Bass basics-seeing the light

[Buddy Sanders]

Bass have particularly keen eyesight. The arrangement of rods and cones in their eyes are such that scientists have determined that bass 'see' better (can collect and interpret more visible light)than humans by several orders of magnitude.

A lot has been published over the years about the Bass' other 'senses', the lateral line, which allows them to feel and locate prey by the vibrations the prey makes in the water, their sense of smell, which is quite acute, and their 'hearing' which is at least five times 'better' than ours.

But, the fact remains that while these other senses help a bass to locate it's food, the bass is a 'sight feeder'. It doesn't eat ANYTHING until it 'sees' it.

Bass have an area of 'binocular vision', where the vision cone from their high side mounted eyes 'overlap'. This area extend outwards and slightly upwards from the fish's nose. Before taking prey, the bass will always turn it's body so that whatever it's going to eat lies within this cone of vision.

The 'location' of the bass' eyes on it's body indicates that it's 'focus' of awareness is 'upwards'. This makes sense, as most of the bass' natural enemies and a good proportion of it's prey are first perceived from 'above' the bass.

Bass almost always strike 'upwards' in relation to the line of their body. If they are taking prey from the bottom of lake or stream, they will tip up their body so that the prey is 'above' their centerline before striking.

This explains a lot about why certain types of flies are more effective for bass, and gives some insight into presentation.

Good Luck!

Buddy

[On The Fly!]

tell us more about the effective flys please!

Don :)

[tightlines57]

I have always gone by the "if you can see them, they can see you". This is true for all types of fishing.

[CHIEF]

Bass can see 20 lbs mono...

CHIEF

[WMF]

Bass can see 20 lbs mono...

CHIEF

Yep but sometimes they don't care!

[Mr.Smith]

It doesn't eat ANYTHING until it 'sees' it.


Bass always strike 'upwards' in relation to the line of their body. If they are taking prey from the bottom of lake or stream, they will tip up their body so that the prey is 'above' their centerline before striking.



A lot of good information but these two points arent entirely correct. Bass do feed at night quite heavily in the summer when the water temps elevate above their comfort level. While they have good night vision at night they rely heavily on their other senses and less on their eyes. Rattles or vibration in addition to scent will highly increase your odds of catching bass at night. During the day they naturally rely on their vision, but the other senses do not shut off.

As for the direction of the strike it has been my experience and observation that bass most often strike straight on and usually it is the vacuum inhale that Buddy mentioned in his other post.

There are a number of different strikes depending on the fish's intentions. If it is feeding actively then the bait goes in and straight to the crushers. This happens faster than you can react, if the bait doesnt feel right or more appropriately it feels wrong the bass will spit it out. If the fish is picking things up off the bottom the strike is a move forward/ suck in at the same time. If it is chasing bait it will strike and turn. Buddy's assesments are generally correct but I feel that you cannot simplify the feeding behavior of a bass to just one sentence.

If it lends any credebilty to my statements I used to fish bass tournaments in North Carolina when I lived there and spent every weekend that I wasnt out doing good army training fishing for bass. Four years of chasing bass, reading bassmasters and watching documentaries taught me a thing or two about fish habits. That said the behavior of the bass here in AZ is quite different than those back east. In NC 20' is deep water, here 20' is shallow. Either way if I have insight to offer I will share.

[Buddy Sanders]

Josh,

That's one thing that many people don't understand about bass fishing. Especially bass fishing at night.

Bass see better than we do. LOTS better. Remember the starlight/night vision stuff that the Army has? Bass see better than that.

Bass do use their other senses to help them locate prey, but they almost never eat something they don't see first.

As far as the 'angle' of the bass' feeding, the fish will use it's best vision prior to the stirke EVERY time. Before it 'strikes' it always aligns it's body so that the intended victim is in front of and slightly above it's centerline. This can happen quickly, but it ALWAYS happens. There are many things, as far as how the bass will move 'during' the strike, that can happen after that. I'm sure it has something to do with what the prey is, where it is, what it's doing, and the 'mood' of that particular bass, but 'before' the strike, the bass wants a good look at what it's going to eat.

Since this means that just before it strikes, the prey is in front of and at least slightly above the bass' centerline, I'll stand by my statement that the bass strikes upwards in relation to it's centerline.

Scents, rattles, and such are all tools that can help your odds in bass fishing. All work to a more or less degree under varying circumstances, just like any other portion of a presentation.

Good Luck!

Buddy

[Mr.Smith]

I've caught largemouths on cutbait at night. It dont move, nor do dead shad. Also I have a 125 gallon aquarium, currently a pair of peacock bass live in it. I have had LM's before and channel cats too. Lot's and lots of observation. You'd really be surprised to see how the cats feed.

Agree to disagree I guess. I still very much value your insight. To me this is what fishing is all about. Studying the fish and learning how to catch them through knowledge rather than luck. Keep up the good work.

[Maximus]

Josh,

That's one thing that many people don't understand about bass fishing. Especially bass fishing at night.

Bass see better than we do. LOTS better. Remember the starlight/night vision stuff that the Army has? Bass see better than that.

Bass do use their other senses to help them locate prey, but they NEVER eat something they don't see first.

As far as the 'angle' of the bass' feeding, the fish will use it's best vision prior to the stirke EVERY time. Before it 'strikes' it always aligns it's body so that the intended victim is in front of and slightly above it's centerline. This can happen quickly, but it ALWAYS happens. There are many things, as far as how the bass will move 'during' the strike, that can happen after that. I'm sure it has something to do with what the prey is, where it is, what it's doing, and the 'mood' of that particular bass, but 'before' the strike, the bass wants a good look at what it's going to eat.

Since this means that just before it strikes, the prey is in front of and at least slightly above the bass' centerline, I'll stand by my statement that the bass strikes upwards in relation to it's centerline.

Scents, rattles, and such are all tools that can help your odds in bass fishing. All work to a more or less degree under varying circumstances, just like any other portion of a presentation.

Good Luck!

Buddy

So what does all this mean exactly? .. and how do I use this to my advantage?

[aztightlines]

Never say "never," as how would you explain a bass coming straight up through a thick weed mat to eat a fly or lure? They may see the motion, indirectly, maybe, but sense where the bait is. That lateral line is important.
I find bass harder to catch than most species in general, and they can be provoked into striking out of annoyance, or anger, that makes it challenging and fun to pursue them.

[Buddy Sanders]

Maximus,

Right now I'm just trying to provide some basic information about the bass itself. Things that most of us who spent a lifetime studying and chasing them probably already know, but many who are new to the challenge of bass fishing may not.

How you choose to use or interpret this basic information is up to you.

I'll try to get into some 'specifics' about various presentations, flies, and situations down the road a bit.

Please be patient with me.

Thanks for everyones interest.

Buddy

[Buddy Sanders]

Rod,

That one is simple.

If you can find a video of a bass doing this, it's pretty fun to see. The bass will follow under the mat, keeping the surface disturbance caused by the fly/lure/real frog/whatever centered in that cone of binocular vision until it 'decides' (no one knows how THAT happens) to strike. Bass often 'miss' prey in this situation. Maybe it happens because the bass can't see as clearly as it would like.

You are absolutley correct that I sholdn't use the term 'never', especially when talking about a wild creature we don't fully understand. So noted and I'll endeavor to do better.

Thanks,

Buddy

[JMC]

Some good points here, if it has not already been mentioned Bass also rely heavily on ambushing their prey. I love night fishing for Bass and indeed they can see very well. I’ve used black craw baits back in the day dark colored westy’s and an assortment of jigs and have always done well. I’ll be doing night fishing with the fly this summer under the lights, can’t wait…. Jeff