Which do you think a bass prefers?

[5bass]

That poll was extremely close.

Yep. Craws dominated last time we did this.

[CWB]

^

24 to 1 sounded way too extreme to me so I did a little research to see if there was at least any info to back his statement and this is all I could find.

http://www.thinklikeabass.com/july_bass_fishing_articles.html

I'll go ahead & copy & past the important section.

The first element we will talk about is FOOD. Contrary to popular belief, shad is NOT! the primary 1st choice of a bass. Although shad is a very common food for the bass as well as other natural baits, the number one food choice of a bass is a crawfish (also known as crayfish, crawdads, etc.). A study was performed several years ago where 100 Crawfish and 100 shad were in a tank of water with all species of bass (Smallmouth, Spotted, and Largemouth), and to much surprise the crawfish were eaten 8 to 2 over the shad. There are several reasons for this, but the most important one is that a crawfish is an easy prey for a bass to catch, and they are fairly easy for a bass to find. And once again contrary to popular belief, studies show that there are actually more crawfish found in vegetation areas than around rocky areas (or as some may know as Rip-Rap.)

Definitely not 24 to 1 but the bass, in a controlled environment, sure preferred the crawfish.

Again, study was done in a tank where the craws probably could not dig burrows. I agree they inhabit weed grown areas as seen in many diving adventures. As soon as I would get near one, he would scoot down his hole. I am not a bass so I can't say which they prefer, I just think shad and baitfish are more available and in more waters. Also, they can run, but they can't hide. Lots of good info in this thread. "Food" for thought.

[RoLo]

Snippets from "Think Like A Bass" website:

A study was performed several years ago where 100 Crawfish and 100 shad were in a tank of water with all species of bass (Smallmouth, Spotted, and Largemouth), and to much surprise the crawfish were eaten 8 to 2 over the shad.

I wouldn't invest too much in that study.

Conclusions cannot be drawn based on a single study, unless that study were long-term,

professionally supervised and double blind, which I seriously doubt.

There have been uncountable studies of this nature, but none have ever suggested

that bass prefer crayfish to baitfish, about 5 to 1. The first hurdle is differentiating between

"Preference and Availability, which can only be achieved by enforcing equal availability.

(BTW: It doesn't take a carcinologist to know that the animal in question is a crayfish,

and that crawfish is a nickname. Of course that's no big deal, but words are the only tools

we have for communication, and poor semantics only downgrades credibility.)

And once again contrary to popular belief, studies show that there are actually more crawfish found in vegetation areas than around rocky areas (or as some may know as Rip-Rap.)

:

Crayfish are omnivores that eat both animals and vegetables.

It has always been common knowledge that crayfish can thrive anywhere they find cover;

they hide in vegetation, burrow in loam & clay, and slide into crevices in rocky bottoms.

(BTW: Riprap is not a synonym for rocky bottom, but is chunk-rock deposited by man

to combat erosion).

"Think like a bass??"

In my opinion, the moment we stop thinking, we will be thinking like a bass.

Kevin VanDam stated it well: <quote> "I don't believe that bass target critters because they taste good,

they eat them because they moved.

Roger

[NBR]

I think they go for which ever is available!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

So Scott, is there a "correct" answer anywhere out there?

[5bass]

So Scott, is there a "correct" answer anywhere out there?

Not that I know of Wayne. I would like to know the definitive answer but I see this topic being just like the Ford vs. Chevy debate.

[J Francho]

Its a tough call.  If your talking shad, you can usually narrow it down to two or three predominant herring species.  With crabs, there are over 300 described species.  One thing is for sure, if you're on a "crab bite" on a "crab lake" you might want to know a little about the coloration, habitat, and any migratory behavior.  Same would go for a shad pattern.

[5bass]

J, you lost me with all this 'crab' talk. 

[CWB]

Who's got crabs?

Ford vs. Chevy is easy.

Cars- Chevy

Trucks- Ford

[5bass]

Who's got crabs?

Apparently JFrancho....about 300 of 'em I think he said. 

[Hammer 4]

Who's got crabs?

Ford vs. Chevy is easy.

Cars- Chevy

Trucks-CHEVY 

There...fixed it for ya... ;D

[CWB]

^ my mistake.