Florida Bass, Green Bass, Green Trout, Bucketmouth, Sowbelly, Bigmouth, Oswega Bass, Black Bass.
Largemouth typically will start to move to spawning around 58deg. Spawn is in full swing when the water temperature start to reach the lower 60's (62deg is widely recognized as the key temp). After the spawn, largemouth are generally the most active when the water temperature is between 65deg and 75deg. Above 80deg, the activety starts to decrease, but they are still catchable. In late fall when the water temp dips below 55 the activety falls off again, and below 50deg they feed very little.
Food Source
Adult bass will eat whatever is available, including fish, crayfish, salamanders, frogs, snakes, mice, turtles and even small ducks and birds.
Growth rates vary greatly throughout the country and between lakes with differences attributed mainly to their length of growing season and food supply. Female bass are almost always your trophy because the generally live longer than males. Females also grow much faster than male bass. Typically at between 5 and 6 years of age females may be twice the weight of males. The oldest bass was found in Florida and was around 16 year of age determined by biologists. Generally, trophy bass (10 pounds and larger) are about 10 plus years old.
Widely recognized as the most sought after freshwater game fish in the country. The world record is by far the pinnacle of freshwater records, chased by every bass fisherman in the country. Big bass hunters of the trophy states (Texas, Louisiana, California, Arizona, Georgia, Florida) spend countless hours and money chasing that 25lb bass.
Largemouth bass are a true predatory fish, many times hiding in the weeds to ambush prey. If you aren’t hooked on bass fishing, the first time you see that wake coming at a topwater you will stay awake at night thinking about it. Most of the time bass do not care what comes along; frogs, shad, minnow, brim, bluegill, snake, and the list goes on.
Largemouth bass are generally the most active and more catch-able when the water temp is between 65 and 75. But don’t limit your fishing to when the water temp is just right. Most pro’s and experienced fisherman will tell you the largest fish they catch are during periods of extreme heat and when the water gets colder (below 55degrees). The largest reason for this is that you really have to slow your presentation down and fish in such a way for any success at all, the likelihood of catching a lunker greatly increases than if you are ripping a spinner bait in perfect water temp, clarity and weather. Most would agree that fishing for largemouth greatly falls off after the water drops below 50, they are still catch-able, but requires mind numbing patience.
The opinions on the best time to catch bass vary with every fisherman out there. Typically the largest fish are taken in pre-spawn patterns. Spawn for largemouth; depending on the lake and what part of the country; happens in the spring when the water in the shallow spawning coves gets up to around 62. Many bass fisherman really start hitting the lake hard when the coves start reaching around 58 degrees. For lakes in your area go to Fishingnotes.com remember to register and save all the lakes you want to start keeping track of, it’s free and always will be. Weather conditions always play an important role of what the fishing activity is going to be like at your lake. The previous few days are as or more important as what is happening on fishing day. If the barometric pressure was in flux the previous 3 or 4 days, then stabilized yesterday, and it’s cloudy today, then you are going to pound them, sometimes it feels like you could throw your truck keys and catch fish. However if today’s weather seems perfect and yesterday the pressure was messed up and moon phases were not ideal, your fishing techniques will have to change for success. You can track all of your lakes and current weather and weather history as well as many lake temps Fishingnotes.com. Other area information for the lake can also be found.