Bass Cannibals

[hl&s]

Thought I'd post something a little different for reading. I'm always interested in bass habits, especially feeding. A recent study at Norris Lake in Tn gives some insight into a black bass' food preferences.

Researchers checked stomach contents of larger predators. Shad were the predominant prey although sunfish and crayfish were important. Small black bass were frequently eaten by large bass but not by crappie, flathead catfish, or striped bass. Over the hatchlings first year of life 85% of smallmouth hatchlings were eaten by other bass, along with 97% of spotted bass and 71% of largemouths. Researchers also concluded that this predation level did not reduce the overall annual survival.

Looks like spawn is just one big picnic emoSmile

 

[EricM]

Great info hl&s! Amazing numbers are eaten and still the population can sustain itself!

 

[Ronnie Garrison]

To insure population levels stay the same a female bass only needs to produce two offspring that survive in her whole life no matter how many times she spawns - one to replace her and one to replace the male.

 

[MadBomber]

Ronnie Garrison - 6/30/2007 8:35 PM To insure population levels stay the same a female bass only needs to produce two offspring that survive in her whole life no matter how many times she spawns - one to replace her and one to replace the male.

</p>

Plus however many get exposed to hot grease!!  For any one female, that's probably not very many.  </p>

What I find surprising is the 97% mortality rate of spotted bass, yet they continue to become the predominate species in some sections of water.</p>