Bass seem to be a fish that aclimate and change habits as the weather and conditions do. From one day to the next different techniques and presentations might be complete opposite ends of the spectrum. I know as a human, my activities and behaviors change with the weather, in fact, I'm on BR now more than ever since it's miserable weather up here in Indiana.

 

So I was wondering, does a given length of "wintertime" affect the behavior of a bass pre-spawn?

 

Does the extended time they are in a slower metabolic state cause them to be hungrier in the early spring?

 

I've only been seriously fishing for about a year and a half, so this isn't really information I've ever needed to know. Last winter for us was pretty mild, this year it seems to be pretty agressive, I was wondering how different winter seasons affect the fish we pursue, what influences does the length of winter have on a bass?

 

 

Bass react to water temperatures.

 

They also metabolize their food based on water temperatures.

 

It is imperative that everyone who bass fishes know how water temperatures affect the bass and the bass' behavior.

 

So to give you a direct answer to your query - yes, water temperatures have a direct impact on the bass depending on the length of the winter months and their corresponding temperatures.

Bass seem to be a fish that aclimate and change habits as the weather and conditions do. 

 

As does every other species

So what kind of feeding habits could one expect from a bass during respond who's just came through a long cold winter?

First you need to understand that bass are bass but not all bass are the same. Northern strain LMB are the fish most anglers think of when they say bass. However Smallmouth, Spotted and Florida strain LMB are also common bass depending where live and bass fish.

The basics; lake classification affects bass behavior and pond bass behave differently than river bass, natural lake bass behave differently than reservoir bass.

Most anglers fish in man made impoundments or reserviors. Reservoirs are classified by the type of dam and topography they located in. Flood control, water storage, power generation make up the 3 basic types of dams. Canyon, highland, hill land, flatland, lowland make up the 5 basic reservoir classifications.

Bass being a cold blooded animal, water temperature is a major factor in their life cycle. Winter is known as the cold water period and winter varies with altitude and latitude. The higher in altitude or further north the lake, river or pond is the colder the water gets and may freeze in the coldest locations. The further south and lower the altitude is the warmer the cold water period may be.

The seasonal period basics;

Winter, 40 to 50 degrees

Pre spawn, 50 to 60

Spawn, 62 to 67

Post spawn, 65 to 70

Summer, 70 to 85

Fall, 65 to 60

I suggest to take some and study seasonal periods. The type of bass in your area and what prey/food sources are predominate during each seasonal period and what type of water your bass live in.

Tom

This applies to ALL bass regardless of the body of water.

A bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperture. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite and it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.

It is fairly easy to catch bass in cold water, if you can find them and if you use the right techniques. This means putting lures in front of a bass that looks right, sounds right, and smells right. The colder the water, the slower the bass's brain operaters so the slower you must present the lure or it's gone before the bass's brain tells it to bite.

Think Vertical

Think Deep

Think Bottom

Think Slow

In response to the OP's question, "Does the extended time they are in a slower metabolic state cause them to be hungrier in the early spring?," I believe the answer is no.  The slower metabolic rate of bass is not the same as a bear's hibernation.  A bear's metabolism is suppressed due to no activity but is still high enough to burn more calories in the Winter because they are a warm-blooded mammal. They are still burning a lot of calories while not eating.  When they come out of hibernation they have lost weight and are extremely hungry.  Due to the slower metabolic rate in the cold waters of Winter, the bass need far less food and eat what is needed to replace calories used.  They do not stop eating in the Winter like a bear.  They just eat much less, because as a cold-blooded creature they require much less.  The increased appetite in the Spring is due to their increased metabolism as the water temperature warms, not because they are failing to obtain nourishment in the Winter. 

In response to the OP's question, "Does the extended time they are in a slower metabolic state cause them to be hungrier in the early spring?," I believe the answer is no.  The slower metabolic rate of bass is not the same as a bear's hibernation.  A bear's metabolism is suppressed due to no activity but is still high enough to burn more calories in the Winter because they are a warm-blooded mammal. They are still burning a lot of calories while not eating.  When they come out of hibernation they have lost weight and are extremely hungry.  Due to the slower metabolic rate in the cold waters of Winter, the bass need far less food and eat what is needed to replace calories used.  They do not stop eating in the Winter like a bear.  They just eat much less, because as a cold-blooded creature they require much less.  The increased appetite in the Spring is due to their increased metabolism as the water temperature warms, not because they are failing to obtain nourishment in the Winter. 

 

Ah, got it, that's what I was looking for. Regarding the animal comparisons, thanks for making it clear for me. I wondered if they were hungrier like a bear would be.

 

Thanks guys for the help!

There is another factor to consider, the bass feed on high protein prey during pre spawn instinctively to get ready for the spawn when bass don't eat anything.

Like most things in bass fishing there isn't set rules and bass can be very aggressive during the cold water period during short time periods. We fish trout swimbaits during this time period and bass are often aggressive when feeding on trout.

Tom

Edited January 6, 201412 yr by WRB