Something I have thinking about lately is how different bass react from season to season and from lake to lake. Bass are poikilothermic, meaning their blood becomes the same temperature as their environment. Their metabolic process adjusts to changing temperatures as well. Even the heart of some fish changes size and chemicals in their blood change to prepare them for the cold winter months. Even though it is true that a bass’s digestion and movement slows during winter months, they still feed. That is why largemouth bass are caught on Dale in the winter as well as smallmouth. In northern lakes largemouth bass are still caught through the ice. It has been proven, larger bass are caught during the winter in northern lakes. Studies have shown at 40 degrees bass need to consume only one third as much food to maintain nutrition as they would at 70 degrees. So, why do we still stand a good chance to catch a lunker in winter? One reason maybe prey is least available in winter. But, bass still need to eat in winter. As food sources decline in winter, bass may become more sedentary, but if food becomes available, they will still travel and eat.
Something else I have been thinking about. Why do fish react and behave differently from one lake to another? I find this fascinating personally. If you have fished Laurel and Dale, even though they are deep and clear, the bass react and behave differently. Even their coloration is different. Because diet, water color, and structure is different from lake to lake, makes bass look, react and behave differently...even the DNA of bass maybe different from lake to another. Why it is some lakes are topwater lakes while others do well on bottom-bouncing jigs? Why it is some lakes are good at night and others are not? As you know, lure colors may vary greatly from lake to lake. Maybe that is why tackle shops have displays with lures for a particular lake. There is money to be made for local guides and local fishermen when tournament time comes around because they know how fish react and behave during a given time of year or weather pattern for that lake. That is why guides are so valuable when learning a new lake because they understand the movements of baitfish and the movement of bass for that given lake. Bass react differently as to water clarity as well. They may be more aggressive in shallower dingy water than deep clear lakes. That is why so many fishermen have trouble understanding bass habitat and feeding patterns in deep clear lakes. You have to remember what bass are feeding on during any month of the year. To do that you must understand how the baitfish are relating to the microorganisms and zooplankton, which is their food source. And, where you find the baitfish will be how their food source (microorganisms and zooplankton) reacts to sunlight, darkness, water clarity, current and weather patterns…even the crawfish how so many different colors from lake to lake. I know you as bass fisherman you have seen many different colorations on the bass you have caught. Why are so many lures and techniques used to fish? Because lakes and bass are different from lake to lake from north to south from east to west. Speaking of “different”, I still wish I had mounted the solid, black, three pound largemouth bass I caught out of the Kentucky River a few years ago. That fish was simply amazing to see with it’s blood red gills against a solid, glistening back body. As I sat there looking at this fish, I just could not kill it so I let it go...a true freak of nature.
