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Bass is one of the most sought after fish for anglers because of the resistance, and wilful fight that this species puts up when they are hooked. Before planning the fishing trip, make sure you know all about bass. For example, where do bass live and where should you plan the trip?
Contents
Where Do Bass Live?
Bass lives in freshwater lakes, or brackish waters where the water current or movement is slow. This fish species likes water bodies with vegetation, rocky ledges, and man-made structures that give bass plenty of hiding spots, or protective cover in unruly weather conditions.
There are various kinds of bass and they are found in different kinds of places like lakes, rivers, or at the points where a stream meets the sea. These fish are heavy predators so they come out of their hiding places to attack small bait fish. Anglers can fish around these areas to catch big bass.
Where to Find Bass in America?
Anglers who have more basic knowledge about bass have an edge over others because they can locate the fish within a water body and capitalize on their catches by understanding how the fish behave. In most freshwater lakes, bass lives in places where the water temperature is moderate. Water that is too cold, or too warm is not for bass.
Moreover, the oxygen levels and plantation also play a role in determining the best locations for bass fishing. You can find striped, smallmouth, white, and largemouth bass in numerous lakes. In America, bass is found everywhere, however, you will have more success in picking the right spot when you know their temperature, food, and spawning requirements.
Additionally, bass stick around places where there is a heavy cover so that they can hide and wait for a small fish to swim by so they can grab it quickly. Rocky lakes or places where there are darker spots under rocks, logs, and other structures will be a good place to find bass.
Preferable Spots
Bass are found in areas where they have access to deep, as well as shallow waters. The spots where the stream meets the river, or where the lake has an inflow from another water body, fish will not be abundant. However, the outer spots where the water current is slower, also called the secondary points, are where you will find many bass fish.
Some popular lakes where you can fish for bass in America include
- Lake Fork, Texas
- San Joaquin Delta, California
- St. Lawrence River, New York
- Lake St. Clair, Michigan
Migration Channels
Many bass stays in one place if they can find shallow waters to feed, and deeper, darker spots to spawn. However, many fish migrate when the water temperatures are not favorable for them. In search of food and better water quality, these fish move out from their place.
Lakes that are closed and do not offer any exit points will have bass move to deeper points in summers when the surface water becomes warmer than they require. During the transition within the lake, bass fish use the same migration channels.
Spotting these migration channels is possible if anglers know the behavior of this species. Moreover, there are many fish swimming through these channels towards their spawning beds or away from them. This means that anglers will be lucky every time they go fishing if they can identify these channels.
Seasonal Habitats
Seasons impact the location of bass because of the water temperatures, oxygen level, and even the amount of bait available. Bass fish spawn in spring in the southern parts of the country, and in early summer in the north. The periods before, and after the spawning season is migratory periods.
During the pre-spawn period, the bass moves from the deep winter spots to feed heavily in the shallow parts of the lake. Then, for spawning, they move to an optimal temperature nesting bed. After spawning, bass move to their ‘summer resort’ that are deeper ledges, or sheltered spots where they can hide and feed on fish.
Some Related Questions
Where Do Bass Like to Hide?
Bass like to hide in heavy plantation patches in the water. Moreover, during summers, this fish species can be found under rock shadows, docks, and even in crevices where they are hidden from other water creatures so that they can attack bait fish efficiently.
Where Are Bass Native To?
Bass are native to the fresh waters of eastern-central North America. You can find all types of bass fish in lakes around these areas. Bass is also found in inland lakes in south-eastern Ontario. Lakes, streams, and reservoirs all over the country have bass populations so anglers can enjoy catching this energetic fish in lakes nearby.
Conclusion
Many novice anglers ask about where bass lives so they can plan their fishing trips accordingly. You will be able to catch some big bass if you know where it lives, and how it migrates from one place to another. Moreover, the seasons and the availability of bait fish also determines where bass live at a particular time of the year.