The smallest bass which have spawned were between 5 and 6 ounces in weight. It's a "generalist" thug that, by experience, grows "smarter" with age and adapts to … Males will not usually choose a spawning area that is 30 feet (9.14 m) or closer to another fish’ territory. How to Catch Bass in Cold, Winter Conditions. Spawning begins only when the temperature becomes more than 60°F. Look for shallow flats that have protection from rough water. This is especially true at the Briarwood Ohio fishing club, where you can catch the spawning action and catch world class bass. Spring production of Florida largemouth bass at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center reported similar numbers of fry per spawn … When hatched the school remains for about 3 to 4 weeks under their father’s protection before dispersing. Largemouth bass, the state fish of five US states, is a popular catch. 6. We should, however, note that the season may change depending on the given latitude. Keep movement to a minimum, proceed slowly into spawning grounds and be stealthy on the bank. Fish, worms, frogs, insect larvae, crayfish, salamanders, snakes, small mammals, birds and ducklings are also eaten. Largemouth Bass Facts. In this, the first documentary in a series on Largemouth Bass behavior, see the spawn like you've never seen it before. Their eyes are located in their head and their mouth is almost always open, just like an opening for a mouthful. Its scientific name is Micropterus Salmoides, which officially declares it to be a sunfish. The Spawn. I live in Northern Illinois and was involved in setting up the first high school fishing tournament series in the country over 10 years ago. Anything that is loud or shiny should do the trick. Spawning takes place in the spring season when the water temperature first holds steady above 60˚F. This is the last phase of the spawning process. Do this start and stop for as long as your lure is in the spawning area. Let’s start with the obvious reason: they are good eating! Lakes, especially the larger ones, don't warm up uniformally. When looking for a spawning area, look for black and white patches marking the bottom of the lake. Although most anglers will focus on shallow water during the bass spawning season, these transitional zones hold bass that are either not spawning yet or are using the area to feed. Which one you use depends on which spots you are fishing for spawning bass. You can tell a largemouth bass by the distinctive jagged edged stripes on either side of the fish created by a series of dark spots. Bass usually spawn at the end of spring into early summer. This is true but you also want to move slowly. The females now leave the males to guard the eggs. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There are many days in the spring where the weather and water will not cooperate with this bass fishing strategy. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Adult Largemouth Bass have white meat that offers a firm yet tender texture. It is also worth noting that these same areas are also productive spots for post-spawn bass fishing to catch bass moving out of spawning grounds and kicking it back into feeding mode. Mean OS fry per spawn values (4,000-7,000) were lower than spring production totals that averaged 6,000-12,000 fry per spawn. Adult largemouth bass utilize submerged aquatic vegetation as cover to ambush prey and juvenile or young largemouth use aquatic weeds, tree limbs or submerged log or stumps as cover to escape predation. Most largemouth bass begin spawning as early as year 2 when they weigh as little as 1lb (454 grams). In states such as Illinois or Indiana, the bass spawn from April to May. 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