen in the past listed almost everything...bluegill, trout, shad, etc.

If anyone has a link to, or PDF File of, this chart, I would REALLY appreciate it.  I've spent countless hours searching google with no results.

Thanks!!!

[Simp]

I was half expecting you to ask what size makes a good fillet.  ;D

[microman]

http://www.chesbay.org/images/Predator%20vs%20Prey%20Chart%201-09.jpg

this one is for stripers, but you get the general idea :

[WRB]

Rule of thumb is; maximum baitfish size = 1/3 the basses length. You also need to take into consideration the width of the bait fish; slender bait fish like smelt and trout may increase to 1/2 the basses length and wider baitfish like bluegill or crappie may reduce it to 1/4 the length.

The other very important factor to consider is; Bass, like most animals, can't determine their own size verses any bait size; it's a trail and error learning experience.

WRB

[bigbaitfisher]

Thanks for the Rockfish chart.  Actually very helpful as I fish the Chesapeake A LOT for rockfish.  Helps make more sense on why we use the baits we use.

I'm well aware of the 1/3rd rule.  This chart did the conversions for bluegill and trout, shad, etc. so it reduced the "guess work".  It was really helpful, and I'd love to have a copy of it.  No clue who made it, where I saw it, or what...hoping someone else does!!!!!

[gobig]

If a bait fits into a bass's mouth it will eat it. If it does not fit into its mouth it will probably still try to eat it. How many times have you caught a 8'' bass on a 6'' worm? I have caught quite a few 10''-14'' fish on 8''- 10''swimbaits. There may be guidelines & probabilities but no rules for sure.

[b.Lee]

I agree with the majority, if you catch it you catch it. Bass will and can eat what they want

[salmicropterus]

Thanks for the Rockfish chart. Actually very helpful as I fish the Chesapeake A LOT for rockfish. Helps make more sense on why we use the baits we use.

I'm well aware of the 1/3rd rule. This chart did the conversions for bluegill and trout, shad, etc. so it reduced the "guess work". It was really helpful, and I'd love to have a copy of it. No clue who made it, where I saw it, or what...hoping someone else does!!!!!

There was an article in I think FLW Outdoors about this subject-it was done by Keith Jones, the biologist for Berkeley. this would have been about 3 issues or so ago. I tried to find a link but couldn't. It was very good and largely supported the 1/3 rule but also confirmed maximum sizes of up to 80% of the feeder's size. IMO older fish=bigger fish=smarter fish which to me means they have better mastered the energy spent/calorie gained ratio. That said, my biggest bass of 9#  was caught on a 5" hollow body swim baiy and my second biggest on a small wacky rig with a 4" senko type bait

[D4u2s0t]

remember that eating is only 1 of the 3 reasons why bass strike.  Like said above, i've caught fish on baits that were pretty close to their size, and there's zero chance they could have actually swallowed the bait.

[Raul]

RW is going to say: go big or go home

Bass are one of those fish that don 't seem to care at what size they are mouthing a lot more than they can chew, I 've bass fished for more than two decades and so many times that ( I have lot the count ) I 've seen or caught fish with prey on they mouth that leaves you scratching your head wondering what they were thinking when they tried to eat/swallow that big of a fish.

[WRB]

Don't over look the fact the bass can't judge the size of prey verses their own size. The bass can recognize the prey for what it is from successful experiences. The right color, movement, behavior are positive clues, but the bass must commit to biting the bait to determine learn what it is. Bass make a lot of mistakes and don't survive as a result. The bass that do survive make fewer mistakes. If a bass tries to swallow something that will not go down their throat and can't spit out, they die.

Every lake has a lot of bass prey that most bass fisherman over look, the bass don't over look possible prey. Examples; fresh water sculpin, common in most lakes and Danner nymphs (dragon fly larvae).

If you cast out a 2' long plastic worm several bass may race over to eat it, most will turn away when they get very close, but a few will strike it. That happens all day long when bass fishing, the bass sees the lure, has momentary interest and a few will strike.

If the lure looks and acts like they prey thee bass are successfully feeding on, the strike ratio goes up and your success along with it.

WRB

[Perfect Hook Set]

I agree with those who said, that bass will attack any size bait / lure etc.

I have seen bass eat live small mice (not used as bait)

and

Small birds (not used as baits)

If a bass attempts to eat something too big but, it can not fully swallow the prey, the bass may die.

  Big largemouth "dead" after attempting to eat a fish it could not swallow

There is an exception in my opinion which is that there are parts of the year (winter especially) where bigger bass may not expend as much energy chasing something big.

Bigger bait bigger fish never stuck with me because, I have caught 6in bass on a 6in spook and a 5lb lmb on a 3in rapala jerk bait.

Bass eats mouse (tank too small for mouse)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuRH1u1BRmk

Good studies one being distance of prey / size

http://www.montana.edu/~wwwbi/staff/mcmahon/Pred-Prey.pdf

This was taken from

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/youth/news/story?page=b_youth_BassEat_JrBMM_0106

"Bass also choose their food based on their size. The bigger the bass, the bigger the meal. Largemouth in California often eat rainbow trout 10 to 12 inches long, and Cross once found a 12-inch gizzard shad in the stomach of a 10-pound largemouth. He has, however, examined stomachs of big largemouth that were crammed full of tiny grass shrimp, proof that bass will eat whatever is easy to catch."

"Largemouth bass switch from a diet of mostly insects to a diet of fish and other larger prey when they reach about 8 inches," says Cross."

This info was found here

http://www.jimporter.org/articles/article59.shtml

"Any prey having a body depth less than the diameter of the bass' mouth may be consumed."

[gobig]

Bill Siemantle does a good job of explaining this. He simplely takes a 10in swimbait and holds it at differant angles. For instance if you were to look straight down the bait with the nose pointed at you. The bait (trout style) only appears to be 1in x 2in. but the side profile is huge. From the bottom its long and skinny. More like a senko profile. I think this is the main reason why smaller fish will hit a big bait. You have to put your self in the position of the fish and what it can see. The more you start to learn about big baits the less intimidating they become. I am at work right now but I will try and post a link for some good info on the subject later today.

[gobig]

I hope this helps expand thoughts on bait size.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnRg-dVtteo