Catching a Largemouth Bass - Essay Example

CHASING THE LARGEMOUTH BASS James Webster The Tennessee record for a Largemouth Bass is 14lb. 8oz. for a fish caught by angler James Barnett at Sugar Creek (Lawrence County) in October 1954(Carter,2011). A long standing record such as this seems to me to be the perfect one to take a shot at. The Largemouth Bass are closely managed by Fisheries Departments to ensure the safety of their population and therefore anglers are limited to only five fish per day. I only want one. The Largemouth Bass are a carnivorous species and will feed on most types of animal life, from plankton and insects in the juvenile to Perch, minnows and any small animals in the adult fish. They will only feed at water temperatures above 50 degrees F(10c) and rarely feed during winter. This is a very important piece of knowledge to remember if I am to take the record. The Largemouth Bass, although not considered a great table fish, is the most popular of sport fish and are avidly persued because of the excitement of their fight, often becoming airborne in their efforts to dislodge the hook. They are also one of the largest, attaining weights of up to as much as 10 pound and in some instances double that with the US and World record standing at 22lb 4oz. They are targeted by both spinning and fly anglers however my expertise lies with spinning and that is the direction I will follow. The first thing I must know is what my target fish looks like. I know that the Largemouth or Widemouth Bass is a green colored fish with a series of dark smudges forming a jagged stripe down each side. As the name implies it has a large mouth with the upper jaw extending way past the line of its eyes. I will find Bass in lakes and ponds and some rivers in warmer waters. Of all freshwater fish the Largemouth Bass is the most cover orientated. They have a very strong attraction to shaded areas. “From birth they associate it as a place to hide from predation. With age they adopt it as a place from which to ambush their prey or retreat from the sun.”(Bass Bums,2011). Therefore I will be looking for a waterway with plenty of protected cover such as logs and vegetation and even man made structures like docks and bridges. Learning the geology of my chosen fishing spot will be important as I will need to know were those hidden covers and drop offs are. I will take the guesswork out of locating the right spot with the use of a fish-finder. An electric impulse is converted into sound waves and spread when they penetrate water. The frequency cant be heard by human or fish but when it hits an object it sends a signal back to a screen. The screen shows distance, size and also contours of the bed. After researching such rivers as The Clinch and Emory I have decided on The Tennessee River to find my record Bass. While there was a lot of harm done to a lot of fish species with the building of dams on The Tennessee River, it became a haven for the calm water loving Largemouth Bass. Doug Plemons is one of Tennessees finest Bass Anglers and he has said that Largemouth bass angling is better on Watts Bar than most of the other lakes in this region and he goes on to talk about plentiful wood cover and submerged structures along the banks.(Summerlin,2011). The further you move up the Tennessee River the warmer the water becomes which makes Watts Bar my ideal place for and attempt on the record. There is also a picnic area and boat ramp at Watts Bar and so there will be no problem launching my boat. Once a Bass attains 10 inches or larger they have very few enemies in the food chain and they will eat just about anything.”They usually grab large prey, then turn the food to swallow it headfirst “(Myers, 1998). This tells me that I need to wait for the Bass to prepare its prey before I strike. I should not strike at the excitement of the first bite because he will spit out the bait and I lose, maybe a record catch. Largemouth Bass spend most of their life in less than five feet of water(largemouthbasstips.com, 2007).The summer sun heats the top five feet of water and surface temperature forming what is known as the epilimnion and as Bass love the warmer water that is were I will find them. As winter approaches the colder air pushes the epilimnion deeper and so I will need to fish deeper to find the Bass. My fish-finder will come in handy again as it also measures water temperature and as the Bass love the warm water it is essential to be aware of water temperature. The Largemouth Bass rarely feeds in water temperature below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and their feeding increases as the water temperature increases until in water temperatures above 70 degrees they feed very heavily. I will be looking for the warmer water, then, remembering that once the water temperature rises above 80 degrees the fish will stop feeding. Another detail that I really need to remember is that the smaller Largemouth Bass tend to swim in schools where the larger Bass swim alone. If I am catching smaller fish then I will need to move my location in an attempt to fing the larger fish. There is a lot of advice available as to what is the best bait to use for different species of fish. My own belief is that fish get used to eating whatever is available in their own habitat and as all waterways are haven to some sort of prawn or shrimp, from lakes and rivers to deep sea, these are an ideal bait to use. I will also enhance my chances by making Burley Bombs” by cutting the top off a plastic bottle below the neck and inserting a sinker (lead weight) attached to a fishing line into the bottle with minced fish and bread scraps. I will fill with water and freeze it. Once I have found my fishing site I will cut the plastic away from the frozen burley and lower it to the desired depth in the water. As the frozen matter melts, pieces of minced fish and bread will disperse drawing fish to were I am fishing. While many anglers prefer to use soft plastics and lures, I am of the belief that they are imitating real bait so what not use real bait. Overhead type reels are a type of reel that sits on top of your rod as against the spinning reel which sits under your rod and are known as bait-casters. They are very difficult to master and the angler has to use thump pressure on the spool to control the speed of the cast and stopping its flight at its target. The inexperience will get a backlash which cause a spool overrun and a massive tangle which often leads to a re-spooling of your reel. The benefit is that once you have learned to control the bait-caster you have total control of were you place your bait. When it is important to land your bait near logs and other types of cover this is essential. Because I am targeting large fish I need a strong fishing line, but, for bait-casting I also need a light line. That is were braid comes to the fore. Braid fishing line is constructed by weaving four strands of high Tech micro fibers together with each individual strand itself comprised of four or five dozen micro fibers. This makes it a very strong line and also a very light line. I will use a one foot leader in case of snags (it is nearly impossible to break a braided line) and a light enough sinker to let my bait slowly sink to my desired depth before making a slow retrieve if my bait is taken. Having my drag set properly will also be important. Drag is a setting on a reel which allows line to be taken from the reel by the fish. When a fish runs you need to it some free run so as not not snap your rod. In this manner you can play your catch until it tires sufficiently for it to be reeled in. So, I will be waiting until the warmer months before heading to Watts Bar and testing my knowledge and experience against that of the Largemouth Bass. The possibility of having my name against that record is something that is now my .driving force. Research Carter, Ed. “Tennessee Fishing Records”. tn.gov. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.July 25th 2011. web. 18th Sep. 2011 Milne, Brian. “All About The Largemouth Bass”. about.com. n.d. web. 18th Sept. 2011 Largemouth Bass Tips on Line. Largemouthbasstips.com. Jackson Lures. 2007. net. 18th Sept. 2011 Wickstrom, Gerald.”Largemouth Bass”. Northern.ed. South Dekota Game, Fish and Parks. n.d. web. 18th Sept. 2011 Myres, Brian. “Bass Fishing In The Great Outdoors”. Time4me.com. Great Outdoors Club.mag. 2005.web. 18th Sept. 2011 Bass Bums Around The World. bassfishingandcatching.com. Bass Fishing and Catching. n.d. web. 18th Sept. 2011 Summerlin, Vernon. “Tennessee River Largemouth Bass”.fishingtennessee.com. Jim Duckworth Fishing Adventures. n.d. web. 18th Spt. 2011 Oyster, Don. Largemouthed Bass. Minnesota. Creative Publishing International .2001. Print Bauer, Edwin A. “Bass In America”. New York. 1955. Print. Simon and Schusters. Topic Statement: Biology of The Largemouth Bass Annotated Bibliography Milne, Brian. “All About The Largemouth Bass”. about.com. n.d. web. 18th Sept. 2011 This article gives a brief and basic description of the Largemouth Bass and its habitat. Wickstrom, Gerald.”Largemouth Bass”. Northern.ed. South Dekota Game, Fish and Parks. n.d. web. 18th Sept. 2011 An interesting natural history of the Largemouth Bass and a little about conservation measures for a long lasting population is given in this article. Myres, Brian. “Bass Fishing In The Great Outdoors”. Time4me.com. Great Outdoors Club. 2005.web. 18th Sept. 2011 Here, you will learn about the feeding and spawning habits of the Largemouth Bass with a fair amount of detail. Oyster, Don. Largemouthed Bass. Minnesota. Creative Publishing International .2001. Print Apart from an in depth description on how to catch the Largemouth Bass, this book, has many photos and gives all you need to know about its habits and habitation. In-Fishing Staff, Largemouth Bass Location. Florida. Intermedia Outdoors. 2006. Print This publication covers most of the waters The Largemouth Bass inhabits throughout the world. It describes details that are common with the species in each habitat from small fish farms to the large reservoirs. Jones, Keith A PhD. Knowing Bass. Berkley. The Lyons Press.2005. Print This is a scientific look at the Largemouth Bass. It describes the fish and it life in intricate detail. It not only tells you what the fish sees but also how it sees it. Dr. Jones works at the Berkley Fish Research Center and he gives a truly scientific look at this amazing fish. Jackson, James R.”Transactions of the American Fisheries Society”. First-Year Cohort Dynamics and Overwinter Mortality of Juvenile Largemouth Bass. Mendeley. 2000. net. 19th Sept. 2011 This paper,also available from afsjournals.org has look at the growth and and pertinent factors in its growth during the first years life of The Largemouth Bass. Park, Peter J.”The Biology of The Largemouth Bass”.Book Fishing Trips Mag.,3rd Aug. 2010. web. 19th Sept. 2011 This article fields descriptions of the evolution, distribution, feeding habits and the biology of the Largemouth Basss reproduction. Bauer, Edwin A. Bass In America. New York. .Simon and Schusters. 1955. Print This is an excellent book on Bass. It has everything you need to know about every facet of the Largemouth Bass including comparisons with other species of Bass. The book describes in great detail everything from background, population management and ecological concerns to every conceivable method that can be used to catch them. Hauge, Steve. The Big Book of Bass. Minneapolis. Creative Publishing International.2008. Print Quinn, Steve. “Seasons For Bass”. In-Fisherman. The Intermedia Outdoors Network. mag. 20th July 2011. net. 19th Sept. 2011 This article enlightens the specifics on how the Largemouth Bass survives and adjusts its behavior to the seasons and the seasonal water temperature changes. “Fishing Species:Largemouth Bass”. Fish4Fun . Fish4Fun USA. mag. n.d. web. 18th Sept. 2011 Provides an accurate physical description of The Largemouth Bass and how it is spread across the waterways of the USA. Boyle, Robert H. “A Pretty Kettle Of Dyed Baitfish.” Sports Illustrated. 5th Oct. 1964. mag. Print This is an article on the sight of The Largemouth Bass. The colors it sees more prominently then others and how this knowledge can be used in the production of lures specifically for the Bass. Boyle, Robert H. “This Is The Fish You Cant Catch To Many Of.” Sports Illustrated. .19th Aug. 1963. mag. Print Dr George W. Bennett is the chief of the Aquatic Biology Section of the Illinois Natural History Survey in Urbana and in this article Robert Boyle imparts some very interesting findings from Dr Bennetts research on the biology of the Largemouth Bass. Gustaveson, Wayne. “Bass Biology”.Inside Line. Gary Yamamotos Custom Baits.mag. Jul/Aug.1998. web. 19th Sept. 2011 This is a very good article on the eating habits of The Largemouth Bass. It tells how the food that is eaten and the habitat in which it dines effects its growth and the speed at which it grows. Dance, Bill. “Largemouth Bass Biology.” North American Fishing Magazine. Get Some Bass.com. Mag. 2011. web. 19th Sept. 2011 Another really good article with a physical description including the difference between male and female that I have not seen before.There are also also some different views on The Largemouth Basss reproduction and behavior. Laden, Gary. “Jungle Bass.” Bassdozer Worldwide Bass Fishing. Bassdozer.com. mag. n.d. web. 19th Sept. 2011 This article is something a bit different with stories of Bass and Bass fishing in Rio Negro, Brazil Gilbey, Henry.”Largemouth Bass Fishing In Florida”.Adventure Fishing. 5th Aug. 2007. mag. Print An interesting article which tells the story of Henry Gilbeys real life day of fishing. We learn how he uses his knowledge of the Largemouth Bass and its biology to catch them. Where and whys of fishing for the Bass. Reddington, Tom. “One Two Combo For Catching Fall Bass”.Bass Resources. The Ultimate Bass Fishing Guide.mag. n.d. web. 19th Sept. 2011 Deeter, Kirk. “Do You Think Like a Bass Pro”. Field and Stream. Bonnier Corporation. Mag. 5th June 2005. web. 19th Sept. 2011 This is a great interactive magazine and this article has you taking part in a bass quiz. A fantastic way to test your knowledge of the The Largemouth Bass, its environment and habits. Read More