The Spotted Bass

    The spotted bass also known as a spotted black bass is very similar to the largemouth. It is definitely a sought after game fish that we have made into a sport. On a ranking of 1 to 10 bass for eating quality opinions vary, but for the most part, people enjoy the taste.
    To identify the spotted bass, look for black spots on each side of the bass that run from head to toe. Also the spotted bass has a black spot on its gill cover and the tounge is rougher than the largemouth. The jaw line will never extend past the eye, and they have smaller mouths as well. The current world record for the spotted bass is 10 pounds 4 ounces. Bryan Shishido caught this monster April 21, 2001 in California.
    Many bass usually caught average anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds. It depends greatly on the location of where you are catching these bass. One great feature of the spotted bass is they certainly put up one heck of a fight.

Senses

Smell – Their sense of smell is great. They could attack your bait based on how it smells or could flee. It’s said that bass hate hand lotion, nicotine and bug spray. Wouldn’t you if it was on your food? Wash hands with minimal soap before going out to fish, and keep the touching of your baits to a minimum. You can also buy scented gels and sprays to hide “off smells.”
Hearing – Bass have ears located in their skulls. From trolling motors to walking on the bank, the bass can hear you approaching so take caution. Also, don’t be scared to talk to your fishing buddy. Most air waves are deflected once it hits the water. However, you moving or thumping around in your boat can be heard very well.
Sight – Think of it as a foggy day. The foggier it is, the harder to see. It is the same concept when it comes to bass. They can see better in clear water. Temperature also makes a difference. It is said that the colder the water gets, the better their vision gets. Bass can also see in color, so test out different colors if one bait isn’t working for you.
Lateral Line – Bass have this lateral line which is a number of pores on the side of the bass. This is said to be the most important sense. They use this to detect the size of the lure you’re using as well as how fast it’s going and the vibrations it puts off.

Spotted Bass tips

    - Spots generally start their prespawn movements between 52 and 54 degree water temps depending on the        conditions.
    - They will spawn on bluff walls as well as hard bottom areas in deeper pockets.
    - In their prespawn movements they love bright, erratic baits and presentations and will school together in        very shallow water.
    - They love current no matter how cold the water is.

Food

    Bass eat a wide variety of foods including crawfish, other fish, worms, small ducklings, mice, rats, small birds, frogs, insects, snakes and just about anything you can throw at them if presented in the right way. In other words, anything they can fit in their mouth.

Habitat

    Spotted bass are usually found in rivers and streams although they are in lakes and reservoirs as well. They enjoy more of a current compared to the large and smallmouth but enjoy cover like any other bass.

Reproduction

    Spotted bass usually spawn when the water temperature reaches 60 F. (Usually from May to June timeframe.) They enjoy a hard bottom like rocks and gravel. The nest is constructed by the male who then guards the nest once eggs are laid. The female bass can lay up to 40,000 eggs at one time. The female is most cases are always larger than the male.

    Notice something else we should add? Please help us and your fellow anglers by submitting it to tips@howtobass.com