A lot of the time when I catch a big bass (with the exception of one protecting a bed) I try to release it away from the spot where I caught it. I'll either hit my trolling motor and move 10-20 yards, or hold it in my livewell until I move off the spot. I do this because there have been many times when I have caught a decent fish, released it on the spot, then had trouble catching another in that same area. I know a lot of guys do the same thing. My question is, do the bigger fish release a pheromone after being caught? Can the other bass feel its elevated heart rate in the water? I've seen all types of fish behavior, like when others will follow a hooked fish all the way up to the boat. Is this superstition or is there some science behind it?

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/135656-keeping-bass-in-the-livewell-until-the-bite-is-over/

I'm quite sure that a big old bass emits pheromones as do smaller bass,

but the big old bass is dealing with a much smaller sounding board.

As dictated by mortality, the population grows smaller and smaller as the year-class ages.

Schoolies (1/2 to 3 lb bass) may be aggregated in good numbers, but bass over 9 pounds are generally alone

or a member of a very small pod.

 

Roger

I don't do superstition, I may wear 5 different hats over 5 days and I'm totally focused, lol.  It is not rare to hook fish and have 2 or 3 others trailing as you are reeling your fish in.  This happening is not exclusive to just bass, I've caught 45" inch fish only to see several others of the same size trailing, with some species it's the norm not the exception.  I did have what I thought to be a rare event a few weeks ago.  I caught jack, pretty normal to have a follower, I've caught 2 jacks on the same lure dozens of times, my rare event was a snook trailing a hooked jack in.

Snook was probably taunting him, and talking smack.

We just bantered this topic around a few weeks ago, see Keeping Bass in the livewell, April 21.

Tom

We just bantered this topic around a few weeks ago, see Keeping Bass in the livewell, April 21.

Tom

Yelp! Aint playing again!

If the bite shuts down I change the size of my lure first I up size. The bigger fish won't hit the smaller lure. If nothing happens then I change lure color. If nothing happens then I throw my ritual of lures again figuring the pattern has changed or the water conditions changed.

I'm fishing from shore so I don't move that much so I adjust to the situation regroup and attack.

I'm not sure of the fermone part. I just scent my lures and keep on fishing