Over the years, fisheries biologists have studied bass diets to help manage populations and produce good fishing. Abundant prey is obviously important to healthy populations. Results show what avid anglers have learned: Fish dominate bass diets, particularly in reservoirs where shad are present and in small waters loaded with sunfish. In many parts of the United States and Canada, various species of crawfish also are important. But largemouth bass don’t stop there. Their name is highly appropriate, since they’re known to consume a wide variety of prey–whatever lives or falls into the water and fits in that massive maw.
BUG BUFFET
One common summertime sight is watching bass leap out of shallow, weedy cover to intercept dragonflies that buzz overhead and occasionally dip down to the surface. They usually miss as the insects flit off, but they score often enough to encourage them to make acrobatic leaps. This action is especially hot when dragonflies are mating in early summer. Bass often seem to select flies that are paired up. While most bug chasers are small, I’ve watched some in the 3-pound class in hot pursuit.
At times I’ve been able to tempt them to hit
