《Knowing Bass》In-Depth Guide

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Unlock the secrets of bass senses and habits, apply science-based tips, and better match lures to increase bite rates.

Core Idea

“Getting to know how bass sense the world is key to designing effective fishing lures.”

In this book, Keith A. Jones, Ph.D., shows through science that bass behavior isn’t based on luck, but on how their bodies respond predictably to things in their environment like light, sounds, taste, and touch.

Part One: Get to Know Bass - The Basics of Bass Biology (Covers Chapters 1, 2)

1. Bass Families and Diets

• Black Bass Group: Mainly includes the well-known Largemouth, cold-water Smallmouth, and 7 other species.
• Diet Shift: Bass aren’t born as apex predators. Juvenile bass mostly eat plankton and only switch to a carnivorous diet after reaching about 3 inches in length (Pis-civores). They are “opportunistic predators,” adjusting their diet with the seasons and environment.

2. Brain vs Instinct: How Do They Think?

Vision: Bass brains are “visually dominated,” with a huge visual processing area.

No Advanced Thoughts: Bass lack a neocortex, so they don’t do complex logical reasoning. Their behavior is driven by instincts and simple associative learning.

Learning Ability (Must-Know):

• Habituation: Bass quickly learn to ignore frequently recurring stimuli that don’t lead to rewards, like repeatedly getting hooked.
• Negative Memory: Bass form strong memories of getting “hurt” (like getting hooked). These aversive memories can last up to 3 months! This means lure type and color matter even more in heavily fished waters.

Part 2: Senses Explored — How Do Bass Detect Prey? (Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6 covered)

1. Smell & Taste (Chemoreception)

1.1 Clear Division:

• Smell: Long-range radar. Wakes bass up and helps them search, but not very precise.
• Taste: The final decider. Determines if bass swallow or spit. Taste buds are in their mouth, throat, even gills.

1.2 Favorite Flavor List:

• Best: Specific amino acids (like L-arginine, found in crayfish and minnows) and salts (electrolyte mixes replicating blood salts).
• Gross: Butane, gasoline, DEET (bug spray), or sunscreens with PABA. Even tiny amounts of DEET repulse.
•  Wrong: Bass don't enjoy sweet, garlicky, or perfume-like scents (except those marketed as cover scents).

2. Hearing & Vibration:

2.1 Lateral Line: Detects low-frequency rumbling (<80 Hz) and water flow. This is the bass “long-distance touch” used for tracking prey at night or in murky water.

2.2 Inner Ear: Senses higher frequencies (100–600 Hz).

2.3 Sound Sensitivity & Tips:

• Best sensitivity: Bass hear best around 100 Hz (like deep thumping noises).
• Pro tip: Irregular, sporadic, low-frequency pops (like a distressed baitfish dawdling) grab bass attention. Steady and bland sounds are easily ignored.

3. Vision

3.1 Primary Guide: Vision is how bass complete their final checks before striking.

3.2 Color Sensitivity: 

• Bass have red and green cones, and are best at seeing red, orange, yellow, and green. 
• Lack blue cones, so not sensitive to blue.
• Water effects: In murky or deep water, red light fades first, while chartreuse/green stays bright.

4. Skin Sensitivity (Environmental Monitoring):

• Temperature & PH Levels: The skin of bass is a huge sensor. Water temperature and pH set bass comfort and depth preferences. They’re always seeking the “Goldilocks zone”.
• Touch Preferences: Bass love soft, squishy, smooth textures. This explains why soft baits outfish hard ones with longer holding time.

Section 3: Real Pain & Duty of Care Hooks: (covers Chapter 7)

1. Do Bass Feel Pain?

Scientific Conclusion: Bass brains lack neocortex, so no “pain” feeling like humans. They’re driven by an extreme reflexive “Escape Response,” not pain expression.

2. True Killer: Stress Response

2.1 Deadly factors: Singular hookset isn’t fatal, but multiple stress layers can kill. Two main stress triggers are:

• Fight duration: The longer it’s fought, the greater the stress.
• Water temp: 21°C (70°F) is the alert line. Higher temps, worse bass stress.

2.2 Sensitive Types: Big bass and Florida bass have even worse stress responses.

3. Stress Minimization Guide (Catch & Release):

• Shorten Fight Time: Never overplay in hot weather. 
• Protect Slime: Avoid dry hands, rough surfaces, and clothing. Prevent infections.
• Proper Hold: Lip it vertical, cradle it horizontal.
• Deep Hook Handling: Cut the line if hooked deep; don’t force tear it out.

Final Section: Super Lure Ultimate Applications (covers Chapter 8)

How to Make the Perfect Lure?

No magic lure exists, but there is a specific “Sensory Matching” strategy for certain environments.

1. Multisensory Integration: Killer lures can activate multiple senses at once.

• Long Range: Use rattle (sound) and wide-frequency (vibration) stimuli, like lateral line.
• Mid Range: Use bright color (like Chartreuse) or flash/foil to trigger vision,
• Bite Moment: Use salt/amino acids scent and squishy texture to trigger smell and touch, validate bites.

2. Dynamism Adjustment

• Murky/Night: Lateral rattle and sound (Spinnerbait, Crankbait).
• Clear/High: Lateral natural vision Silent (Finesse, Soft Plastics).

Conclusion: 

Angler’s “Explosive Formula” = Instinct Position + Sensory Matching (Trigger) + Scientific Operation (Activate)

Hope this all-in-one guide becomes your angler’s “Red Treasure Book,” tight lines!