I saw a small school of bass today in the shallows, one was maybe 2.5 pounds, the others were smaller, but they all followed a pair of ducks everywhere the ducks paddled. Has anyone ever seen this? What the heck were they doing?

Playing.

Bass are curious creatures. I know a lot of guys that pride themselves in their ability to cast a lure without making a splash. I'm sure there are occasions with this might be advantageous, but more generally, I think a BIG splash attracts fish.

Maybe they were eyeing up a duckling for lunch.

Maybe they were eyeing up a duckling for lunch.

Hmmm, maybe the next big lure for Yo-Zuri to come up with:  Rubber Ducky

On another note you think there are bass lures that look like ducklings? Live topwater duckling lures?

I've witnessed bedding bass attack ducks feeding around their bed (I think that is what the ducks were doing?).  The duck would submerge it's head under water and eat something off the bottom and the bass would swim full force into the duck's head.  Funny part was the duck got whacked 3 times before it moved further down the bank.

Another time... same lake, I witnessed a bass following a mother duck and it's ducklings.  The bass sucked down one of the small ducklings (looked like a toilet flushed under the duckling) and the mother duck never noticed the little one disappeared.  

Yea, there are topwater duck lures. Might come in handy in some of these situations.

they were crossing to the other side.

kb here there are a lot of mallard ducks on our lakes and they roost on piers and boat docks. as you come along with boat they will slip into the water do you think they scare the fish or do bass get use to them. i think it scars the fish  what are you guys opinion's  kb

Fishn49er that is a very nice lure. Thing is I bet youd only catch like one or two fish on it the whole time you own it. Though I bet those fish would be lunkers.

I once had a nice limit of largemouths in my livewell while fishing a tournament, about halfway through the day it didn't sound like my recirculators were working, peered into livewell to find that the drain was plugged by pin feathers....I have no doubt that one of the bass had eaten a duckling and regurgitated the feathers.

Hearing you say that the bass were following the ducks makes me hear the JAWS theme song  

This spring I saw something inhale a baby duckling from under the water with violent splash, I always assumed it was a snapping turtle but after reading some others thoughts my curiosity is peeked.

a bass will eat just about anything it can fit into its mouth,,,,and i dont believe landing ducks of geese spook the fish because it is natural and they become accustomed to it

On another note you think there are bass lures that look like ducklings? Live topwater duckling lures?

yupp... yellow bellied jitterbug. I tried making a pike lure one time... took a big 4"popper and glued some yellow rabbit fur to the bottom.... Use your imagination on how long that lasted, dont think to long.  ;D

Ducklings have been used as bait for bass forever. I think with a combination of PETA power and the SPCA it pretty much has stopped, but years back they were a staple in any of the bait and tackle stores in the south.

Ducklings have been used as bait for bass forever. I think with a combination of PETA power and the SPCA it pretty much has stopped, but years back they were a staple in any of the bait and tackle stores in the south.

Never knew that George.  How far back?  Guessing it was pretty much over by the late sixties.

My last trip down through the Glades they were still selling them - that would have been early to mid-seventies.

never seen that but have seen a little duckling getgobbled rite up by a hungle larg mouth

This July , fishing on Mauch Chunk Lake in PA, Me and my friend Scoot saw this up close a personal. There was a group of about a dozen ducks. Some adults, 4 tiny ones and a couple of juvinilles. One of the juvinille ducks started making a fuss, flapping it's wings and quacking up a storm, he was trying to fly, but couldn't get out of the water. The rest of the ducks flapped their way to the shore( about 2 or 3 yards away) hen the small duck finally gets it's body off the water there was a small dink bass with it's leg in his mouth!!! The bass finally let go and the duck made it to shore.