Match The Hatch

[lmoore]

Another very good point.

Along the lines of what you were saying there, Bass are significantly less opportunistic during warm summer months and cold winter months. Partially due to the fact that there isn't a large supply of food congregated in small areas, like you find in the spring and fall season as you mentioned, but also because (IMO), they become more reserved at points of peak activity. The optimal temperature for bass activity, if I recall it correctly, is right near 70 degrees farenheit. It's probably not a coincidence that the times of year where bass appear to be most opportunistic happen to be times of the year where water temperatures approach that numer.

EDIT: Re-reading your post, I essentially just elaborated on the food and water quality idea. Looks like I just happen to be a lot windier today. LOL

[J Francho]

For largemouth it's higher. What I've read for smallmouth is they often occur at deeper cooler temps simply by being edged out by more dominant predators. Given the choice, they will choose much warmer water.

Bass are cold blooded. They need to eat more when it's warmer. Simple as that.

[lmoore]

Interesting about Smallies. That makes sense, I'd never heard that before.

Googled the temp, first article I read quoted a study that said the optimal temp for largemouth was right around 80, which makes more sense. Bass do need to eat more when it's warmer, 110% correct, but activity level starts to decrease at higher temperatures. I assume it probably has to do with the declining Oxygen levels as temperature rises.

EDIT: I thinkacticity level moght be the wrong phrase there. Bass are certaintly very active at warmer temps, they just don't seem to move as far to find food, like they sometimes will in the spring or fall.

[J Francho]

You are right on track with O2. Water holds less O2 as temp increases. So, you'll see short bursts of activity, followed by rest. Otherwise too much lactic acid builds up in the tissue, and can poison them.

[lmoore]

I would've never even thought to correlate lactic acid build up from exercise to the same type of thing in bass. Kind of common knowledge in the gym, but ertaintly applies to more than just weight lifting. Things like this are the reason I absolutely love BassResource.com. Sometimes, even if I observe a behavior in bass, I can't really fully explain the reason. January is the time to expand my thinking and try and get a better understanding of the behavior that will be affecting my income (hopefully in a positive way ), come April.

[J Francho]

Fish like pike can actually die, if not allowed to shed the lactic acid after a prolonged fight on rod and reel. Many other species as well. Not so much bass, because stack the odds in our favor to make the battle short and sweet.

[lmoore]

I actually read a study about the survival rate of large Pike after a fight. This was a couple years ago so I don't remember the exact details, but they caught the pike using rod and reel and then tagged them and tracked them. The mortality rate was right around 50% and most of those that died simply went to the nearest deep water and sat on the bottom until they passed away. I'm sure lactic acid poisioning was the cause of the ones that did that.

[Nitrofreak]

That's a pretty interesting point you guys made about the warmer water temps and how the bass react during that period.

If I can find the waters that contain the right amount of oxygen I can find fish, thermoclines, what part of them plays a roll in the right amount of 02 levels? upper level? don't think that would be it, middle layer maybe? I have seen and caught bass in that range before, under a thermocline? that to me makes the most sence, not sure though as to why, is it because the water is cooler under the thermocline and carries more o2?

[lmoore]

Thermoclines are kind of a whole new beast. During the warm summer months, thermoclines involve a layer of warm water on top an a layer of colder water below. It would make sense that the colder water would have more oxygen, and I think they do when the thermocline initially forms. However, as the thermocline stays and the colder water down below never has access to new oxygen supplies, the oxygen levels drop because oxygen "leaks" through the thermocline into the warmer water above. Because of this, the water with the most oxygen ends up being right above the thermocline, the coolest water of the upper warm layer.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but that's my understanding of thermoclines in relation to oxygen levels.

[J Francho]

That's basically it. I've never caught a bass below the thermocline.

Back to another point; I was rereading the In-Fisherman Largemouth book last night, and it parroted my description of how largemouth feed. Except they called it opportunistic, LOL. <facepalm> So, I guess whatever you want to label it as is fine, so long as you understand the biology.

[Nitrofreak]

That's basically it. I've never caught a bass below the thermocline.

Back to another point; I was rereading the In-Fisherman Largemouth book last night, and it parroted my description of how largemouth feed. Except they called it opportunistic, LOL. <facepalm> So, I guess whatever you want to label it as is fine, so long as you understand the biology.

lol, I guess there is some truth to that, I enjoyed your discussion about the topic though.

[J Francho]

It reinforced something I've always felt: most of the time, bass are either neutral or negative. They are rarely truly active. Makes sense, considering their environment and lifestyle.

[lmoore]

LOL. I think it comes down to how you describe opportunistic. I think our general idea on the variation between trout opportunisticism (it's not a word, but it should be), and that of bass is pretty acurate.

I tend to think of bass as predominately neutral. You sometimes see short periods of high activity, and sometimes see periods where they won't do a d**n thing, but for the most part, they're like a fat guy laying on the couch. Pretty content not to do anything, unless a large piece of cake drifts in front of their face.

[Nitrofreak]

It reinforced something I've always felt: most of the time, bass are either neutral or negative. They are rarely truly active. Makes sense, considering their environment and lifestyle.

When do you feel they are truly active? like when in spring and they are actively feeding for the upcomming spawn?

[J Francho]

Well, they have to become active once a day, right? I mean, I assume they eat at least once a day. Here's the thing, and it's a reason why bass fishing is so cool. SOMEBODY always figures out how to catch them. Even on the worst days. You just have to look at any local tournament results to see it. So that gives me confidence that at it's worst through trial and error, I can luck into a few bites. And once I have a few bites, I might have enough info to get the rest I need.

[Nitrofreak]

I tend to think of bass as predominately neutral. You sometimes see short periods of high activity, and sometimes see periods where they won't do a d**n thing, but for the most part, they're like a fat guy laying on the couch. Pretty content not to do anything, unless a large piece of cake drifts in front of their face.

LMAO !! that is a great analogy, but it's during those times i enjoy fishing the most...I forget to put the right kind of iceing on the cake from time to time.

[bigbassctchr101]

Fish like pike can actually die, if not allowed to shed the lactic acid after a prolonged fight on rod and reel. Many other species as well. Not so much bass, because stack the odds in our favor to make the battle short and sweet.

Rockfish do this as well. I'd really like to know if a bass COULD though. I can't really see it happening to a largemouth, but i've had hold of some pretty mean smallmouth that may push the limits.

As far as matching the hatch... We have a bunch of willows in our lake that the mayflies and other insects will lay eggs and (nest??) in. The bass would lay around them and munch on the flies. So we would take a long pole and bump and shake them trees so all the bugs fell in the water and throw a pop r or something in and just wait lol I know thats not matching the hatch. More like mimicking. But, at least thats closer to the trouth terminology cuz of the insects instead of fish or crustaceans

[Nitrofreak]

Well, they have to become active once a day, right? I mean, I assume they eat at least once a day. Here&amp;amp;#39;s the thing, and it&amp;amp;#39;s a reason why bass fishing is so cool. SOMEBODY always figures out how to catch them. Even on the worst days. You just have to look at any local tournament results to see it. So that gives me confidence that at it&amp;amp;#39;s worst through trial and error, I can luck into a few bites. And once I have a few bites, I might have enough info to get the rest I need.

LOL, I hear ya, and I agree, I finally placed in a tourny not long ago after 2 years of effort, and the fact of the matter is I thought I went from zero to hero but after weigh in I was back to zero or well third anyway...lol, I guess in short it is most likely one of the most frustrating things at times when they develop lock jaw but when you do get it right...man it's like the gates of heaven have opened and the light is shinning down on you...(enter voices singing) AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!...lol, well maybe not that joyus but you get the picture.