WRB-2.0

Matt, nearly every bass fishermen wants to catch big bass and it's human nature to over estimate due in part to the excitement of hooking a big fish. In regards to guessing the size of a bass based on experience and having a yardstick (so to speak) to estimating the basses length and girth, it's not rocket science to come up with a ball park weight...looking at a good photo. Trying to estimate the weight of a bass in the water is difficult because the bass is moving and water distorts the fishes size. Believe it or not it's easy to under estimated the size of a giant bass during the fight and realize how big they are when hand landing them. You become very focused on getting the bass in the boat, telling yourself to claim down and control the bass. Tom

My favorite is when someone swings on a bass they can't see and say "that was a big one" and they don't even know if it was a strike! There is an old saying; "The big one always gets away". It is very difficult to estimate the size of a bass by the fight it puts up or head shaking splash. The bass could be tough or sluggish, you know when it's a big tough bass, just don't know how big until it is in the boat. WRB

You definitely stress the bass by putting into the livewell and should release the bass if not tournament fishing. I don't believe that negative odors that can alarm other bass are released by the bass, they do urinate as a result of being handled. The question is will a released bass turn off the bite? Bass may follow another bass away from where you are fishing as a result of the bass being immediately released. The result is usually the opposite; catching a bass can and does excite other bass in the area and releasing them doesn't seem to turn off a hot bite. Most bass fishermen like to haul a livewell full of bass to show off to others and will use any excuse to satisfy that desire, IMO. WRB

Most fishermen ice fish for food and winter recreation. Harvesting bass during the frozen lake time isn't any different than harvesting bass during any other time. Bass under ice are not thriving , they are surviving the winter and one reason the further north you go, the smaller the bass become until you reach the limit of under ice time they can withstand. How long can a bass go without food? The younger the bass is the less chance it can survive without food and the smaller bass become part of the food chain with no place to hide. WRB

I believe the compliant was jack poling the bass out of heavy cover being unsporting. You can't do that with a keeper using light action 8'+ rod. Have WON make up the GK rule; 9' rods allowed if the line doesn't exceed 6 lb., before the US open. WRB

Lots of good steelhead rods available at 9' that could be used today. Dee's original rods didn't have reels and were 14' as I recall. B.A.S.S made the rule, Dee still won several events with the shorter rods and reel mounted. It would seem that the western circuits could do whatever they want, why lock step with B.A.S.S. who could care less about western bass fishermen. WRB

Yes bass will bite year around, they must eat something to survive as they do not hibernate. Being a cold blooded animal bass are affected by the cold water temperatures and slow down their metabolism and eat less in cold water. Cold water being below 45 F, above the Mason-Dixon line. IMO; lakes that freeze over you shouldn't target the bass, leave them be until the ice is gone. Fish for trout through the ice. If you insist on bass fishing during iced over or partially iced over water, use smaller lures like 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigs with a small trailer like a UJ 101 spin frog. The issue with frozen water is very high DO levels in water colder than 39.4 F. Water gets heavier as it gets colder until it reaches 39.4 F, then water changes and becomes lighter and floats on top of the slightly warmer water until it freezes at 32 F. To survive bass must find warmer water with good DO levels, this is usually deep water or spring water. WRB

The first thing I do is look at a map and satellite over head view of a new lake to determine areas that I like fish and had success, depending on the seasonal period. I fish outside isolate structure most of the time, so that is what I'm looking for. Start my map search looking at dam area, all the major points and any islands, humps, saddles, creek channels etc. Type of lake and depth helps to determine where the bass and prey should be located and predetermines my starting place, after I factor in the water temperature when on the water. WRB

The first person that I recall using the term "reaction strike" is Rich Tauber, a western pro. Rich used this term to differentiate a quick response strike from a slower deliberate strike. The Tom Mann, who was one of the best bass fishermen ever, wrote a book called "Think like a fish". Rich and Tom both have it right IMO. WRB

Bass move up as the water rises and retreat when it drops, simple to remember; spring up & fall down. Raising water or falling water creates current and current is always an important factor; bass use the current to bring prey to them at funnel areas. The newly flooded areas offer a smorgusborg of prey for the bass. The will be active when searching the new flooded area; use a reaction lure that will work well in the flooded cover or cover edges; spinnerbait with bright blades. Dark color jigs and worms with bright highlights work well in muddied water at the funnel areas where the water is entering of leaving; retrieve with the current so the lure come to the bass facing into the current, not from behind. Good luck. WRB

Yup, I put them in that order for a reason. That's how I look at it too. I feel that if the presentation is correct little else will matter. And for those saying location I understand what you mean but that's not really what I am looking for. I'm talking after you have found the fish or believe you have. I guess weedless or snag less would be a good option as I know there are times I pick a bait on only those factors. Whats the point of throwing anything if you can't fish it due to hanging up all the time. Good responses, keep em coming! You can make the perfect pitch with the ideal lure and to cover and not catch a single bass all day, if the bass are behind you in deeper water structure where the bass are tearing up shad schools, for example. Yes there maybe a few bass up tight to shoreline cover, but the guy outside you is catching them on structure spoons. The opposite could also be happening, because the shad school hasn't arrived yet on the structure and presenting a structure spoon to inactive bass will haul a lot water and very few bass. Right lure, right place at the right time and there could be several choices on any given day. WRB

Selecting lures should come after determining where the bass are located and what they are feeding on. Then pick out a few lures that work well at that location, depth, water temperature, cover or structure type and let the bass determine what they want to strike at that time. I like to fish jigs, but if the bass are on a top water bite, then use a top water lures that will work under the conditions you are faced with. There isn't a panacea to lure selection. WRB

The original Rapala comes in 2 models; floating and sinking or CD series called count down; sinks 1 foot each second. The key the original Rapalas is the line size and type you are using, most of the floaters require spinning tackle to cast any distance and light line; 6 to 10 lb mono or fluorocarbon. The Husky Jerks are heavier and made to cast with line up to 15 lb test on both spinning or bait casting tackle. WRB PS; also try the Fat Rap diving series in perch or fire tiger for your area.

Bass don't have eye lids so the see whatever is within their sight window. They do get very inactive at times and appear to be sleeping as they suspend. A lure coming from directly behind can sometimes spook them, one reason it is better to cast on top of an ambush site to prevent spooking the bass or approach it at an angle that gives the bass a chance to see it coming. The bass have eyes near the top of their head, so they tend to see well up and to the sides and forward, need to roll slighty to see down and turn to see directly behind. Inactive bass tend to be stationary, so down and behind are nearly blind spots in their sight window. Active act nervous even when suspended, so they can see all around fairly well, except straight down and directly behind. WRB

Big Dan, you are fishing in waters that have some big predator game fish like pike and musky, both will strike the BBZ1 shad and will smallies and largemouth. The lure swims like a bait fish, has the right profile of a white fish for example. A perch color would be more like the prey fish those fish are more used to eating and you could easily put a few gold/brown/green vertical stripes on the silver background with a Sharpie pen. What do you think a Suick looks like; 10" broom stick with a flat metal tail crudely painted? I have caught several big smallies on a black suick fishing for muskies. Don't give up on the BBZ1, learn to fish it correctly, slow retrieve with occasional speed or jerk and slack line, then continue. This lure is design to turn around when jerked and stopped, then turn back around and swim like a real fish. WRB

Speed will be your biggest problem, too fast or stopped to look at sights. You need a lure that will float at rest and dive when underway and not create a great deal of drag or spin out of control at speeds that may exceed 5 mph. Rapala Husky Jerk minnow lure will troll at faster speeds and give you a change at catching bass, plus you can cast it when stopped. Good luck. WRB PS; drop the lure back about 75' behind the boat.

About 1 in 10,000 odds of making a decent living fishing. WRB

Trolling a lure behind a moving boat that is being driven by a non fishermen would be a waste of your time and lures. Go for the ride and enjoy the scenery. Try to contact whoever is operating the pontoon boat and ask what type of lures you should bring. WRB

Suspended as opposed to swimming? Bass spend a big part of their time suspended at one depth level and obviously use the eyes to see all around them, except directly behind. They use their other senses to provide awareness of what the can't see. Suspended bass are no different then a swimming bass with the exception a swimming bass is active and and suspended bass may not be. Bass tend to suspend at a depth level that is comfortable and provides sanctuary. If you are asking how do bass attack prey when suspended; that depends on what type of prey the bass are looking for and the depth they are suspended. WRB

The lateral line on a bass is made up of 58 pore scales on each side for NLMB over 69 for FLMB, each scale has a nerve ending to pick up vibrations, it's the basses early warning system and critical to survival, wherever the live. The bass knows which side the vibrations are coming from and reacts according moving towards prey or away from danger. The FLMB having more pore scales could explain why they are far more wary then NLMB in the same environment, IMO. WRB

Tom, can you offer a citation? I'm genuinely interested. Try http://fishlab.nres.uiuc.edu/Documents/FME%202008.pdf WRB PS; confirms the solunar tables have little or no value and lunar effects are more consistent during spring and summer, with a predictable pattern of depth, no apparent difference fall and winter. Spawn affect wasn't mentioned directly other than the bass are more active during the full phase due to the increased light affect on bait fish. Interesting study.

You may need to search fresh water sunfish, bass are not true bass. I would think tilapia would be a close fish for nutritional purposes. WRB

I think it's vibration on the lateral line first, then sight followed by odor. I may remember this incorrectly but I believe Keith Jones states that the lateral line and inner ear are not very accurate at determining location unless the vibration occurs in close proximity to the bass. So the vibration triggers the bass to start looking (use of sight) for whatever created the appealing vibration. However, the bass doesn't know which direction to look so it takes a little searching, except in situations where the vibration is only a few feet away. Sound travels through water far better then air. I don't know if you have ever dove or swam under water, you can hear underwater sounds, even with our ears that are not developed for under water hearing. I have watched bass on several occasions, take off or swim away when a boat is barely in hearing distance. The bass have learned that prop sounds are a danger. I have also watch bass come from more then a hundred feet away to hit a buzz bait in clear water. Bass in marina's are conditioned to boat sounds and don't move, so it is hard to fit everything into one box fits all conditions. WRB

I think it's vibration on the lateral line first, then sight followed by odor. Bass are both sight and sound predators, odor or smell is less important and the least developed senses. Bass have big eyes located near the top of their head for good visual coverage. Bass also have highly developed lateral line sense and ear type head hearing, long and close distance, high and low frequency, allowing the bass to find prey in cover or out in open water. The sense of smell maybe more important to confirm what they see and hear is prey and not another predator. WRB

You missed one, territorial strike. Missed several, but most of the others are a variation of the 2 basic strikes. During the spawn the bass protects it's nest " territory", they are not striking for food to eat. I'm not convinced bass are like cats that you tease them into striking or protect their home site by striking a lure. Bass are predators and will strike if the opportunity seems right for a kill. Bass are also curious and check out new critters that come near or fall on top of them. Bass don't have hands and use their mouth to test it by nipping or biting it, if they like it they may engulf the critter. If the bass is inactive, you can stick your rod down and push them with it until they wake up and swim away. The same bass in the same spot when active will take off the instant it sees you approach. Same thing with a lure, it could bounce off them and they don't move or land within 5 feet and they run over and strike it. Are they protecting the ambush sight or active or inactive? I don;t think believe they are protecting territory. WRB