Big Mouth Billy Bass

We’ve got a lot to learn. 

That motto should be inscribed on every fishing rod in the world. Just when we begin to move forward, science and technology turn things upside down. 

We’re seeing that now at a more rapid pace than ever. Looking back at the last decade, bass fishing theory (notice I don’t say knowledge) has expanded at a faster rate than during any period in my lifetime. This began with advancements in sonar and the ability to look out away from the boat. Schools of bass showed up like schools of bass. At times, they seemed endless.

New tournament formats pushed us further. With an everything-counts mentality, competitors stayed on top of fish and brought in far more sample data. Obscure offshore hotspots became the place to be. 

The doors blew off, of course, with forward-facing sonar. What we thought we knew regarding the whereabout of bass was instantly tossed out the window.

In November of 2022, angler Greg Gallagher caught a 10-pound smallmouth in Lake Erie, easily the biggest bronzeback of modern times and the first to break double digits in nearly 40 years.  

That fish opened my eyes to the potential of technology and confirmed my notion that we knew very little about the open-water habits of Great Lakes bass. 

Looking back, it’s easy to now see the glaring difference between the accepted rule of bass fishing and today’s reel-breaking catches. Case in point: for decades, it was common belief that suspended bass were nearly uncatchable. The pros said as much, and avoided targeting them at all costs. That changed a bit with better gear and sonar, but it wasn’t until recently that we tossed the theory out the window. Today, many tournaments are dominated by catches of “suspended” bass. Who knows that that term really means anymore.

I wonder what’s next. What tried-and-true theories will we abandon? I’ve got my suspicions:

Spinnerbait blade choices

Not many people use spinnerbaits anymore, but those who do, like me, still discuss the round blade / dirty water idea. I have friends that use willows exclusively, regardless of water color. I prefer Indianas. We all catch fish. Could there be more to this myth? Water displacement and sound frequencies are discussed and, while we know more about those details than ever, they’ve never been truly studied in bass. Confidence, to me, is the best blade shape.

Pinging depth-finders

For the most part, when snorkeling or diving, fish seem attracted to clicks and clacks. Are they attracted to the sound of our depthfinders? Can they even hear the ping? I’ve reviewed both sides of the debate. I, for one, can take you to lakes where any boat noise whatsoever seems to be a detriment to success. I can also take you to places where bass are subject to mechanical racket all day long, an endless droning of 250s and jet skis. Do fish get used to noise and ignore it? Perhaps bass don’t pay any attention to noises that don’t aid in their feeding. And whatever happened to the noise-emitting devices that every tournament angler owned a decade ago?

Waves of the spawn

The bass are coming to me. The bass are leaving me. White bass are from the main lake. Dark bass have been shallow for a week. This is all ridiculous. Or is it? To my knowledge, no study has been done that concludes bass move en masse, or in waves, during the spawning period. Many bass, in fact, remain shallow for months. Some spawn, or attempt to spawn, more than once. Bass don’t appear, according to data, to move as groups toward reproductive destinations. And I’m still yet to read something about “fresh fish” with pale coloration. I’m in the camp that this mumbo-jumbo was invented by fishermen. But I could certainly be wrong.

Fish scents don’t work (unless Berkley makes them)

OK, sorry for that one. Yes, many products designed and implemented by scientists at Berkley seem to catch more fish. However, research on the topic often dispels the productivity of lure scents in any other form. In my fishing lifetime, I’ve witnessed three scents or scented products that absolutely made a difference in my success, a statement I’ll take to my grave. One was made by Berkley. None are still in production. When will we know more?

Bass are most active at dawn and dusk

Nothing beats casting a topwater at first or last light. Given a choice, I’d rather fish these prime times than any other part of the day. It’s truly magical. But it’s not the most productive, in my experience. As luck would have it, I’ve spent the majority of my time bass fishing for Great Lakes smallmouth and Florida largemouth (in Florida). On both occasions, mid-day has always been the best time; winter, spring summer and fall. Perhaps it’s the methods I use or the simple logistics of my schedule. But, for me, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the time to make hay. Smallmouth bass are notorious for being sight-driven, which makes sense in terms of my findings. And Florida largemouth are frequently driven by wind, which reliably comes up in the afternoon in our tropical climate. Again, this is one of those theories I’d love to see developed or disproven by our new techno-world. 

Long ago, a famous bass pro took the stage at a sport show I was working. He instructed the crowd that he would let them in on his theories. “Because,” he said, “until a bass talks, that’s all these are.”

Maybe not for long. 

Joe Balog is the Executive Director of Mighty River Recovery, a nonprofit organization working to restore Florida’s St. Johns River. A former national tournament angler, product designer, seminar speaker and guide, Balog has worn just about every hat available to a professional angler. Today, he enjoys rehashing his experiences and adding veteran insight through his weekly Bass Wars column.

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