I recently was questioned by my new group of students about what they should learn first techniques, basic bass behavior, seasonal periods, ECT.

I replied none of the above

Techniques are so easy I taught my 7 year old grandson

Basic bass behavior, learn how bass relate to the big 3 this part will become extremely clearer.

Seasonal periods, learn the big 3 and this to is not that difficult to understand

So what is the Big 3?

#1 Structure

Learn the Topography of your body of water and its surrounding area by using every means available. Satellite imagery and aerial photos show shallow areas and are availably through Google Earth, Yahoo Maps, Topozone, USGS and other sites.

#2 Know your prey

I do not care what species of animal you are hunting the fastest what to locate them is to find their food source.

#3 Duck for cover

Bass love cover!

If its vegetation, brush, or trees learn it!

Learn not only how to identify it but in what bottom composition it grows, which in turn can give clues to bottom structure.

    You are one great bass fisherman Catt!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Thanks for telling us this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learn not only how to identify it but in what bottom composition it grows, which in turn can give clues to bottom structure.

Wise words Catt! I really never thought about this part before, makes sense though

What catt says is chiseled in stone ,learning your opponents habits, weakness's and such give u a upper hand in all regards

Catt, they learned to avoid me years ago.

You are one great bass fisherman Catt!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for telling us this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catt you always steer me the right way, i just love reading tour post!! THANKS!!

Y'all be welcome  

I recently was questioned by my new group of students about what they should learn first techniques, basic bass behavior, seasonal periods, ECT.

I replied none of the above

Techniques are so easy I taught my 7 year old grandson

Basic bass behavior, learn how bass relate to the big 3 this part will become extremely clearer.

Seasonal periods, learn the big 3 and this to is not that difficult to understand

So what is the Big 3?

#1 Structure

Learn the Topography of your body of water and its surrounding area by using every means available. Satellite imagery and aerial photos show shallow areas and are availably through Google Earth, Yahoo Maps, Topozone, USGS and other sites.

#2 Know your prey

I do not care what species of animal you are hunting the fastest what to locate them is to find their food source.

#3 Duck for cover

Bass love cover!

If its vegetation, brush, or trees learn it!

Learn not only how to identify it but in what bottom composition it grows, which in turn can give clues to bottom structure.

I keep telling myself and I 'm certainly convinced this man and I must be related in some degree  :-?, I say the same.  

Me, you, & Rolo

Me, you, & Rolo

The Old Fart Mean Fishing Machine Team ?  

Me, you, & Rolo

The Old Fart Mean Fishing Machine Team ?

I'll drink to that

Roger

I recently was questioned by my new group of students about what they should learn first techniques, basic bass behavior, seasonal periods, ECT.

I replied none of the above

Techniques are so easy I taught my 7 year old grandson

Basic bass behavior, learn how bass relate to the big 3 this part will become extremely clearer.

Seasonal periods, learn the big 3 and this to is not that difficult to understand

So what is the Big 3?

#1 Structure

Learn the Topography of your body of water and its surrounding area by using every means available. Satellite imagery and aerial photos show shallow areas and are availably through Google Earth, Yahoo Maps, Topozone, USGS and other sites.

Yes, understanding structure and how bass utilize it is extremely important.

#2 Know your prey

I do not care what species of animal you are hunting the fastest what to locate them is to find their food source.

If I pull up to my local lake on any given day, what exactly is the tip off as to what the fish are feeding on that day if there are multiple food sources available to them?

#3 Duck for cover

Bass love cover!

If its vegetation, brush, or trees learn it!

Learn not only how to identify it but in what bottom composition it grows, which in turn can give clues to bottom structure.

What if the lake in question lacks cover?  While I agree that cover is a key most of the times one goes fishing,  there are also times that it doesn't, especially when the source of food that day is located where there is no cover.  

If I pull up to my local lake on any given day, what exactly is the tip off as to what the fish are feeding on that day if there are multiple food sources available to them?

Example: the bass spawn is followed by the bream spawn; while the bream population may not be the predominate species by shear numbers it will be a predominate food source at this time.

What if the lake in question lacks cover?  While I agree that cover is a key most of the times one goes fishing, there are also times that it doesn't, especially when the source of food that day is located where there is no cover.

Another example of why we need to know the prey species available

What if the lake in question lacks cover? While I agree that cover is a key most of the times one goes fishing, there are also times that it doesn't, especially when the source of food that day is located where there is no cover.

Shade is cover.

Water turbidity acts like cover when combined with depth and/or wave action.

Structural features can work as cover also.

If I pull up to my local lake on any given day, what exactly is the tip off as to what the fish are feeding on that day if there are multiple food sources available to them?

I've always believed that knowing the presently prevalent prey may be less important than we tend to think.

There's a great disparity between "most available" prey and "most favored" prey.

What you find in a bass's innards shows you only the most available prey, not necessarily the most favored.

As Catt pointed out, post-spawn bass typically key on bluegills, and indeed they are commonly seen patrolling

the periphery of bluegill bedding flats. This exhibits their love for an easy meal, not necessarily their love for bluegills.

All predatory fish have a preference for "soft-finned" forage like shiners and shad, over "spiny-finned" prey

like bluegills and baby baby. Regardless of their preference, predators are not elitists, they're opportunists.

What if the lake in question lacks cover?

Since the hurricane-trio of 2004, several lakes in central Florida have been denuded of vegetation.

The hydrilla beds were balled-up and torn out by their root systems, along with countless rails, gallinules and coots.

Making matters worse, many of the eutrophic natural lakes in central Florida consist of shallow saucer terrain,

in other words, no Contour AND no Cover.

For about four years, whenever my boat was underway my eyes were constantly GLUED on the depth sounder to the point of hazardous boating.

If I noticed a change in water depth from 3.2 to 3.4 ft within 100 ft linear travel I'd regard that as "contour" (structure if you prefer).

The gain on my sounder was set to help me discern differences in bottom hardness, where a change from loam to sand was cause for excitement. All these subtleties represent structure, and we can rest assured that any nuances we find, were already found by the bass.

Roger