Largemouth Bass Behavior 1: The Spawn 

Well done.

Excellent. Thank you!

Hi, RSB. Thanks. Me thinks some people just want to be entertained. My channel won't be for them. That's OK, I didn't start a channel to... have a YT channel. And, no, I can't make a short fishing journal. Too much going on out there! My wife teaches elementary grades and says that there are some children who cannot sit through a documentary. If it's not fast-moving attention-grabbing content, they cannot attend. These are usually kids who haven't had experience watching or listening to something that takes time to develop, and often never having been read to. Lotsa options out there and on the internet one can simply click away if they don't like something. Cheers, Paul

Hi, K. Yeah, it sure is cool getting to see what's actually going on down there. I find it almost, maybe as, interesting as fishing and catching itself. Years ago a trout and salmon stream I fished regularly was closed for a couple of years to fishing to give Atlantic Salmon a chance to procreate. What was interesting was how many people came down to just watch the trout and salmon spawning runs. Parking lot full in the mornings, evenings, lunch breaks and weekends. No fishing rods. Many were fishers, others not. Everyone was excited, oohing and ahhing. Many just stared, nearly mesmerized. Very cool. I'm always excited to get home and review my new footage, as though I'm about to embark on a fishing excursion. In fact, I have cameras in right now. Can't wait to see what I've got. Cheers, Paul

Hi, Aaron. Thanks. Yeah, this is kind of channel I always wanted to see. Sometimes you just gotta do stuff yourself. :) Cheers, Paul.

Thanks, AFB. I have enough research background to provide me the ability to access quite a range of scientific literature. And, I now pretty much think that way. Part of my challenge has been to relate it to my fishing, and vice-versa. I, think anyway, that I'm making some progress at fathoming... just what the hell goes on down there. :) Glad to have a fellow nerd with me here. Paul

Hi, Tom. Great to hear. Thanks! Paul

Thanks, Joe! Glad you enjoyed it. The only award I really need is the opportunity to keep producing deeply informative videos. The kind of information I've always wanted to see. It's taken a long time to acquire the knowledge, figure things out, and come up with the language and production skills to share my passion for... just what the heck is going on down there!

Great to hear, Kennedy L. Working on getting things back in place after a cross country move. Looking forward to it. Cheers, Paul

That would be great. If there is sufficient interest, that's my go ahead to continue. My goal is... full steam ahead. Thanks, Rosey.

Your welcome what part of the north was this shot

N Colorado.

Hi Kevin. I've done quite a bit: internships, volunteering, employment, academics. Pursue it. Step up and get involved. Don't be idle. Find out what's available, talk with people -esp the right ones. Everyone who has real passion loves to share it. Just ask. A quick story: Years ago, while i was working full time at a large tackle shop and also attending school full time as a Fisheries major, I applied to an Ivy school. At the tackle shop I got the chance to meet Bruce Shupp, then NYS Fisheries Commissioner (later the Conservation Director for B.A.S.S) and Gerry Barnhart, a Federal Great Lakes Fisheries Commissioner. I boldly asked both if they would write me a recommendation. They did! My channel email is thenatureoffishing@gmail.com. Feel free to contact me with questions.

I grew up watching Jacques Cousteau and wanted the same as you. At a college recruiting event I attended, I was discouraged from even trying to pursue anything in that area of expertise. The reason being, the lack of jobs and payscale. He was wrong to do that to a fresh eager young mind. I missed out. Don't you miss out. Do what your heart tells you. Do what you know is right for you. I wish I woulda! Good luck! Should be a whole lotta fun!

@@harrisgraves592 This line of work, basic research and resource management, is not well supported by the current economic model. But it is necessary and will not be going away. To be employed in it you have to have a calling, dedication, and willingness to grow into positions over time. But one must also get into the more senior ranks and that takes education and time. Long but rewarding road. Like teaching, my wife being a teacher. There's also parallel work in the "green" industries and services. Not the direct involvement with wildlife, but rewarding and necessary outdoor work. I would never suggest someone not follow their bliss. Paul

@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thank you, Paul I wish I wouldn't have listened to that recruiter so long ago. I have however used my love for all things nature to guide my life and teach my children to respect, love and appreciate both flora and fauna of this place we call home, Earth. My youngest biological son has a very strong desire to attend college and earn a degree in the field of entomology. I have supported him 100%! Thank you for your work, Sir!

Hi Kip. We've got a good 100years between us, and there's still so much more to learn. Quite a while back I came to the realization that I'd never know it all. Once I got used to that notion, I came to the realization that I'd never again be bored! :)

Dirty job, but someone had to do it!

Thanks, Austin. You know, it's surprisingly easy for me to "put the rods up". I LOVE to catch fish -am obsessed. But I realized what drives me is an unquenchable desire to know what's really going on under the water. I fish to satisfy the predator in me. But that is also why I am driven to learn. That's were I live. Glad there are others out there interested too.

The Nature of Fishing thank you so much

The Nature of Fishing what are your observations regarding size and mate selection? I.e. do the larger females tend to pair with larger males?

.... an aside, where can I find your publications? Btw if you wrote a book, it would likely be a best seller.

@@jpvand1 I just stumbled on this comment. I only get notifications for new comments, not those added to comment threads. I am not aware of size selection in bass. Seems there may be preferred males, but whether it's the male or the territory or bed site, I don't know. Paul

Thanks, Ben. Glad you liked it.

Yeah... I had a shower, made dinner and ate at my laptop, enthralled, skipping back every so often to absorb what had just been witnessed. I will sleep well tonight.

The Nature of Fishing I agree with lake St Croix that you can Not keep any bass thill after they spawn till June. Great video. Ty

@@robertmartin265 Regs vary by region. And there is science to back them up. Inside of the regs, we each decide what we are comfortable with. I choose to leave bedding/guarding males alone. There is better, less meddlesome fishing to be had then. Paul

Thanks, Adam.

Thanks, Brandon. It's been a neat project.

Thanks for the comments. And glad you enjoyed it. From the start I've been wondering how many people are willing to sit through something that's information dense. So far so good I guess. Again, thanks for the feedback. Great comments fleshing out the FL spawn for us. You describe it exactly as I've come to understand it: the prolonged spawn period and the differences between N and S FL. And you are not alone in FL with the prolonged spawn; It exists in all subtropical waters LM have been introduced: notably in Puerto Rico, and in the Philippines (I've fished for them there). I like the "conveyor belt" analogy. I've heard them called "waves" too. I only briefly mentioned the prolonged spawn in subtropical waters in my doc. It's interesting to study a critter across its whole range, esp one that's relatively recent in an evolutionary sense, they originating S of glaciations. Believe it or not, the FL subspecies/species (depends on who you talk to) is a derived, the more recent, form. I would have guessed the other way around. I've had discussions with FL anglers about the importance of temperature. Biologists call it "The Master Factor" and over the vast majority of the LM's range it certainly is. But... there are springs in FL that stay in the 70s year round, yet the bass spawn there. What informs the "Prime Directive" (to reproduce) are cues, and they are malleable (in the long term). So, FL spring bass likely cue to subtle photoperiod change, subtle temperature change, and likely, to booms in prey abundance for fry. Success breeds success, quite literally. Thank for the awesome comments. Very much appreciated. One thing I'd be interested in knowing more about is the ability of S FL bass in "porking up". I've always noted the thin bodies of far S FL bass. My assumption has been that the high water temps and shallow heavily vegetated waters are the cause. This is akin to the period in mid to late summer up here in the N when bass get thin in shallow heavily vegetated waters when temps are high. Cooler deeper waters may allow bass to maintain weight if available. Does this seem to make sense to you? Am I describing most S FL waters accurately -shallow and heavily vegetated?

The pleasure is all mine. I understand that you live "way up there".....so I just wanted to elaborate on our bass spawning periods down here. I have a friendly challenge for you: I respectfully ask that you google: "Scientists using REAL science and modern technology to prove evolution is SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE". Don't do this "for me".......do this for yourself. As far as I'm concerned, DNA alone assures that ALL species remain exactly that, the same species all throughout time. Environmental factors can "condition" slight changes, but the species remains the same species. ( Unless it died off for whatever reason. ) The fossil record also proves "evolution" is a very WEAK THEORY. WHERE ARE ALL THE BONES OF "THE TRANSITIONAL SPECIES"????........They do NOT exist......because they NEVER DID. We had no technology way back when the Communists invented the THEORY of "evolution". That has now changed. Trust me on this. See for yourself.

Hi, manifestgtr. Thanks for the encouragement. Not all options are off the table, exactly. But, I want this kind of info available to people, since the commercial world seems to be focused elsewhere. And the scientists have other commitments, of course. So… sometimes you’ve just gotta do things yourself! :) Early on, I consulted with some pro video, and fishing, folks. And they told me I should really be looking at other venues besides YT. One pro said, flat out, that this kind of content "should not be given away for free". I'm giving YT a shot first, bc I like the control self-publishing provides, and the potential breadth of the audience. But, no, I won’t go broke doing it. I have a family to prioritize. I've been looking into support options, trying to plot the best course -for all of us. And, no, I won't be "going commercial". My goals for the project are very specific and, I think, pretty self-evident. They are going to have to fly on their own merit. I’m not in this to be a YT personality, or to simply support a fishing “habit”. I’m genuinely interested in the subject -how the aquatic world really works- and I’m betting that I’m not alone in that. It’s not easy info to get at. It’s taken me a long time to piece together, with best information, what goes on under the water. And, it’s going to be some serious work yet to get it out there. If I have a goal, it’s developing a communications vehicle that is accessible to as many interested people as possible, and can support the development of this kind of material. Exactly how it will come together, remains to be seen. Wish me -all of us, interested in this kind of content- godspeed. Gonna need it. There’s a lot of work to be done here. Thanks for your interest. It helps knowing there are like-minded people out there. Cheers, Paul

Absolutely, even websites like patreon and all that are good, respected platforms. The RU-vid community is typically very supportive and understanding when it comes to those websites, given how difficult it can be to get honest, controllable monetization going. The brilliant thing about that model is that it gives guys like me an option for support without putting everything behind a pay wall for the younger audience, etc. You have the right attitude at any rate. The information and the community being of paramount value.

Hi, Scott. Thanks. Paul

Hi, Richard. Thanks. Glad to hear. Such info can help in our fishing, and make it more interesting too. More to come. Cheers, Paul.

@@thenatureoffishing7591 do you have any research on what lures/bait works best during those phases?

Hi, Richard. Just my own, and from the angling literature. You can find this sort of info all over the internet. BassResource.com is a very good discussion forum, where you can ask questions and get lots of responses. They have articles too. My Video Fishing Journals on this channel cover the fishing end of things here. Check my VFJ playlist, and maybe start with VFJ17: Tracking the Pre-Spawn to Spawn Transition. Hope this helps get you started. Paul

Hi, E Bear. Thanks. Great to hear. The depth of my content doesn’t allow me to upload as often as the YT algorithm would like. So it seems my growth will come by word of mouth. Pass the word. All the best. Paul

@@thenatureoffishing7591 already have

Hi Jack, Yeah, this is the kind of video I've always wanted to see too. And I got to make it. :) Working on more.

Hi, Arco Angler. Neither can I! I'm steeped in editing now. Next up is the development of behavior, from egg to adult. If you can, share with like-minded folks. Cheers, Paul.

Hi, Caleb. Check my documentaries playlist for the second doc, on the development of behavior in LMB, essentially a follow-up to the spawn doc. Best, Paul

@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thanks man.

Hi, Carlos. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass. If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration; -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. TNF is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year, and each outing adds some new wrinkles. And, the more we learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content. Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me. All the best, Paul

Hi, bdb. Great to hear! Thanks! This was the first in a series of documentaries on LMB behavior I've been developing. The second, on the development of behavior, is out now too. Look for it in my Documentaries playlist. Cheers, Paul

Thanks, Drew! I like it too. It's the kind of thing I've always wanted to watch. :) Yeah, I've had a number of non-fishers watch and enjoy it. "I never knew what fish's lives were like..."

Hey guys I just put up a new fishing video if you could check it out and let me know what you think that would be great! Thanks!

Dude you kill it I have so much more knowledge on there behavior. Can't wait to see another one Thanks

drew harman l*

Thanks, Mike. I can't either. Working on em.

Thanks, john. More in the works. Cheers, Paul.

Hi Dave. Thanks so much. I miss it too.

Thanks, Randy. If things go well, I should have the next documentary out this spring. This next one is on the development from egg to adult, the focus being the development of behavior. Pretty cool seeing those behaviors come on-line. Cheers, Paul

Thanks, Aaron.

Thanks, solocam. Really happy to have another OCD angler along. We come by it honestly too. ;) Cheers, Paul

Thanks, The Real. Wonderful and encouraging comment. Share it if you would.

Hi, SD. Thanks. Glad you liked it. More on the way. Cheers, Paul

Another reason to catch and release

Thanks, Eric.

Thanks, Stan. My next doc is on the ontogeny, or development, of bass behavior.

Subscribed! I can’t wait to see it! Thanks

Hi, Shane. Thanks! Cheers, Paul

Hi Rick, and crew. Yes, it was fun meeting you guys. One of the perks of having my video poles handy is being able to clear the "litter" from the trees of our local ponds. :) It was fun arriving right on cue for Aaron's SB. "I just got a call! Someone's got a spinnerbait caught in a tree!" :)

Hi, Marvin. Thanks. Very much appreciated, esp from someone whose attempted anything similar. My next doc, on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult, has been an even greater challenge. Working in natural habitats, where lighting is such a challenge, is challenge enough, but for this next doc I am working at the limits of my equipment resolution, shooting foundational behaviors in bass that start out at a quarter inch in length. I've got some really cool shots of those foundational behaviors, but it's been... a project. I'm in the editing phase now. Can always use more shots, but I think I have critical mass. Wish me… godspeed. Cheers, Paul.

Hi, Peter. Thanks so much. All words are appreciated. Cheers, Paul

​@@thenatureoffishing7591 I tend to obsess about activities that interest me. I've watched hundreds of hours of video and read dozens of books about fishing. Seriouly, you have a gift for sharing your wealth of knowledge. It pains me to think that you have less than 30K subscribers, you should have well over 1M. I'll happily watch your existing videos ad infinitum, but I am curious if you've done any research on any other species?

Thanks, Peter!

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

Yes you do.. and you also have a new subcriber! Can't believe you don't have millions of likes and subscribers. . Have you done anything on something like (best fishing times like the solunar calendar, what are your thoughts on the feeding or active times they sugesst?)

Thanks, Troy! Appreciate the feedback. I'm an "old timer" too, and long ago got tired of reading articles that said, "...depends on conditions." "What conditions?! Which conditions?!! ", I'd practically shout. Well, to give those authors a fair shake, it turns out the variables that affect the fish, and our fishing, are complex. And not so easy to identify and tease apart. But I had to know, so... that's what floats my boat. I do believe I've come to some understandings.

I have never followed solunar tables. The idea that fish activity would be controlled, even influenced, by forces so weak in lieu of more immediate and powerful influences like temperature, conditions (sky and water being primary), availability and vulnerability of prey, presence of predators, fishing pressure, etc... just doesn't make sense to me. And angling in itself is such a poor sampling method, I cannot see how one could tease out, and trust, the results on the scale of a matter of mere hours in the day, as such tables purport to predict. In my mind, it's statistically... problematic. The only person I know whose taken a fairly large data set of angling results and applied statistics to them, found very weak significance during some periods, weak enough that the scientific journal he submitted it to, rejected it on statistical grounds. I'm not entirely closed to the idea, but I'll let others do the substantial work that needs to be done on that topic.

Hi, Wesley. Great. Me too. :) More to come. Cheers, Paul.

Hi Chuco. Thanks! Very much appreciated. My next one, on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult, has been much more of a challenge to shoot, and edit. Bass at 1/4" (6mm) in length are at the limits of my equipment's resolution. Not to mention the prey they feed on. Got some neat shots of them all. Hope to release it.... soon. Cheers, Paul.

Please subscribe to my channel nothing compared to your videos but anything helps thanks

Thanks Lancaster. Yes, sharing will help a lot.

Daredevle spoons and a decent variety of softball jigs are the best bass baits.

Thanks AJ! I am proud of it. But the accolades I've received help a lot. Ralph Manns reviewed it and his opening line was "WOW!" :)

The Nature of Fishing final question (for tonight anyway :)), what state/area was your work done?

Thanks, Jonathan. A lot of work, and some fun too. I fish bc I want to know what's going on down there. UW videography scratches the same itch.

Thanks, KAM. Yeah, this is the type of information I was always looking for. Guess sometimes ya gotta do stuff yourself. :) Working on more documentaries, as well as finding support for them. This first documentary has been well received. Heading toward hunting behavior and why bass take artificial lures, and maybe more importantly, why they so often don't. But before that, some important background is needed on how bass develop into adult bass, and reach super-predator status.

Thanks Derek. You are likely right that females are spawning multiple times more often than fisherman realize. I've not tried to identify individual females but I think you're right that we're seeing many of the same females return to spawn banks over the course of the season. And yes, what's missing from our assessments of "where the bass are in the season" misses the rather lengthy period that individual females are in interim between spawning bouts. Good comment.

Derek Snider One thing that I've noticed is that even if a hard cold front hits.It takes a lot to get the fish off of spawning mode it seems in the south Texas area.Once they are locked on the beds even a hard cold front doesn't detour them from Spawning.Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't think you are wrong sir. If the female has laid eggs, I believe that the male will remain "locked" until the eggs are hatched or something keeps them from hatching, but yes often times they will remain locked on after a cold front hits and consequently be sitting on bed in water as cold as low to mid 50's. However, if the male is up and hasn't paired with a female just yet or has paired but the eggs haven't been laid; then a cold front will often bump these fish until the next warm spell. The main point I was attempting to make was that I believe that the same females spawn more than once and don't lay all of their eggs on one single bed. I believe she might move up and start in late march and hook up with a male of her liking and lay say a 1/4 fraction of her roe and then repeat the process the next new or full moon in april and complete the process in may. I think that they are all different and some females may get it all done at once and others might take 4-5 times before she is empty and done for the year. These are simply my opinions based on my experiences having fished and studied the spawn for 30 years.

I just leave them in the water. However, I know just when and where to leave them. I know those fish, and waters, pretty well.

Hi, fermanimal. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass. Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me. All the best, Paul

Thanks, CHTv. Unfortunatley, I probably won't get to crappie anytime soon. I have them here, and video them as a matter of course. Will let you know if/when I've got critical mass for such a production.

Count me in too!! We need a Crappie one

Hi, UfO. Thanks so much. No I haven’t written a book but have considered it. Just so much to cover. Decided to spend my time with the video route. Plenty of other options just need the time to pursue them. Thanks again. Best, Paul

Hi, Barry. Great to hear. Thanks, Barry. If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration; -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. TNF serves is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year. And, the more we learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content. Be sure to share with friends. The more the merrier is the way YT works. All the best, Paul

@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thank you Paul. definitely going to look into. Reminds me of the old Doug Hannon videos on steroids lol. I have used his camo fishing line for years. Over years there are changes in climate but Bass always go back to doing all the same habit activities and adjust accordingly to weather temp effecting water temps. Keep up the great work ......

Barry, yeah, I think Doug Hannon and I share(d) some personality quirks. :) Paul

Hi, Jason. Glad you enjoyed it. Don't forget to share with friends. Cheers, Paul

Will do

Hi, again, Chuco. Thanks!

Yep, our southern folks are already in the spawn. And it's working it's way north with the sun. The spawn will kick off here, in the smaller waters, in mid-April. Our far northern folks will have to wait until June. The pre-spawn carnage may be some of the best fishing of the year though. Yes, good luck all. It's starts with putting some warm clothes on and getting out the door!

Hi, Michael. Thanks. Appreciate your comment. Glad you enjoyed it. Best, Paul

Thanks, Christopher. More are in the works. Exactly how and where they will be released remains to be seen. Plan A is to release them, in some form or another, through YT, provided I can generate enough interest to help defray expenses. YT looked like a promising platform a year ago. But I've been denied monetization twice in that time as YT keeps changing it's rules for partnership. It's simply going to come down to channel growth rate, unless other means come through. Working on that end of things as well. Thanks, and wish me luck. Paul Oh, while you're here see my fishing journals too. They also focus on behavior. Likes and Subs will help at this point in the game.

The Nature of Fishing , I just subscribed to your channel, especially after seeing your fishing journals. They are presented in such a unique way, like you said, in a documentary platform. Very informative, and unique. Its not the same typical repetitive vidoes you find on the RU-vid platform. Believe me, I will be sharing your channel to other anglers.

They put the ASS in Bass!!!

Hi, Joe. In the laboratory, yes. Bass can be manipulated by photoperiod and temperature to spawn early in the spring. And they've been manipulated by temperature alone to spawn in the late summer and into fall. These fish were staved off with unseasonably cold water, then put into warm water. And they successfully spawned. In the wild? Yes, again. Swingle (1956b) reported "occasional" fall spawning largemouths in Alabama during temperature drops to around 70F. But precious little detail was provided. It's been suggested that these were young fish, just maturing. This is not a common scenario, and I'm not aware of any other such reports, and some time has passed since 1956. Fall spawning in other spring spawning species has been reported, but infrequently. I remember seeing a report of fall spawning chain pickeral. I suppose I could see chain pickeral fingerlings doing a bit better in the winter than bass would, due to their greater activity levels during winter. I've seen, and caught, plenty of early winter spawning rainbow trout in Great Lakes tribs, but, those were all hatchery fish so who knows what hatchery life was like for them. I know from talking with hatchery folks in the state of NY, that they'd experimented some with photoperiod manipulations in rainbows. Didn't sound terribly wide-spread though. Anglers have reported bass "tending beds" in late summer and fall. But, it's hard to tell what these anglers actually saw, or what those bass were actually doing. I've yet to hear of anyone actually seeing bass laying eggs out of season though. The guys at Tactical Bassin' (Matt and Tim) did a video in which they talked about what they called "false spawners" in the late summer and fall. I too have seen largemouths in the late summer in shallow water, on appropriate substrate, that looked like they were staking out territory, seemingly focused on a small area and not spooking away from it. Just this past August I saw two such individuals, and it was during a cool spell. But, again, what these fish are actually doing is hard to say. After listening to the TB guys describe what they call "false spawners" I plan to be a bit more attentive to these fish. If I get the opportunity, I'll drop a few cameras on them. Such out of season activity would be most likely to occur in the south, where winter mortality tends to be more due to predation than from harsh temperatures and starvation. In the north, the limitations on survival created by harsh winters tends to keep spawn timing pretty important. However, I too have seen tiny largemouths (~2" or so) in early spring here in Colorado (40N lat.). Such little bass definitely have given me pause. But, it is possible, maybe more likely, that such fish were simply late normal-season fingerlings, that didn't become piscivorous in time, and managed to survive the winter. Because of the altitude here, our winters can be on the short side for the latitude, and we can have some real warm spells. Some years, ice cover may only span not much beyond a 2 month period. That's what I can say at this point. I'm maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism, or being conservative in my assumptions, at this point. I think it's pretty safe to argue with your buddies that bass are spring spawners. That said, I'll' be keeping my eyes open, and will be sure to drop some cameras in on such suspect fish if I get the opportunity again. Cheers, Paul

@@thenatureoffishing7591 thank you for the information and all the hard work you put into your videos.

Thank so much, Joe. Been at this kind of work for a long time. It's time I got it out there. It's so great that the technology and platforms exist to do it in a visual video format. And, without having to engage a giant production studio. However, I'm at the other extreme, one guy wearing a lot of hats. At this point, I can't produce at the rate that the RU-vid model supports. Right now, I'm pressing hard to get the next documentary in the series out by Christmas. Wish me... godspeed! It's really encouraging having people that take the time to comment, and ask questions. The feedback, and participation, are the flip- side of this effort. Thanks, again.

@@thenatureoffishing7591 Just watched Tactical Bassin's video you are talking about, 15 pounder locked on a bed in October. Funny I watch this , and read the comments right after. Great info !

Hey, UBSS. The TB guys spend a lot time on the water. Always worth checking in on them.

Thanks, Pat.

Hi, ZDG. Thanks. More to come.

Hi, Chris. Yeah, you and me both. Sometimes you just gotta do things yourself. :) Paul

Hi, Dom. Thanks. Glad you liked it. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary continues the story, by following the development of young bass through their first year. The focus again is on their behavior, with special interest in bass' cognitive development -what the world around them "means" to them- setting the stage for future docs on the behavior of adult bass. And, if you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that fleshes out important background information on stuff I don't have time to cover in-depth in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration, and that supports our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s); -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. TNF is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year, and each outing adds some new wrinkles to the same basic plan. The more we experience and learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content. All the best, Paul

Thanks, Jake.

Hi, Gary. Happy to have you along. More to come. Paul

Thanks, Jake.

Thanks, Hooked. More to come. Just getting things back up and running. Cheers, Paul

Hi, Lou. Great! And welcome. Feel free to share with your friends. More to come. Cheers, Paul

Hi, Adrian. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers Paul

Hi, Sam. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass. If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration; -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. TNF is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year, and each outing adds some new wrinkles. And, the more we learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content. Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me. All the best, Paul

@@thenatureoffishing7591 Just finishing up part 2. I need every edge I can get being a Kansas bass fisherman haha. Subbed and shared. Thanks again!

@@assholebynature888 I'm a prairie res fisher too, in Colorado.

Thanks, Glenn. See my Documentaries playlist for the follow up doc, on the development of behavior in LMB from egg through their first year. The focus is on their physical and cognitive development. Cheers, Paul