Why is Bass Fishing so Popular in Texas? (7 Best Places To Go, Tips, Tricks)

Texas is regarded as one of the best places to catch big bass. Every bass angler dreams about a double digital hog hooked on the end of their line. These dreams are fulfilled in the state of Texas.

So, getting down to the Lone Star State can catapult your fishing endeavors as long as you have some background information about how to do it. Without some knowledge about some common trends, it can be a little tricky to find that monster fish.

Today, we are going to build a guide to Texas bass fishing. This will include the best locations within the state, the best lures to use, the kinds of bass, and much more.

Great Locations and Lakes Within Texas

First things first, knowing where some of the best bass fishing is located within the state is key. This will give you an idea of where you want to go and how to plan out your trip. Believe it or not, not every lake in Texas is a fantastic location for bass fishing, so knowing a few of the best will definitely help you out.

Lake Fork

No list of Texas bass lakes is complete without Lake Fork. This is one of the most iconic lakes in the entire country, so chasing the big ones can absolutely be done here. In fact, the Texas all-tackle record for largemouth bass was caught in Lake Fork in 1992. That bass weighed 18.18 pounds.

This lake is known to have 10+ pounders, so if you are searching for that fish of a lifetime, this is a great starting point. This is also a really famous lake, so going in the offseasons and during weekdays is best as it can get quite busy. 

Especially if you are not from Texas and are visiting the lake for a special fishing trip, there is a good chance that you will be coming from Dallas. This reservoir is located about 65 miles east of Dallas, so it is not a far commute from a big city. Going here for a day trip on the water is very reasonable.

Lake Alan Henry

Although a lot of the big bass lakes in Texas are in the east part of the state, Lake Alan Henry is an outlier. This lake is in west Texas and is a very underrated spot for huge bass. This is also a smaller lake than some of the big hitters, but that should not dissuade you. There are double-digit monsters lurking below the surface.

This is also a fairly clear lake, at least by Texas standards. In places like Georgia or Florida, having crystal clear lakes isn’t super uncommon. In Texas, having a chocolate milky or silty lake is far more common. So, you can break that trend by fishing Lake Alan Henry, especially in the spring and fall seasons.

This lake butts up against the Sam Wahl Recreation Area. This is also one of the best places to drop the boat in because it is right in the middle of the waterway. There may be a ramp fee, but it is well worth investing in. The closest town is Justiceberg, but the closest big city is Lubbock that sits about 45 miles away.

Sam Rayburn Lake

One of the biggest bass fishing lakes in all of Texas is Sam Rayburn Lake. With over 500 miles of shoreline and covering about 114,000 acres, this is a huge lake that is at the top of many Texas anglers lists for places to wet a line.

One of the biggest attributes of Sam Rayburn Lake is its structure. There is so much timber and brush in the water. As you may know, this is where the big bass love to love. So, flipping stumps and challenging brush piles is king in this lake. That being said, you should gear up with some strong gear and heavy line so you don’t break off with a trophy fish on the other end of the line.

Sam Rayburn Lake sits about 70 miles north of Beaumont in an area known as Deep East Texas. This is a great stop to make if you are planning an eastern Texas tour of these great lakes.

Toledo Bend Reservoir

Sam Rayburn Lake is big, but Toledo Bend Reservoir is bigger and is actually the biggest in the entire Lone Star State. So, there is plenty of room for those double digit bass to be roaming around, waiting to be caught.

All year round, Toledo Bend is an excellent largemouth fishery that covers over 180,000 acres. 15.32 pounds is the lake record for largemouth and catching 10-pounders isn’t common but not nearly as rare as some of the other lakes in the state. This lake also harbors giant striped bass and some species of catfish.

One of the closest notable cities to the Toledo Bend Reservoir is Jasper that is about 30-40 minutes away. If you follow the Sabine River, you will eventually come upon this lake.

Falcon Lake

Although there are plenty of other bass fishing lakes in the state, for the sake of the blog, the final body of water we have is Falcon Lake. This is a super unique lake because it straddles the U.S.-Canada border on the Rio Grande River.

The intention of this lake was never for fishing, but eventually it has transferred into a bass haven. Initially, Falcon Lake was a management lake to save water in droughts, prepare for floods, and more. Since then, bass fishermen have flocked to the area and tried their luck at a trophy.

What makes Falcon Lake so interesting is its physical location. Being right on that nation’s border, it has become a point of contention between the United States Border Patrol and the Mexican cartel that was known to move drugs through that area. Although it is a great place for bass fishing, you have to keep in the back of your mind that the situation is still less than ideal.

East Texas

Although this point is not an actual lake, it is here to say that a majority of the good bass fishing is in east Texas. East Texas harbors some fantastic lakes that are somewhat close together, at least by Texas’ standards. When you go out west, the good fishing lakes are few far between, which is a big point to keep in mind.

So, planning a great fishing trip while also seeing some of the big cities is really easy to do in east Texas. Starting in the south with Houston, you can move over to San Antonio, up to Austin, through Waco and to Dallas. Along the way, stop into some of these great lakes and try your luck at catching a big one.

Although there are so many more fantastic options in Texas, these are great starting points. If you can master these, you can master anything. Planning a trip to hit as many of these as possible, and fishing along the way, can help you make life-long memories. The more preplanning that you can do, the more fishing opportunities that you will have.

Bank and Urban Fishing

All of the lakes above are quite large and some are out in the middle of nowhere. However, this is not the only way to go fishing in Texas. You don’t need some big, fancy fishing boat that can zoom you across large lakes. Throughout the state, there are some fantastic spots that only require a little bit of walking and some adventure.

Here are a few of the bank and urban fishing options that are both underrated and very interesting.

1. Dallas-Fort Worth

The DFW area in Texas is probably home to the most urban fishing opportunities in the entire state.

There are a lot of small, surrounding lakes that can be fished from the shore and are only a few miles from downtown Dallas. Some of these lakes include Benbrook Lake, Lewisville Lake, White Rock Lake, and many more.

If you want to get away from the lakes and focus on opportunities within the city, the best way to catch some great bass is pond hopping through the neighborhoods. Because Dallas has blown up in terms of neighborhood development, there are tons of ponds scattered around. Not every pond is fishable. Some probably won’t even have fish at all, but some can deliver huge results.

There is also the Trinity River and all of its offshoots. This runs right by the downtown area and has a lot of bank fishing opportunities. You can even wet a line with the gorgeous Dallas skyline in the backdrop. So, not only is there great fishing there, it is a cool place to make memories.

Types of bass that can be found in Texas

To the casual angler, the types of bass being targeted may be exclusive to largemouth, smallmouth, and maybe stripers. However, there are some other species that can be targeted, especially in Texas.

1. Largemouth

First and foremost, there is the largemouth bass. This is the most popular and obvious for fishing in Texas. This is because largemouth are one of the biggest and most popular to fish for sport in the state.

Largemouth can be found all over the United States and many other parts of the world. Texas specifically has giants and that is why so many people travel here to target them. So, if you are new to fishing in Texas, the largemouth will most likely be your top priority.

The Texas state record for largemouth is officially is astoundingly over 18 pounds. Imagine setting a hook into a bass that weighs more than the average frozen turkey that you enjoy on Thanksgiving.

2. Smallmouth

Although smallmouth are known to rule the fishing world up north, there are variations of this fish that can be found in Texas. Most smallmouth anglers love states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, but Texas should not fly under the radar.

As the name implies, the mouth is quite literally smaller than a largie’s. The coloration is also a bit different as the smallmouth is more bronze and brown rather than black and green. These fish also fight really hard, so they are super fun to target.

The Texas state record for smallmouth is 7.93 pounds. Although these fish do not get as big as they do in the northern areas, these are super underrated in Texas waterways.

3. White bass

One of the most underrated species of bass in the United States is the white bass. These are found all throughout Texas and make great food. Think of white bass like a panfish. They school in the hundreds, do not get super big, and taste delicious. Many of the other types of bass are not generally looked at as food, but this one can be seen similar to a crappie in that sense.

You even fish for white bass similarly to panfish. Bottom jigging and using small, bladed baits can turn in some great results. The key is getting into a big school that is moving through the area. If you are fishing from a boat, this is not super difficult and can result in a feeding frenzy that you could not imagine.

If you want to chase the state record for white bass, you will need to hook one over 5.56 pounds. This may not sound like a lot, but trust me when I say that this is quite large for this particular species.

4. Yellow bass

Yellow bass are very similar to white bass in the build and shape. These bass have very distinct features compared to others like largemouth and smallmouth. What differentiates the yellow bass is the yellowish belly and the much smaller size.

These are not super popular to target, so taking advantage of this untapped market can be very beneficial.

The state record for yellow bass is just 3.46 pounds, so think of these as panfish. This is also how you should go about targeting them.

5. Striped bass and hybrids

These next two bass are under one category because they are so similar and there is just one main difference: the size. These two are going to be the biggest of all bass species in Texas. The striped bass Texas record is 53 pounds and the hybrid is just under 20. As you can see, stripers get huge and hybrids are very big but nowhere near the same level.

Striped bass are super popular to target on the East coast, but they can be found in the lakes and rivers of texas. Both stripers and hybrids fight super hard and are really fun to target. These often are overshadowed by largemouth, but mixing it up and targeting a 30-pound striper is a blast.

6. Spotted bass

Spotted Bass bring us back to the largemouth and smallmouth styles of the species. Largemouth are identified by a solid lateral line that sometimes has interesting textures and shapes. Spotted bass are identified by this lateral pattern that is broken up into spots.

This fish also has a smaller mouth to be an interesting combination of largemouth and smallmouth bass. This is an awesome bass to target because they aren’t super common in a lot of places. For example, Anglers from the northern states may never have the chance to even try to catch a spotted bass. So, take advantage of that fact while in the Lone Star State.

7. Guadalupe and Alabama bass

The final section of bass in Texas that is fished for are the Guadalupe and Alabama bass. Both of these subspecies are far smaller than some of the others on this list. For example, the state record Guadalupe bass is under four pounds.

Guads in particular are seen as a prized fish because they are fairly rare. So, in order to market it off of your bucket list, take the time to target some of these fish!

Best Texas baits

Although the type or bait or lure you use depends a lot on the conditions, the specific body of water being fished, and a multitude of other factors, there are some general presentations that are great in Texas.

Having at least these entries in your tackle box is a good idea. This is so you are ready for whatever is thrown your way.

1. Spinnerbait

One of the best ways to cover a lot of water quickly and produce some reaction bites is with a spinnerbait. Spinnerbaits have fantastic action and will fire up hungry fish that linger around edges and cover.

One way to elevate your spinnerbait game is adding a trailer. This could be a craw or a soft swimbait. This adds a ton of great action and will convince that finicky fish to attack.

2. Jig

One of the more go-to presentations in Texas lakes is the jig. In Texas, flipping cover and targeting structure is huge. This is the environment where jigs shine. Bass love to lie low in cover, and a falling jig will provide the fish with easy access.

Like a spinnerbait, it is important to put some sort of trailer on the jig. You probably should not be throwing a bare jig. Throw on a craw or a chunk to add that natural action. In dirtier water, stick to white, black ,and blue colors. If you can find the rare waterway with clear water in Texas, use natural colors like brown and green.

3. Plastic worm

As a new angler, there is a good chance that one of the first baits you threw was a simple plastic worm. In Texas, big plastic worms are king. There is a reason why the “Texas Rig” is so popular.

This is one of the few places in the United States where using a 10-12 inch plastic worm is actually common. For whatever reason, Texas bass are not afraid of biting something that is longer than them.

Part of this thought comes from the fact that Texas bass are larger than in a lot of other areas in the United States. For example, you probably won’t use a 12-inch plastic worm in a majority of areas in Illinois. It isn’t impossible, but there is a smaller chance of hooking up in that case than in Texas.

4. Other Texas-rigged plastics

Along with the classic plastic worm, there are a few other lures that can take advantage of the Texas rig. One of the biggest of which is the craw. Crawfish are fantastic for flipping structure. Although they are fantastic on the back of a jig, they are still really good one their own with some weight or a shaky head.

Another option is the stickbait. Also known as Senkos, stickbaits are great for subtle action and targeting finicky fish. A popular presentation of the stickbait is in the whacky fashion, but Texas rigging it and throwing it into heavy cover can yield fantastic results.

Some other Texas rigging options include lizards, brush hogs, tubes, and more.

The entire idea of the Texas rig is to give your plastic the ability of weedlessness. This allows you to target brush and dense areas without the fear of getting the hook stuck snagged. Just about any soft plastic can be used on a Texas rig, so keep that in mind.

5. Swimbait

There are two main types of swimbait: soft and hard. A soft swimbait is a soft plastic and can fall under the Texas rig category. What we really want to focus on in this section is the hard-bodied swimbait.

These are usually glide baits or jointed baits that work to imitate baitfish as closely as possible. It is scary how authentic some of these lures can look. Especially in Texas, these bgi swimbaits that imitate shad or bluegill work very well. Texas bass are big and can be very aggressive. These two factors are the recipe for success when using swimbaits.

6. Spook

There is no complete list of best lures without some sort of topwater lure being thrown into the mix. For this list, we are going to talk about the spook. There are tons of great options, but the spook is a unique one that is not often used in the world of bass fishing.

A spook is one of the larger topwaters out there and is very common in saltwater fishing. However, Texas is one of the few places where a spook can get those trophy bass to fly toward the surface and create a show.

Spooks are long, floatacious pieces of plastic that have at least two treble hooks attached to the bottom. You twitch the lure to make it walk on the surface. This creates the illusion of an animal or insect on the surface.

There is no doubt that topwater is one of the most fun ways to fish, so keep that in mind.

Best times of the year to fish

Depending on the geographical location of where you are fishing, the times of the year that should be targeted will change. Texas is no exception. Knowing the best times to target those trophy bass will get you one step closer to getting it done.

Texas’s climate is a unique one. In places like the midwest and the northeast, there are very clear seasons. There can be 100-degree summers, but this is echoed by -10-degree winters. Generally, this vast switch is not as present in Texas.

In the summer, temperatures can absolutely touch over 100 degrees, but the winters are not as extreme. Generally temperatures range from 35-55 degrees in the winter. The further south you go, the warmer this will get.

Unlike many areas within the United States, Texas’s climate allows you to bass fish nearly year round. In places like New York or Wisconsin, bass fishing in January either has to be done on the ice or not at all. This is one aspect that makes Texas so unique.

One of the best times to fish Texas for bass is early Spring. Spring weather comes earlier in Texas than a lot of other areas. So, in the March and April months, it is still winter up north, but Texas’s temperatures are in the 50s and 60s, and the water is warming up as well. This is when the prime pre-spawn and spawn times are king. This is why the Spring is king.

Some areas even have fish bedding in late February. As you may already know, spawn fish may be your best chance at catching that monster bass. The males are aggressive in defending the bed, and the females are the fattest they will ever be. So, going down to Texas at this time will allow you to target these behemoths and make life-long memories on the water.

General Tips and Tricks

Although we covered just about all of the bases when it comes to Texas bass fishing, there are a few odds and ends that should be wrapped up. Knowing some additional tips and tricks for bass fishing in Texas will help you propel your angling skills to the max!

1. Be prepared for bad weather

One of the biggest hazards that face any angler is the weather. Every year, we hear about the tragic stories of boats capsizing and lives being lost. You do not want to be a part of this type of headline.

As a general rule, you need to pay close attention to the weather forecasts and what is unfolding before your very eyes. If you are being negligent, bad things can happen fairly quickly.

A lot of lakes in Texas are wide open and wind loves to shoot across the water. This poses a number of challenges to you as an angler. So, wind is something big to factor into your fishing endeavors.

What often comes with wind is rain and stormfronts. These have to be monitored closely because they will be a difference-maker in what you can do safely on the water.

2. Do as much research as possible

Although we did lay out a lot of information about bodies of water, it is important to do some more in-depth research about the places you are targeting. For example, there is so much information on the internet about Lake Fork. So, by the time you hit the water, you should already know a lot of background information and strategies about the lake.

Having this bank of data in your brain will allow for more successful excursions. You can even take notes and keep a journal of info on you so you don’t forget the important points.

3. Don’t get hooked on a single bait, unless it is working

Especially when trying out a new spot for the first time, it can be easy to stick within your comfort zone and only use presentations you are comfortable with. That is all fine and dandy as long as you are catching fish. If you are not, you must change it up.

This is where a lot of beginning anglers go wrong. They keep with their one or two lures and aren’t willing to experiment. Especially if you have a tackle box full of presentations, use them!

In a place like Texas, the bass can get really picky. The key is finding that presentation or two that the bass are in the mood for. For example, flipping jigs are super popular in Texas, but they may not want that at certain times. Maybe they need a spinnerbait or chatterbait to create a moving reaction bite. Either way, your job is to find what works and use that, not what your mind tells you to stick with.

4. Get an early start

Especially in the summer, days can get very hot. So hot in fact, that a lot of local anglers see summer as their slow season and fall through spring as the time to hammer it hard. So, if you really want to take advantage of fishing opportunities during warm days, it is important to start early.

The earlier you can get out on the water while having at least some light in the sky, the better. This is because the warmers are cooler. Not only does it make the entire process better for you, but the bass are far more active during these times.

Both cold water and hot water make fish lethargic. Finding the sweet spot is key. So, when the water is at its peak warmth during the day, you can take care of the problem and fish earlier. The bass will be far more likely to strike your lure.

5. Use flooded land to your advantage

Texas waterways are unique in the fact that immense rains can bring some pretty heavy flooding. Especially on the big and popular lakes, a bit of rain will flood some of the woodlands and surrounding areas.

When this phenomenon happens, bass love to sneak into the shallows and take advantage of structure that they normally would not be able to. Plus, baitfish love this area as well. So, those trophy bass are going to work their way into these areas and take advantage of the newfound area.

6. Find the holes

Especially in certain times of the year, the deep, cool holes can actually be more lucrative than some of the obvious shore structure. This isn’t always the case, but going after these deep aeras can pay off in the long run.

Especially in rivers and lakes like Lake Fork, underwater trees and brush piles are king. So, a majority of anglers will be targeting these areas. This is probably what you should start with as well, but if it is not working, think outside of the box.

By outside of the box, I mean inside the deep areas of the lake. Bass love deep holes where the temperature of the water is far cooler. Especially on those hot summer days, this is where those lethargic bass love to sit.

Generally, these holes are more toward the middle of the waterway rather than by the shoreline. There is no rule that states that the deep holes have to be in the middle, so keep that in mind. If you have electronics on your boat, this makes your life a whole lot easier.

7. Get a fishing license right away

Depending on where you are and what type of fishing you are doing, you may not actually need a fishing license. This usually applies to saltwater and some areas of the world that do not monitor it very closely. However, this is not the case with Texas bass fishing.

If you are 17 or older, you NEED a fishing license. If you are caught fishing without one, the penalties can be harsh, so shelling out the money for a license is the far better option.

8. Visit a local tackle shop for insider info

There is no one more knowledgeable than the person who runs a local tackle shop. Sure, the person in the tackle section of Bass Pro Shops is probably pretty knowledgeable, but those mom and pop tackle shops are the places to hit.

Every one of the big fisheries is going to have local tackle shops in the surrounding areas. The employees and owners are going to know a lot about the local fishing seen. Giving them some business helps support their livelihoods, and this also opens the door for you to pick their brains and learn a lot. The few bucks you can spend on their goods is a steal compared to the amount of information you can get.

9. Be Prepared to drive, a lot

Texas is notorious for being huge and a little difficult to navigate. The state is so large that driving through it is a daunting task. If you are going to take on some of Texas’s biggest and baddest lakes, you will probably be driving with a boat. This gives you the most freedom in terms of what you can do and when. So, if this is your case, you need to know about navigating the state.

In fact, a drive across the state can take anywhere from 10-15 hours. This is a long time behind the wheel. Although you probably won’t drive from end to end on a fishing trip, the idea stays the same. It takes a long time to navigate Texas.

Even a drive from Houston to Dallas is over 220 miles. So, hopping between spots and cities will take some serious time. This is important to know so you can plan your fishing tour accordingly.

Knowing the popular lakes, presentations, and much more can help you through the process. The last thing you need when faced with the ability to fish in Texas is not being properly prepared to get the job done.

At the end of the day, bass fishing is about engaging with nature, enjoying the company of loved ones, and truly having a good time. Without these aspects in mind, you may be fishing for the wrong reasons. 

 

 

Bass are fun to catch and are everywhere. They are also good to eat.

Bass fishing is simply the activity of fishing for the North American gamefish which we also call as the black bass. There are not only one of this kind, black bass have several species and are widely known as the gamefish in North America.

Some of the common species are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, and Guadalupe bass. The black bass belongs to the sunfish family, Centrarchidae.

In today’s context, modern bass fishing has been changed into a lucrative industry and this fun activity has been more revolutionized since it’s initiation. From its very beginning, the bass has been the most desired game fish in the US. Bass fishing is the only major driver of the development of all sorts of fishing gear, such as rods, reels, lines, fishfinder with GPS, float tubes, kayaks, lures, and also boats designed just for the very purpose of bass fishing.

Why is Bass so Popular?

You can find this fish in all the states along with some places in Canada, Mexico, and also in Cuba. Any of the individuals who enjoy bass fishing can go after them without making a lot of hassle to find a suitable place, because they are present everywhere.

The bass fishes are around if they are stubborn fish and this is what makes them fun to catch. These fishes can put up a good fight sometimes, so be prepared to get involved in such fights and make a fun moment. They also have the potential to break the surface of the water and fling your lure at any given time. These fishes are also capable of wrapping you up in the weeds or probably around a stump and breaking you off. 

It is the habit of this bass fish to snap your line and even it is really easy for them and even their hobby. This fish can make you both cool and fool at the same time. Certainly, these are the most fun fish to catch. So, how popular and unique is the bass fish can be explained by the people who are experts in bass fishing.

 

this species of the fishes are fun to catch because of the fight they put up when on the verge of being captured. This gives the same feeling as an action movie, these are full of fun, action, and you get the best fun and unpredictable moments. 

The next most important thing about bass fishing is that you can go for bass fishing anytime, no matter if it is day or night, you can go anytime for bass fishing. That is why you need to be assured that you might be encountering one of the geese stubborn fishes anytime you hit the water in search of them. Bass fishing is one of the most preferred and enjoyable recreational activities. The time that you spend on the water catching the bass fishes is a time that is well spent and also a time utilizes to refresh your mind which includes your spirit. 

The other reason for the popularity of bass fishing is that the eating habit is wide and varied. This huge appetite of these bass fishes is one of the major concerns which they end up consuming everything in their way. The bass fish will end up eating your lure as well as they will put their teeth in any live or man-made bait that they come in contact with. 

Bass fish is popular and it can feed in all kinds of water such as deep water, shallow water, including anywhere in between as well. So, this is why bass fishing is so popular and you can easily catch it if you find a really hungry one.

 

 

12 Bass fish facts that will startle you

Although bass fishes are distributed amongst various categories, the most common ones will have to be the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, black sea bass, striped bass, white bass, and spotted bass.

For the uninitiated, the largemouth bass first came to man’s notice in 1562 in Florida. Even though centuries have passed, people still believe that if you want to trap a largemouth bass, you must head out to Florida.

 

• The largemouth bass fish indeed has a lot in store

The largemouth bass fishes are one of the most widely distributed species on earth and can be spotted almost everywhere starting from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America to some of the remote islands of the Pacific Ocean. The largemouth bass is capable of looking in every direction except for straight down and straight back. Moreover, the bass is exceptional in terms of hearing too. They also has a very strong sense of smell because of which they can tread long distances by following a faint scent trail. They can hear vibrations and sounds from 100 feet away by using their lateral lines to hear. According to researches, there are some breeds of largemouth bass that can only move across a limited area while the other bass fish can smoothly cover lengthier portions.

 

• A little about their family

The smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and spotted bass belong to the same family, that is, the Centarchidae family which also has the bluegill and crappie in it. The white bass and striped bass are, however, not a part of this family. Having said that, as of now there are only 9 species of bass fish that form the big black bass family and they are namely the red eye bass, Florida bass, Suwanee bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, Alabama bass, Guadalupe bass, and the shoal bass.

• The lifespan of a bass fish depends on the region it is breeding in

You will be intrigued to know that the lifespan of a bass fish is strongly influenced by the region it is breeding in. Nonetheless, on average, the smallmouth bass fishes can survive for 6 to 12 years and if the conditions are completely in their favor, they can even live up to 15 years. The largemouth bass fish which are usually found in the Northern United States live longer than the counterparts that frequent the Southern part of the country. The difference in their lifespans can sometimes exceed three years. The oldest  was discovered in New York and its age was 23 years!

 

• The spawning duties of the male and the female bass fish

As opposed to the preconceived notions, it is principally the males of the bass fish family that constructs the spawning nests for the females to lay eggs. Additionally, the males guard the eggs for quite a few days and their newly hatched offspring to protect them from all forms of external threats. Generally speaking, the female bass fish can lay more than 4,000 eggs per pound of body weight but, the catch is, they do not release them at the same time. Rather, they try to spawn with different males multiple times to make sure that most of the newly born fishes survive.

 

• The difference between the genders

As far as the genetic growth of the male and the female bass fishes are concerned, the latter is usually larger in size. Anglers are advised to drop the larger species of bass fish because they are the ones that increase the chances of producing female fishes which would eventually swell the dishing stock. Also, when the bass fishes reach a certain age, they tend to drift away from their clusters and live on their own with the exception of the males who are responsible for guarding the brood swarms (the newborn). In terms of temperament, both the males and the females are incredibly aggressive and are always ready to pounce or attack anything that they spot on their way.

 

• Bass fishes are very smart creatures

The bass ranks somewhere on top of the list that evaluates the IQ level in fishes. They have a habit of learning from their mistakes and that is why you will not be able to go for the same fish two consecutive times by relying on the same line and technique you used before. There are times when the fishes even remember the tactic fishermen used to target them so that if they encounter something similar in the future, they could avoid it.

 

• They can survive a wide spectrum of temperatures

For those of you who might not know, fishes are extremely specific when it comes to the water temperature. There are fishes that are meant to be released or stored in very narrow windows of temperature, otherwise, they wouldn’t live to see another day. But, the bass fish cannot be grouped under this set. They are exceptionally resilient and can survive in temperatures that range from 30 – 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

• The hunger of bass isn’t related to its stomach

Unlike as most people would assume, the bass fish do not eat when they are conventionally hungry; they find something to feed on whenever they feel like. The amount of food left in their stomach is not a parameter that triggers hunger in them. Their brains signal only when their levels of energy compounds such as fats and sugars drop to a particular level. The bass detects feeders by tracking the water movement and pressure around them. The lateral line in the head of the basses is more active than the lateral line on their sides. They even have a head canal on the underside of their lower jaw, bordered by pores on each side.

 

• Water temperatures facilitate spawning

As the myths would have it, the bass fish spawns during the full moon but, in reality, it is the water temperature that regulates this process. The spawning reaches its peak when the water temperatures are between 64 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember that the water temperatures of the entire water body don’t count which are obviously not equal across all the spots. The warmth of the water around the spawning beds that the male basses produce is what matters.

 

• The high water pressure causes discomfort in the bass fish

Even if it might not seem so, water is unbelievably heavy and the atmospheric pressure which increases when you go further down the surface can sometimes cause discomfort in the bass fishes. After encountering a major cold front, the level of the mercury in the barometer rises by 2 inches from what it was before the front. The increase in pressure is almost about 7% and to pull themselves out from this additional pressure, the basses move up by 2-3 feet in the water column.

 

• The growth rate of the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are almost equal

Because the largemouth bass fishes are bigger in size, one could easily presume that they are genetically larger than the smallmouth basses. The tricky part is, it is not the fishes’ genes that determine their growth but, the water conditions. On any given day, you will find that a largemouth bass is huger than smallmouth bass. But, if both of these basses are bred in good habitats, their growth rate will be the same, at least until they are of 5 pounds.

 

• Bigger lures catch smaller bass and vice versa

The fact of the matter is, big lures catch small basses and the little lures catch big bass fishes. Studies that dealt with the feeding habits and tendencies of the bass fishes have revealed that if they are offered forage fishes that range from the smallest to the largest size they could gulp down at once, they have always chosen the fish whose size is somewhere in between this scale.

Wondering what is the maximum size of the forage fish that a bass fish can eat? The largemouth bass fishes can have fishes that are around 1/3^rd of its length. The smallmouth bass fish can, nevertheless, swallow a forage fish that is only 1/4^th of its length.

While they are in the water, they will sway towards the areas that have more forage. If they find adequate forage in the shallow waters, they will be there for a decent number of days, regardless of the season. But, owing to the verity that forage population intensifies towards deeper water as the temperatures there are suitable for them, the bass fishes too, can be normally spotted in those regions.