The largemouth bass is a fine tuned freshwater predator. To be a successful fisherman, it may help to understand how and when bass feed. The largemouth bass, appropriately named, has a very large mouth. Accompanied with their speed, they make very efficient hunters. The largemouth bass uses various senses for hunting but primarily relies on vision. The location of their eyes create a wide field of vision which is much greater than that of humans. In conditions where vision is limited, such as muddy or stained water, the largemouth bass relies on sound and vibration. The bass also use what is referred to as an “inner ear” for hearing and its lateral lines (pictured below) to detect vibrations made prey.
Bass also have the ability to smell and taste but these senses are thought to be used the least.
The feeding habits of largemouth bass vary due to the size of the fish. Freshly hatched bass will feed off of the yolk sack for 13-15 days. Bass that have just passed the hatchling stage will start to feed on small fish and aquatic insects. When a bass becomes 2-3 inches long they will begin to feed primarily on small fish and crayfish. The diet of adult bass will primarily consist of other fish such as: shad, bluegill, golden shiners, as well as other bass. What makes the bass such a great sport fish is that they are opportunistic feeders. This means that if a meal is presented they will take the opportunity to eat. Bass have been known to eat frogs, lizards, snakes, rats, mice, baby ducks, and even birds. Bass consume a prey item as a whole, rather than in pieces. This can limit the size or amount of food that a bass can consume at one time. Bass can be viewed as a gluttonous. They have been found floating dead on the waters surface from “choking” on very large prey items.
Largemouth bass either feed due to hunger or reflex. If a bait is presented to a bass it may strike out of reaction, such as a lure from a fisherman. Feeding can occur day or night but seems to be more frequent in the early morning and the late evening. Feeding can also occur during overcast conditions or sunny days. During sunny days bass will generally position themselves in some type of cover such as: grass, docks, or under over hanging trees. Knowing the habits of the largemouth may help you catch your next lunker!
