19 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I wonder if big Bass are smart enough to understand the mortality risk of eating a big Crappie or Bluegill vs. a narrower Trout, Shiner, or big Gizzard, as I've heard stories of big Bass dead floating with big Bluegills stuck in their throats. 

Well...when you see pics like these...you have to wonder

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Well...when you see pics like these...you have to wonder

Just incredible, and I guess they aren't lol.

 

I've caught a few dinks as big as a 110 Jerkbait they were biting.    At some point their lizard brain takes over I'm sure, just instinct I guess sometimes.  

High protein slender prey that is easy to catch and digest are preferred. 

Golden shiners fall into this category and hatchery raised Rainbow trout are top food growth food. 

Crawdads are high protein are abundant during pre spawn when coming out of winter mud burrows.

Blue Gill are talked about a lot but actually poor prey for bass do to wide body with lots of spiny fins as adult size prey.

Crappie on the other hand are narrower body width, less spines and abundant during pre spawn as they spawn before bass.

Younf of the year bass are also better prey source then Bluegills. Bass attack Bluegills because they are egg eaters a threat to the bass nest?

Tom

1 hour ago, WRB said:

High protein slender prey that is easy to catch and digest are preferred. 

Golden shiners fall into this category and hatchery raised Rainbow trout are top food growth food. 

Crawdads are high protein are abundant during pre spawn when coming out of winter mud burrows.

Blue Gill are talked about a lot but actually poor prey for bass do to wide body with lots of spiny fins as adult size prey.

Crappie on the other hand are narrower body width, less spines and abundant during pre spawn as they spawn before bass.

Younf of the year bass are also better prey source then Bluegills. Bass attack Bluegills because they are egg eaters a threat to the bass nest?

Tom

Excellent, thanks for the info as always Tom!   

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Assume all that bait is present, what do you think the big Bass prefer from the lot?    I imagine there isn't a real answer, but there can be an opinion certainly.   

From what I remember, several studies have concluded that bass don’t really care what fish goes in their mouths, so long as it’s within a certain size range.

 

Smallmouth, on the other hand, do have a strong preference for craws

Matt lures hardgill in the Crappie color would make a terrific option , one of the most productive swim baits out there https://www.mattlures.com/Hardgill_Series