How Far Do They Go??

[misterd]

After the weigh-in and the fish are returned to the water at the marina, where do they go?


And...

Under "normal" circmstances, how far do bass travel?

If I used to catch 'em at a certain grass bed near shore are they nearby if not in the grass? Or could they be 10 miles away?

[teddycarr]

I wanted to reply to this a while back but I have been on the road almost this entire month. Excellent question!!! Here's my take on Lake Anna only I believe it's different for every body of water.

Three main factors: Food, the spawn, and location reletive to the main lake.

First I want to debunk the myth that if you catch a female ready to spawn and give her a boat ride that you just killed a million baby bass. Unless she drops in your live well due to stress (and a scant do) my girl is going to spawn in the very near proxcinity of where she is released. I've seen it over and over inside of Sturgeon Creek. So springtime fish are given a ride to Sturgeon Creek, if you have food, suitable spawning grounds, the bass are going to hang around eat have bass sex then probably follow the shad back out to the main lake once the water temps dictate that move (75 to 78) Same fish brought to Anna Point or High Point may make an immediate move because of lack of suitable spawning realestate and probably a lot less to eat although I do well in Schaffers Cove.

Summertime: It's all about food and the food in this lake moves big time. I think bass want the stronger mainlake underwater currents and the abundance of food there. So they will make much more drastic moves. But if he/she has good water and lots of food he/she is staying put.

I think bass tend to naturally migrate up-lake as a general rule.

Consider this as well: I catch a bass weigh it in at Sturgeon then a week later you catch him and take him to your house on the lake to show mama because she weighs 8-pounds (because you know you and I only catch the big ones) then you release her at your dock or another Tx site, etc. Get the picture bass are constantly being transferred on this lake.

I once caught a 3-pound bass up in the North Anna and took it to Contrary Creek put 12-feet of line on her with a bobber attached. Turned her loose she swam a whopping 10-feet away and stayed there for two hours. Finally I gave up (Miss Donna had blackberry cobbler waiting) I trolled up to her, that's right she let troll right up to her and pluck the string from her. A good biologist would have brought his tent.

It's interesting to ponder questions like this but bottom line don't let it get inside your head and dictate your approach to bass fishing.

tc

Another tid-bit