Bass Behavior?

[rboat]

If we have any fish biologists or ichthyologists on board, please give some insight on this.

I know that a major lure color is baby bass. I also know bass are, at times cannibalistic and opportunistic feeders. I have read that once the bass fry are large enough the male who has been protecting the nest will turn on the young and chase them away or try to consume them. If this is true, a baby bass colored lure would be best in mid to late spring (post-spawn).

My question is how cannibalistic are they really? If they were super cannibals we would not have any.

I have also caught bass on a bass colored lure every season, not just post-spawn. If you have some true bass biology education please give us some insight into this phenomenon. Thank You.

[rboat]

If we have any fish biologists or ichthyologists on board, please give some insight on this.

I know that a major lure color is baby bass. I also know bass are, at times cannibalistic and opportunistic feeders. I have read that once the bass fry are large enough the male who has been protecting the nest will turn on the young and chase them away or try to consume them. If this is true, a baby bass colored lure would be best in mid to late spring (post-spawn).

My question is how cannibalistic are they really? If they were super cannibals we would not have any.

I have also caught bass on a bass colored lure every season, not just post-spawn. If you have some true bass biology education please give us some insight into this phenomenon. Thank You.

[rboat]

If we have any fish biologists or ichthyologists on board, please give some insight on this.

I know that a major lure color is baby bass. I also know bass are, at times cannibalistic and opportunistic feeders. I have read that once the bass fry are large enough the male who has been protecting the nest will turn on the young and chase them away or try to consume them. If this is true, a baby bass colored lure would be best in mid to late spring (post-spawn).

My question is how cannibalistic are they really? If they were super cannibals we would not have any.

I have also caught bass on a bass colored lure every season, not just post-spawn. If you have some true bass biology education please give us some insight into this phenomenon. Thank You.

[Aluma-Bass]

not largemouth bass but i had a pair of convict cichlids in my tank that would lay eggs all the time. They would protect their fry till they got to a certain size...then it was free for all! There parents would eat them if not separated. Only way i could keep and raise the fry would be keeping them in separate tanks...

[Aluma-Bass]

not largemouth bass but i had a pair of convict cichlids in my tank that would lay eggs all the time. They would protect their fry till they got to a certain size...then it was free for all! There parents would eat them if not separated. Only way i could keep and raise the fry would be keeping them in separate tanks...

[Aluma-Bass]

not largemouth bass but i had a pair of convict cichlids in my tank that would lay eggs all the time. They would protect their fry till they got to a certain size...then it was free for all! There parents would eat them if not separated. Only way i could keep and raise the fry would be keeping them in separate tanks...

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Baby bass colored lures just happen to be a great natural colored bait.  Thats the reason they get bit.  Bass will eat anything they can get their mouths around.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Baby bass colored lures just happen to be a great natural colored bait.  Thats the reason they get bit.  Bass will eat anything they can get their mouths around.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Baby bass colored lures just happen to be a great natural colored bait.  Thats the reason they get bit.  Bass will eat anything they can get their mouths around.

[Grey Wolf]

Just one of many color schemes that work during the year , it is not any better than any other color would be at certain times of the year. JMHO

[Grey Wolf]

Just one of many color schemes that work during the year , it is not any better than any other color would be at certain times of the year. JMHO

[Grey Wolf]

Just one of many color schemes that work during the year , it is not any better than any other color would be at certain times of the year. JMHO

[CJ]

Sorry I'm not a biologist but to I'll give my 2 cents anyway.

Bass are opportunist foremost. I really don't know why they eat some of the fry but they do so I'm told. But IMO the baby bass color isn't what keys a strike as much as the wounded or irregular action of the lure.

[CJ]

Sorry I'm not a biologist but to I'll give my 2 cents anyway.

Bass are opportunist foremost. I really don't know why they eat some of the fry but they do so I'm told. But IMO the baby bass color isn't what keys a strike as much as the wounded or irregular action of the lure.

[CJ]

Sorry I'm not a biologist but to I'll give my 2 cents anyway.

Bass are opportunist foremost. I really don't know why they eat some of the fry but they do so I'm told. But IMO the baby bass color isn't what keys a strike as much as the wounded or irregular action of the lure.

[Todd Driscoll]

I work as a fisheries mgmt biologist, and no doubt, bass are highly cannibalistic.  Males protecting fry won't consume them, but the cannibalism starts when the fry/fingerlings disperse out on their own.  Highest rates of cannibalism are late summer through to winter, when young bass reach more desirable forage sizes.  But, its more just the opportunistic nature of bass, rather than specifically seeking its own for a meal.

Due to cannibalism, and a suite of many other factors causing age 0 bass mortality, each nest typically produces thousands of fry to combat the overall mortality rate.

[Todd Driscoll]

I work as a fisheries mgmt biologist, and no doubt, bass are highly cannibalistic.  Males protecting fry won't consume them, but the cannibalism starts when the fry/fingerlings disperse out on their own.  Highest rates of cannibalism are late summer through to winter, when young bass reach more desirable forage sizes.  But, its more just the opportunistic nature of bass, rather than specifically seeking its own for a meal.

Due to cannibalism, and a suite of many other factors causing age 0 bass mortality, each nest typically produces thousands of fry to combat the overall mortality rate.

[Todd Driscoll]

I work as a fisheries mgmt biologist, and no doubt, bass are highly cannibalistic.  Males protecting fry won't consume them, but the cannibalism starts when the fry/fingerlings disperse out on their own.  Highest rates of cannibalism are late summer through to winter, when young bass reach more desirable forage sizes.  But, its more just the opportunistic nature of bass, rather than specifically seeking its own for a meal.

Due to cannibalism, and a suite of many other factors causing age 0 bass mortality, each nest typically produces thousands of fry to combat the overall mortality rate.

[gotarheelz14]

If we take everything we know about bass including the things you have mentioned; that they eat their fry during certain times, that they do not all spawn at the same time, and that they are opportunistic feeders, we can draw some pretty favorable conclusions as they relate to baby bass colored lures.

Because they eat their young, the lure should work pretty efficiently during certain times of the year. But, because bass do not all spawn at the same time, you can see that the window of opportunity in which you can use the color effectively, becomes a lot wider. Even if the fish are well beyond the point of spawning, being the opportunistic feeders that they are, if you present a baby bass colored lure in front of them at any other time of the year and the conditions are right, I see no reason why a fish wouldn't target the lure.

Finally, as others have stated, the lure also probably works simply because it is such a good "natural" color. Think of how many other fish or animals for that matter might have the same broad coloration in the body of water you are fishing in. Some species of sunfish, frogs, insects, perch, etc etc have many of the same colors as do "baby bass" colored lures. Particularly, if the lures are presented "at speed" and you draw a reaction bite, a fish usually isn't going to stop to see how naturally colored the lure looks. Instinct dictates that this fish will likely operate under "Eat first, ask questions later"---especially when the lure is as naturally colored as are baby bass lures.

You can probably tell that I have enjoyed pretty good success throwing "baby bass" colored lures. I do not have much money to spend on lures and the fact that the majority of my lures are this pattern---you can tell how crazy I am about them.

PS.

I caught this fish (my pb) in the very middle of summer. All fish were probably completely spawned out by this point. I had not gotten a freakin' bite all day, 4 hours of fishing to be exact. I was getting ready to call it quits and decided to change up the color and throw a baby bass version to my cotton cordell lipless crankbait (love these things). I landed her on the first cast of this bait in this color....

[gotarheelz14]

If we take everything we know about bass including the things you have mentioned; that they eat their fry during certain times, that they do not all spawn at the same time, and that they are opportunistic feeders, we can draw some pretty favorable conclusions as they relate to baby bass colored lures.

Because they eat their young, the lure should work pretty efficiently during certain times of the year. But, because bass do not all spawn at the same time, you can see that the window of opportunity in which you can use the color effectively, becomes a lot wider. Even if the fish are well beyond the point of spawning, being the opportunistic feeders that they are, if you present a baby bass colored lure in front of them at any other time of the year and the conditions are right, I see no reason why a fish wouldn't target the lure.

Finally, as others have stated, the lure also probably works simply because it is such a good "natural" color. Think of how many other fish or animals for that matter might have the same broad coloration in the body of water you are fishing in. Some species of sunfish, frogs, insects, perch, etc etc have many of the same colors as do "baby bass" colored lures. Particularly, if the lures are presented "at speed" and you draw a reaction bite, a fish usually isn't going to stop to see how naturally colored the lure looks. Instinct dictates that this fish will likely operate under "Eat first, ask questions later"---especially when the lure is as naturally colored as are baby bass lures.

You can probably tell that I have enjoyed pretty good success throwing "baby bass" colored lures. I do not have much money to spend on lures and the fact that the majority of my lures are this pattern---you can tell how crazy I am about them.

PS.

I caught this fish (my pb) in the very middle of summer. All fish were probably completely spawned out by this point. I had not gotten a freakin' bite all day, 4 hours of fishing to be exact. I was getting ready to call it quits and decided to change up the color and throw a baby bass version to my cotton cordell lipless crankbait (love these things). I landed her on the first cast of this bait in this color....

[gotarheelz14]

If we take everything we know about bass including the things you have mentioned; that they eat their fry during certain times, that they do not all spawn at the same time, and that they are opportunistic feeders, we can draw some pretty favorable conclusions as they relate to baby bass colored lures.

Because they eat their young, the lure should work pretty efficiently during certain times of the year. But, because bass do not all spawn at the same time, you can see that the window of opportunity in which you can use the color effectively, becomes a lot wider. Even if the fish are well beyond the point of spawning, being the opportunistic feeders that they are, if you present a baby bass colored lure in front of them at any other time of the year and the conditions are right, I see no reason why a fish wouldn't target the lure.

Finally, as others have stated, the lure also probably works simply because it is such a good "natural" color. Think of how many other fish or animals for that matter might have the same broad coloration in the body of water you are fishing in. Some species of sunfish, frogs, insects, perch, etc etc have many of the same colors as do "baby bass" colored lures. Particularly, if the lures are presented "at speed" and you draw a reaction bite, a fish usually isn't going to stop to see how naturally colored the lure looks. Instinct dictates that this fish will likely operate under "Eat first, ask questions later"---especially when the lure is as naturally colored as are baby bass lures.

You can probably tell that I have enjoyed pretty good success throwing "baby bass" colored lures. I do not have much money to spend on lures and the fact that the majority of my lures are this pattern---you can tell how crazy I am about them.

PS.

I caught this fish (my pb) in the very middle of summer. All fish were probably completely spawned out by this point. I had not gotten a freakin' bite all day, 4 hours of fishing to be exact. I was getting ready to call it quits and decided to change up the color and throw a baby bass version to my cotton cordell lipless crankbait (love these things). I landed her on the first cast of this bait in this color....

[gotarheelz14]

What the previous poster said also clarifies a lot of things. The fish do need some time to grow and become a good meal size for the bigger bass. Thus, it is not only during the spawning time that you should look to throw this type of colors but also well beyond that, possibly even during winter? Depending on how fast they grow, possibly during the next spring?

Look at all you learn here hahaha. Ain't this site great?

[gotarheelz14]

What the previous poster said also clarifies a lot of things. The fish do need some time to grow and become a good meal size for the bigger bass. Thus, it is not only during the spawning time that you should look to throw this type of colors but also well beyond that, possibly even during winter? Depending on how fast they grow, possibly during the next spring?

Look at all you learn here hahaha. Ain't this site great?

[gotarheelz14]

What the previous poster said also clarifies a lot of things. The fish do need some time to grow and become a good meal size for the bigger bass. Thus, it is not only during the spawning time that you should look to throw this type of colors but also well beyond that, possibly even during winter? Depending on how fast they grow, possibly during the next spring?

Look at all you learn here hahaha. Ain't this site great?

[Catt]

I work as a fisheries mgmt biologist, and no doubt, bass are highly cannibalistic. Males protecting fry won't consume them, but the cannibalism starts when the fry/fingerlings disperse out on their own. Highest rates of cannibalism are late summer through to winter, when young bass reach more desirable forage sizes. But, its more just the opportunistic nature of bass, rather than specifically seeking its own for a meal.

Due to cannibalism, and a suite of many other factors causing age 0 bass mortality, each nest typically produces thousands of fry to combat the overall mortality rate.

For those who are unaware Todd Driscoll won the 2010 Texas Parks & Wildlife Innovation award for his work toward managing bass populations in Texas.