One of the most interesting studies in bass behavior was recently unveiled on www.bassfan.com (Research Proves Vulnerability Is Hereditary Trait) with results based on 20 years of controlled angling on a pond in Illinois. You can read the entire feature, but among the highlights, it noted that at the end of the catch and release study, about 11 percent of the population of 1700 had never been caught, though the report said those fish had been in the pond for four years.
One of their conclusions seemed to be that it is bed fishing that tends to create an “evolutionary” population of harder-to-catch-bass by not protecting the offspring of those fish with “more vulnerable” characteristics. To counter that population trend, it was recommended that spawning fish be avoided altogether, or released immediately, with areas set aside as sanctuaries.
But I wonder, is that what we want out of bass fishing—a higher population of easy-to-catch bass? Isn’t that the knock on going to Mexico, fishing private lakes, or even fishing weekdays compared to weekends, that those fish are easy (easier) to catch.
A conclusion that might be gleaned from the study could explain why Injured Minnows, River Runts and plugs of an earlier era, despite their effectiveness back then, no longer do much. Whatever strike-drawing characteristics those lures may once have had do not entice later generations of fish—whether they ever saw those lures or not.
But is that such a bad thing? The search for better weapons created Robo, Lucky Craft, Jackall, Yamamoto and a host of other varied creations; plus splitshotting, drop-shotting, a resurgence of wacky rigging, tandem baits and very big and also very tiny offerings.
With catch and release, isn’t our only obligation to handle them with care—even if they bite for every tournament that comes to town? Recycling fish (until the population gets overgrown and creates stunted bass at the extreme) still works in most situations.
And if 10 percent of every bass population can escape any hook, doesn’t that mean there will always be money in the bank?
Any comments out there?