What's Up With These Skinny Bass?

Comment

Comment by Jim Gronaw on April 3, 2015 at 5:07pm

I am certainly no expert on bass egg development, but here in Mason Dixon Country, I have caught largemouths with developing eggs as early as November and December, just before ice season, that I am sure they maintained and nurtured throughout the winter into the following years spawn.

Last year in March, I caught some very heavy roe-filled gals from this same water. Gotta' be a big  male.

Comment by John Sheehan on April 3, 2015 at 4:49pm

Yes Jim you're probably right .How long generally do Bass carry their eggs before dropping ?

Comment by Jim Gronaw on April 3, 2015 at 4:43pm

No, this fish was clean from throat obstructions. I tend to agree with you Mat...I'm leaning toward adult male. Thanks for the imput. We have several fish similar to this in this pond.

Comment by Mat Peirce on April 3, 2015 at 4:00pm

Might be a big male....they usually top out in that 19 to 20" range up here....they'll start protecting their spawn areas before they even fan out a bed. The females usually conserve energy during the winter but males will cruise around small (10 acres or less) ponds like mall walkers. He didn't have anything obvious stuck in his throat did he? I've seen skinny bass with large plastics stuck in them.

Comment by Jim Gronaw on April 3, 2015 at 3:52pm

Mat...water is just now into the low 50's and we had our latest ice out ever. Usually, largemouths spawn around late April to mid May in the Mason Dixon area, where I fish. We have seen others that were full-bodied and carrying eggs.

John...I doubt that this fish absorbed eggs yet because it hasn't come close to spawning temps yet...but you never know.

Comment by John Sheehan on April 3, 2015 at 11:16am

Eggs absorbed Jim?

Comment by Mat Peirce on April 3, 2015 at 11:14am

Jim, what are the water temps and where abouts is the body of water located? Around here (Iowa) the temps have been up and down and the bass are not putting on a ton of weight yet - water temps are slowly climbing which should trigger more regular feeding in the next few weeks. Largemouth will get very skinny after a long ice season if there is a lot of competition for food from 'gills, crappie, yellow perch, etc.