Largemouth Bass, Montana
Birds are not the only nesting creatures at the moment, Largemouth Bass are also cleaning house in preparation for the annual spring spawn. I am slowly but surly learning the life cycle of the Bass. One thing I am finding out is that Bass are every bit as complex as Trout.
Bass Spawning Bed
In the local lakes and sloughs where these fish reside they are now building their nesting sites in preparation for their yearly spawning. It is also a time when fishermen pursue them as they become aggressive when protecting their spawning beds and this behavior will continue for a period after the bass fry have left the egg stage and become free swimming and are being protected by the adult males.
This bed was not all that concealed but all have some form of cover for the fish to hide in. This particular fish was hanging just out of camera range but they don’t wander to far and come right back after the threat leaves. It was interesting to watch the fish react as you passed by. Most would align themselves with the cover, like a thick branch or log and be perfectly hidden from above.
Fallen Pine tree
Bass love this kind of stuff and will stick to it like glue. The are not always on structure but in general it is a definite “go to” spot. In real deep cover like this you can drop your lure down through the branches (the fish probably go down as they sense your approach) to the bottom and pick them up deep in the branches. Pretty fun.
Fallen Pine tree
Another angle of the same tree. The Bass were not sticking on this tree Monday like we have seen on other days. Sometimes you can see them laying under the branches aligned as I mentioned before underneath the branches in the shade. Sometimes you can get them to eat something, sometimes not. Just like a trout that is locked in his little zone and you empty your fly arsenal but you can’t budge him.
