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Understanding
Bass - Part 2
by "The Bass Coach"
(Roger Lee Brown)
In my last article "Understanding
Bass Part-1" I covered a bit of information about a few
of the "key factors" that an angler should really know
about the bass when it comes to becoming a more successful angler
such as: Food, Oxygen, and Cover which a bass needs to survive,
as well as water temperatures and how it effects bass, along
with a few others to help you increase your knowledge in the
field of Bass fishing.
In this article I will
cover a few more key factors to give you a broader knowledge
when it comes to understanding bass such as the senses of a bass.
All of these elements and factors are extremely important to
know if you wish to become a more successful angler. Just look
at it this way, it's like a jig-saw puzzle, the more pieces of
the puzzle you put together, the more you will see the picture
as a whole. "What's that mean?" Putting it in simple
terms, the more you understand the bass, why it does things when
it does, where it goes during different seasons, how a bass reacts
under certain circumstances, and areas where bass are more likely
to be found on different bodies of water will definitely help
you when it comes to saving precious fishing time as well as
being a much more productive angler.
To start with we will cover
just how important the senses of a bass really are and try to
gain a better picture of why bass acts certain ways by the use
of their senses.
SIGHT..
A bass has a very acute
sense of site (or vision) and can see very well in just about
any water color condition as well as being able to see at night.
How well can a bass see at night? For example, sometimes on a
full moon when it really gets bright from the light of the moon
to where you can almost read a newspaper outside, a bass can
see that good in the darkest of pitch. How is this possible?
The eyes of a bass have
rods and cones which naturally adjust under different light conditions
(the cones and rods will retract and extend making a natural
adjustment for their vision.) Another factor is that a bass doesn't
have any eyelids like you or I and because of a bass not having
eyelids overlong exposure to the suns rays will cause a bass
eventually to develop cataracts and go blind. (One reason why
cover is so important to a bass during bright sunny days or (Bluebird
Sky conditions!) A bass can see in most all water colors (clear,
simi-stained, stained, murky, and even muddy colors) but when
the vision of a bass is restricted the other senses will take
over.
HEARING & FEELING.....
A bass's hearing and feeling
are synonymous with each other, in other words I guess you might
say that they hear and feel at the same time. Unlike you or I
where we may hold a conversation with another person understanding
what is being said, a bass hears and feels the vibration from
the different sounds and movements in the water. Now, different
sounds will cause different pitches that send vibrations and
a bass will get familiar with certain sounds such as pitches
and vibrations made from natural living forage, as well being
able to feel any displacement of water within a close proximity
of a bass caused by even the slightest movement.
I'll give you a example:
Let's take a "Carolina Rig" for instance. The Carolina
Rig has several different purposes as far as pattern and technique
goes but the most crucial part of this rig is the sound! (The
TICKER!) that's on the rig. We talked earlier in the prior article
"Understanding Bass Part-1" about the most desired
food of a bass being a Crawfish (Crawdad, Crayfish, etc.) When
a Crawfish moves in the water it will cause a clicking sound
(vibration) from the cartilage in it's tail. This clicking sound
sends a vibration through the water and alerts a bass that a
natural food source is in the area, the bass moves closer to
this sound, then if the presentation of the bait is just right
you can probably catch the bass. A bass has a natural radar system
built within it and can zero in on just about any movement or
sound made within the water. Now, when you work a Carolina Rig
in the water, the slightest movement of the ticker made by either:
"Glass & Brass Beads", "B-B Chambers",
"Two Glass Beads" Etc.... this sound is designed to
replicate the movement (vibration) of a natural live Crawfish
and will alert a bass that a natural forage bait is in it's area.
As far as noise (or sound)
baits go, like (Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Spots, Rattled Spinnerbaits,
etc.) Sound travels further in the water than a displacement
of water caused by a bait without any sound added to it. The
reason noise baits work so well is that a bass can hear them
at greater distances and can travel further to investigate the
sounds made from these types of baits, then when close enough
to the bait, the sight and taste senses will take precedence
over the feeling or hearing senses.....
TASTE & SMELL.....
A bass has taste buds outside
it's mouth as well as inside of it. Now just think a minute!....
that means that a bass can taste an object before it even gets
in it's mouth. The taste and smell of a bass are once again synonymous
with each other and that a bass smells and tastes at the same
time. Now, how acute is a bass's sense of taste and or smell?
A few years back a study
was conducted of the taste and smell of a bass in a tank of 100
gallons of water. In this study the bass was found to be able
to taste (or smell) 1-200th of a drop of a substance in the 100
gallon water tank (what an amazing sense of taste and smell.)
Well, what does this have to do with bass? if you want to be
a successful angler it means a great deal. Now let's put this
in anglers terms okay? If a bass can scent a bait that is not
a pleasing or acceptable taste or smell, if it does put it in
it's mouth it will spit it right back out within 1 to 3 seconds
(not much time to set a hook right?) but, it the bass accepts
the taste or smell and puts it in it's mouth it can hold it up
to as long as 30 seconds before spitting it out (much more time
to set the hook!)
To sum up the taste and
smell segment, here are a few hints to help you understand why
you may be getting those quick hits and not catching any fish:
1. Always wash your hands
before you go fishing.....
2. Fill up your boat with
gas and oil the night before you go fishing.....
3. Use natural forage formulas
or a formula that has been tested and proven to work.....
4. Try to use a odor free
soap or a scent neutralizer.....
Just these steps can make
a world of difference when it comes to catching more bass. I
have had many students at my bass fishing school that use these
steps above and can't believe the difference it can make.
Understanding a bass is
just as important to a angler as having his or her fishing rod
in their hand. So many anglers seem to have a rough time not
knowing how to fish under different conditions, how to use baits
properly, what to buy and what not to buy, how to locate bass,
what type of equipment is really necessary, and on and on! I
teach all this and much more at my 3-Day "On-Water"
Bass Fishing School. It is worth an education in bass angling,
especially if one wants to become more successful at it. I am
very proud to have helped some of my former students because
some of them are constant money winners in tournament fishing
as well as being much more consistent at catching bass. Most
anybody at any given time can catch a bass but they usually can't
tell you why!
If you would like to enroll
for the 3-Day Bass Fishing School or just take a charter (guided
fishing trip) on two of the best lakes in the nation (Lake Champlain
& Lake George, located upstate NY) please visit my site(s)
at www.capital.net/~rlbrown and www.fishing-boating.com/basscoach for more information or you may
Email me at rlbrown@capital.net or you may phone me at (518)
597-4240
I hope this article may
shed some light when it comes to applying presentations, techniques,
and knowledge in your future bass fishing adventures!
Until next time!..... Take
Care & God Bless!....."The Bass Coach" Roger Lee Brown
If you contact The Bass
Coach, let him know you saw his article on Zeiner's Angler Supply's
site.
(518) 597-4240 Email: rlbrown@capital.net
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About Bass Fishing School in New York
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