As a biologist I love how deep you go into this. Thank you for putting all of this together. You deserve way more subs and likes than your have. This whole series is incredible and very well done.
Thanks, AFB. I have enough research background to provide me the ability to access quite a range of scientific literature. And, I now pretty much think that way. Part of my challenge has been to relate it to my fishing, and vice-versa. I, think anyway, that I'm making some progress at fathoming... just what the hell goes on down there. :) Glad to have a fellow nerd with me here. Paul
Thanks, Joe! Glad you enjoyed it. The only award I really need is the opportunity to keep producing deeply informative videos. The kind of information I've always wanted to see. It's taken a long time to acquire the knowledge, figure things out, and come up with the language and production skills to share my passion for... just what the heck is going on down there!
Paul, this is the third or fourth straight spring that I’ve watched this video to get ready for the fishing season here in MN. It’s obvious you have a genuine passion for this and put hundreds of hours of research to put this together. Well done!
Sincerely the best video on bass behavior on the internet. Not just some bro and his dad kissing fish but genuine science and recorded evidence with clear thought process. Thank you so much.
Hi, K. Yeah, it sure is cool getting to see what's actually going on down there. I find it almost, maybe as, interesting as fishing and catching itself. Years ago a trout and salmon stream I fished regularly was closed for a couple of years to fishing to give Atlantic Salmon a chance to procreate. What was interesting was how many people came down to just watch the trout and salmon spawning runs. Parking lot full in the mornings, evenings, lunch breaks and weekends. No fishing rods. Many were fishers, others not. Everyone was excited, oohing and ahhing. Many just stared, nearly mesmerized. Very cool. I'm always excited to get home and review my new footage, as though I'm about to embark on a fishing excursion. In fact, I have cameras in right now. Can't wait to see what I've got. Cheers, Paul
Hi Kip. We've got a good 100years between us, and there's still so much more to learn. Quite a while back I came to the realization that I'd never know it all. Once I got used to that notion, I came to the realization that I'd never again be bored! :)
Thanks, Austin. You know, it's surprisingly easy for me to "put the rods up". I LOVE to catch fish -am obsessed. But I realized what drives me is an unquenchable desire to know what's really going on under the water. I fish to satisfy the predator in me. But that is also why I am driven to learn. That's were I live. Glad there are others out there interested too.
@@jpvand1 I just stumbled on this comment. I only get notifications for new comments, not those added to comment threads. I am not aware of size selection in bass. Seems there may be preferred males, but whether it's the male or the territory or bed site, I don't know. Paul
About 5 minutes in I realized I was in for an amazing video. So I paused it, got up and grabbed some sweet tea and proceeded to enjoy every second of the video. Awesome work!
Yeah... I had a shower, made dinner and ate at my laptop, enthralled, skipping back every so often to absorb what had just been witnessed. I will sleep well tonight.
@@robertmartin265 Regs vary by region. And there is science to back them up. Inside of the regs, we each decide what we are comfortable with. I choose to leave bedding/guarding males alone. There is better, less meddlesome fishing to be had then. Paul
Yes this is what I want to do in the future. I'm a young adult, just 18. I am looking to pursue a career as a wild Life Biologist, ecologist, and wildlife and fisheries management. I know I want to work with the MN DNR in my future. I love this work, and I wish to know your college path. What you took as a program in college. What internships you joined, how you gained experience to become involved in your career. My name is Kevin Vue, I live in Minnesota. I have a true passion to understand fisheries, not just for recreational use, but for conservation for the future. This documentary is a true work of art and passion. Thank you for your work.
Hi Kevin. I've done quite a bit: internships, volunteering, employment, academics. Pursue it. Step up and get involved. Don't be idle. Find out what's available, talk with people -esp the right ones. Everyone who has real passion loves to share it. Just ask. A quick story: Years ago, while i was working full time at a large tackle shop and also attending school full time as a Fisheries major, I applied to an Ivy school. At the tackle shop I got the chance to meet Bruce Shupp, then NYS Fisheries Commissioner (later the Conservation Director for B.A.S.S) and Gerry Barnhart, a Federal Great Lakes Fisheries Commissioner. I boldly asked both if they would write me a recommendation. They did! My channel email is thenatureoffishing@gmail.com. Feel free to contact me with questions.
I grew up watching Jacques Cousteau and wanted the same as you. At a college recruiting event I attended, I was discouraged from even trying to pursue anything in that area of expertise. The reason being, the lack of jobs and payscale. He was wrong to do that to a fresh eager young mind. I missed out. Don't you miss out. Do what your heart tells you. Do what you know is right for you. I wish I woulda! Good luck! Should be a whole lotta fun!
@@harrisgraves592 This line of work, basic research and resource management, is not well supported by the current economic model. But it is necessary and will not be going away. To be employed in it you have to have a calling, dedication, and willingness to grow into positions over time. But one must also get into the more senior ranks and that takes education and time. Long but rewarding road. Like teaching, my wife being a teacher. There's also parallel work in the "green" industries and services. Not the direct involvement with wildlife, but rewarding and necessary outdoor work. I would never suggest someone not follow their bliss. Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thank you, Paul I wish I wouldn't have listened to that recruiter so long ago. I have however used my love for all things nature to guide my life and teach my children to respect, love and appreciate both flora and fauna of this place we call home, Earth. My youngest biological son has a very strong desire to attend college and earn a degree in the field of entomology. I have supported him 100%! Thank you for your work, Sir!
Wow! This video is by far one of the best, most "in-depth" (literally) and visually stimulating/intriguing UA-cam gems I've seen yet! The narration coincided perfectly with the amazing underwater scenes that make you feel as if you're right there, under the water's surface to appreciate the "depth" of this really awesome video masterpiece. Job well done and I'm looking forward to more ... especially if there's a smallmouth equivalent! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, UBS. I keep coming back to it too. Remember, it's a draft version. Still getting feedback and making adjustments, and adding/replacing shots. Working on the next two docs as well. Dunno where things will end up. Still working on that aspect; It looms large, esp at 2a.m.
Who the heck are the 71 people to dislike this video?! I need 71 logical explanations why you wouldn't like this informative masterpiece. Thank you for the work you put in for this!
Hi, RSB. Thanks. Me thinks some people just want to be entertained. My channel won't be for them. That's OK, I didn't start a channel to... have a YT channel. And, no, I can't make a short fishing journal. Too much going on out there! My wife teaches elementary grades and says that there are some children who cannot sit through a documentary. If it's not fast-moving attention-grabbing content, they cannot attend. These are usually kids who haven't had experience watching or listening to something that takes time to develop, and often never having been read to. Lotsa options out there and on the internet one can simply click away if they don't like something. Cheers, Paul
Hi, Carlos. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass. If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration; -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. TNF is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year, and each outing adds some new wrinkles. And, the more we learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content. Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me. All the best, Paul
Thanks, Drew! I like it too. It's the kind of thing I've always wanted to watch. :) Yeah, I've had a number of non-fishers watch and enjoy it. "I never knew what fish's lives were like..."
As a beginner bass angler.. this was everything I needed to know that a lot of beginners bass angler videos didnt have. This was amazing and informative. Thanks alot
Thanks, KAM. Yeah, this is the type of information I was always looking for. Guess sometimes ya gotta do stuff yourself. :) Working on more documentaries, as well as finding support for them. This first documentary has been well received. Heading toward hunting behavior and why bass take artificial lures, and maybe more importantly, why they so often don't. But before that, some important background is needed on how bass develop into adult bass, and reach super-predator status.
This was honestly one of the best informational videos I have ever watched about fish. Thank you for all of the hard work that you put into the production of this well made and extremely informative video!
Hi, R. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your time around water. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass. If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration; -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. Be sure to share with friends. The more the merrier is the way YT works. Cheers, Paul
Dude...unbelievable... I hung on every second of this video. I know it’s a major task but man...as long as you keep making these, I’ll be watching. I would absolutely pay for videos of this caliber, no questions asked. It’s something you should consider, for real. This is a mess load of effort and you should be compensated.
Hi, manifestgtr. Thanks for the encouragement. Not all options are off the table, exactly. But, I want this kind of info available to people, since the commercial world seems to be focused elsewhere. And the scientists have other commitments, of course. So… sometimes you’ve just gotta do things yourself! :) Early on, I consulted with some pro video, and fishing, folks. And they told me I should really be looking at other venues besides YT. One pro said, flat out, that this kind of content "should not be given away for free". I'm giving YT a shot first, bc I like the control self-publishing provides, and the potential breadth of the audience. But, no, I won’t go broke doing it. I have a family to prioritize. I've been looking into support options, trying to plot the best course -for all of us. And, no, I won't be "going commercial". My goals for the project are very specific and, I think, pretty self-evident. They are going to have to fly on their own merit. I’m not in this to be a YT personality, or to simply support a fishing “habit”. I’m genuinely interested in the subject -how the aquatic world really works- and I’m betting that I’m not alone in that. It’s not easy info to get at. It’s taken me a long time to piece together, with best information, what goes on under the water. And, it’s going to be some serious work yet to get it out there. If I have a goal, it’s developing a communications vehicle that is accessible to as many interested people as possible, and can support the development of this kind of material. Exactly how it will come together, remains to be seen. Wish me -all of us, interested in this kind of content- godspeed. Gonna need it. There’s a lot of work to be done here. Thanks for your interest. It helps knowing there are like-minded people out there. Cheers, Paul
Absolutely, even websites like patreon and all that are good, respected platforms. The UA-cam community is typically very supportive and understanding when it comes to those websites, given how difficult it can be to get honest, controllable monetization going. The brilliant thing about that model is that it gives guys like me an option for support without putting everything behind a pay wall for the younger audience, etc. You have the right attitude at any rate. The information and the community being of paramount value.
I been fishing bass all my life and this by far is most education work I have ever seen. This as a angler will increase your knowledge of what exactly is going on at water temp and seasonal movement . Thank you for the hard work and time invested. Barry
Hi, Barry. Great to hear. Thanks, Barry. If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration; -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. TNF serves is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year. And, the more we learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content. Be sure to share with friends. The more the merrier is the way YT works. All the best, Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thank you Paul. definitely going to look into. Reminds me of the old Doug Hannon videos on steroids lol. I have used his camo fishing line for years. Over years there are changes in climate but Bass always go back to doing all the same habit activities and adjust accordingly to weather temp effecting water temps. Keep up the great work ......
Your video gives the best explanation of the spawn I’ve ever seen or read. Your delivery was great as well. Not convoluted. This is an excellent tool for any bass fisherman. Thank you and keep it up !
Thanks, Scott. Really nice to hear. At first I was concerned how well my delivery would go over, with fisherman in particular. (All the non-fishers that previewed my doc were rapt, and surprised fish's lives were so complicated.) Wasn't sure how many fishers could sit through talking head sessions. Do you think that that format is OK for the Fishing journal vids too?
The Nature of Fishing The format is great. It’s very direct. No filler. All great information delivered in a manner that anyone can follow and understand. If you had a series of videos like this that covered bass behavior in every season, I would pay money to own it. It would be great if you could break it up into regions as well. I live in New England and I grew up watching fishing shows based down south. It’s just not the same. I did like how you covered the importance of temp as a main catalyst for initiating the spawning behavior.
This was an outstanding and amazing documentary. As an avid bass angler here in the north east, I can truly appreciate the time linen you presented beginning with the ice out. Extremly well done and well presented. I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into such a fascinating look at the spawning season of the bass.There is not enough content out there, in this fashion being presented. I sincerely hope there will be more in this series of Bass Behavior. Thank you kindly for sharing.
Thanks, Christopher. More are in the works. Exactly how and where they will be released remains to be seen. Plan A is to release them, in some form or another, through YT, provided I can generate enough interest to help defray expenses. YT looked like a promising platform a year ago. But I've been denied monetization twice in that time as YT keeps changing it's rules for partnership. It's simply going to come down to channel growth rate, unless other means come through. Working on that end of things as well. Thanks, and wish me luck. Paul Oh, while you're here see my fishing journals too. They also focus on behavior. Likes and Subs will help at this point in the game.
The Nature of Fishing , I just subscribed to your channel, especially after seeing your fishing journals. They are presented in such a unique way, like you said, in a documentary platform. Very informative, and unique. Its not the same typical repetitive vidoes you find on the UA-cam platform. Believe me, I will be sharing your channel to other anglers.
Paul, this was brilliantly done, in my opinion. I will return to watch this again as there is a great deal to chew on. Very professionally done and excellent information.
His series of documentaries are best I ever have seen. As a season starts again, I am watching these again as a refesher as there is so much in here there is no way I can retain it all. Absolutely fantastic and different than just about anything else out there on both content and presentation.
Hey, Brian. That's pretty much as I've seen this TNF channel, as an archive that can be revisited. The more we know, the more we see...and the more questions we have. I gain more from books, articles, and videos the more I revisit them, even after...decades. Happy to know you are making use of TNF. All the best, Paul
Really enjoying this documentary you created. Very well done. But I had to pause long enough to comment about "Spawning PERIODS". I live in East/Central Florida. Been living & bass fishing here since 1969, and I can tell you that our PRE-spawn staging begins around mid to late November, right as "winter is about to begin" elsewhere in the country, and the males start making beds in December, with full on spawning beginning in early January. HOWEVER: Due to our long and "blurred" season of the "winter/spring transition", our bass here actually stage at pre-spawn, build nests, and spawn like a long drawn out "conveyor belt".......that is, as some bass are just finishing the spawn, others are moving up to begin. All 3 stages of staging/pre-spawn, spawn, and post spawn occur here from late November, all the way through April, with the majority of the spawn itself taking place in January/February. But a fair & considerable amount of spawning is actually taking place before & after that too, thus "the long, drawn out conveyor belt" of spawning activity here. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED WITH THIS "CENTRAL FLORIDA BASS PHENOMENON". This "long staging/spawning season" becomes even MORE "blurred" in South Florida, because they see very little "winter" at all. North Florida has more defined "seasonal changes", and therefore, all 3 stages of pre/spawn/post spawn occur over a much shorter period. Where I LIVE, in Melbourne Florida, is smack-dab between the two. The result is BIGGER, HEAVIER BASS, because we have just enough seasonal change that the bass can sense it, and PORK UP BEFORE THE SPAWN.......even though the whole process starts a bit earlier, and lasts longer than North Florida. This also explains why you very seldom see bass over 12 lbs in SOUTH FLORIDA.........because the seasonal change is almost virtually non-existent, so the bass don't "pork up" as much just before the spawn. The bass in NORTH Florida AND Central Florida can and do grow a good bit bigger than in SOUTH Florida. As I'm typing this comment, I have been very recently ( today is November 28, 2017 ) catching large female bass that are extremely fat, and eggs nearly fully developed, just in the past 2 weeks. ( So far THIS season, I've caught several in the 8 lb range, but there are far bigger, and it's only a matter of "luck and opportunity" before I catch some of them. I almost always do. ) I fish mainly in our famed Stick Marsh/Farm 13, due to the proven giant bass population. To date, I've caught four 12 lb'ers, thirteen 10 lb'ers, several 9's, and I literally can't count the 7 & 8 lb bass I've caught over the years. I have also lost several giants that I KNOW were far bigger than the 12 lb'ers I've caught. I dare say between 15 and 18 lbs. As I said earlier, we are TRULY BLESSED here in Central Florida!!! ( I can back "my claims" with many photo's and images of my catches.) Tight Lines everyone, and God Bless-
Thanks for the comments. And glad you enjoyed it. From the start I've been wondering how many people are willing to sit through something that's information dense. So far so good I guess. Again, thanks for the feedback. Great comments fleshing out the FL spawn for us. You describe it exactly as I've come to understand it: the prolonged spawn period and the differences between N and S FL. And you are not alone in FL with the prolonged spawn; It exists in all subtropical waters LM have been introduced: notably in Puerto Rico, and in the Philippines (I've fished for them there). I like the "conveyor belt" analogy. I've heard them called "waves" too. I only briefly mentioned the prolonged spawn in subtropical waters in my doc. It's interesting to study a critter across its whole range, esp one that's relatively recent in an evolutionary sense, they originating S of glaciations. Believe it or not, the FL subspecies/species (depends on who you talk to) is a derived, the more recent, form. I would have guessed the other way around. I've had discussions with FL anglers about the importance of temperature. Biologists call it "The Master Factor" and over the vast majority of the LM's range it certainly is. But... there are springs in FL that stay in the 70s year round, yet the bass spawn there. What informs the "Prime Directive" (to reproduce) are cues, and they are malleable (in the long term). So, FL spring bass likely cue to subtle photoperiod change, subtle temperature change, and likely, to booms in prey abundance for fry. Success breeds success, quite literally. Thank for the awesome comments. Very much appreciated. One thing I'd be interested in knowing more about is the ability of S FL bass in "porking up". I've always noted the thin bodies of far S FL bass. My assumption has been that the high water temps and shallow heavily vegetated waters are the cause. This is akin to the period in mid to late summer up here in the N when bass get thin in shallow heavily vegetated waters when temps are high. Cooler deeper waters may allow bass to maintain weight if available. Does this seem to make sense to you? Am I describing most S FL waters accurately -shallow and heavily vegetated?
The pleasure is all mine. I understand that you live "way up there".....so I just wanted to elaborate on our bass spawning periods down here. I have a friendly challenge for you: I respectfully ask that you google: "Scientists using REAL science and modern technology to prove evolution is SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE". Don't do this "for me".......do this for yourself. As far as I'm concerned, DNA alone assures that ALL species remain exactly that, the same species all throughout time. Environmental factors can "condition" slight changes, but the species remains the same species. ( Unless it died off for whatever reason. ) The fossil record also proves "evolution" is a very WEAK THEORY. WHERE ARE ALL THE BONES OF "THE TRANSITIONAL SPECIES"????........They do NOT exist......because they NEVER DID. We had no technology way back when the Communists invented the THEORY of "evolution". That has now changed. Trust me on this. See for yourself.
Thanks, Randy. If things go well, I should have the next documentary out this spring. This next one is on the development from egg to adult, the focus being the development of behavior. Pretty cool seeing those behaviors come on-line. Cheers, Paul
It doesn't matter, but of the bass behaviors videos are very interesting. I accidentally stumbled upon your videos some years ago. I'm just glad I found your podcast.
Awesome info covering the spawn from start to finish. I'm particularly glad you touched on how the females may lay eggs with several males in the same spawning season. I have believed this to be true for quite some time as I have watched fish start spawning in mid march and stop as late as early June, although most years it tends to end in late may. Having observed these fish on our local waters for years, I have concluded that the same fish continue to move up and down time and time again until every last female has laid all of her eggs. Until that happens, the males will continue to make beds and be willing participants to a female that is ready. Many anglers assume that these are numerous waves of fish that come and go throughout the spawn and refer to females as post spawn, not knowing that while she has been on a bed or perhaps 2 or 3 beds, she still might not be completely done until she is empty. Fishing pressure, cold fronts, lake levels, predators, etc continuously interrupt the spawn, but mother nature takes care of her own and these resilient fish spawn successfully more times than not despite the odds they face and consequently the species continues to thrive. As a result of my observations, I happen to believe that bass tournaments held during the spawn have minimal impact on the overall spawn despite the fact that many fish are caught off of beds both knowingly and incidentally at the same. I believe that upon their release, they will recover and carry on spawning just as they would have before they were caught and released that same spawning season. I don't have any factual evidence to back this up, other than the fact that some of our states best public waters undergo extreme pressure from tournament anglers on an annual basis throughout the spawn and for the most part these lakes remain strong and in many cases appear to be getting better. Mother nature is truly amazing and the bass spawn exemplifies this at its finest!
Thanks Derek. You are likely right that females are spawning multiple times more often than fisherman realize. I've not tried to identify individual females but I think you're right that we're seeing many of the same females return to spawn banks over the course of the season. And yes, what's missing from our assessments of "where the bass are in the season" misses the rather lengthy period that individual females are in interim between spawning bouts. Good comment.
Derek Snider One thing that I've noticed is that even if a hard cold front hits.It takes a lot to get the fish off of spawning mode it seems in the south Texas area.Once they are locked on the beds even a hard cold front doesn't detour them from Spawning.Correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't think you are wrong sir. If the female has laid eggs, I believe that the male will remain "locked" until the eggs are hatched or something keeps them from hatching, but yes often times they will remain locked on after a cold front hits and consequently be sitting on bed in water as cold as low to mid 50's. However, if the male is up and hasn't paired with a female just yet or has paired but the eggs haven't been laid; then a cold front will often bump these fish until the next warm spell. The main point I was attempting to make was that I believe that the same females spawn more than once and don't lay all of their eggs on one single bed. I believe she might move up and start in late march and hook up with a male of her liking and lay say a 1/4 fraction of her roe and then repeat the process the next new or full moon in april and complete the process in may. I think that they are all different and some females may get it all done at once and others might take 4-5 times before she is empty and done for the year. These are simply my opinions based on my experiences having fished and studied the spawn for 30 years.
Hi, Caleb. Check my documentaries playlist for the second doc, on the development of behavior in LMB, essentially a follow-up to the spawn doc. Best, Paul
Hi, Handberrydea. A-yup! I'm in the thick of the next one right now. Hoping to release it... ASAP. My eyes, and hind end, need a break. I may put in a field day tomorrow, just to stretch my legs. Thanks, Hbd. Paul
The Nature of Fishing I love what your doing man. Take a look at what I have on my channel and let me know if your interested in doing a long distance collaboration. Tight lines!
@@Handberrydea , right now I'm swamped. More to do then I have time to do it. So, probably not anytime soon. But, thanks. Hey, I like your Housatonic video. Paul
That was a work of art!!! So educational and amazing video to explain.. This was more like a professional DVD bought at somewhere like BassPro shop than some UTUBE vid.. One of the best vids I have have seen bought or on here and I have been a bass guide on lake Okeechobee in Florida many many years.. and I was surprised of different ways of looking at the cycle.. highly appreciate your hard work , Thank you and now I'm gonna see if you have more videos. . I ABSOLUTELY hope so..
Yes you do.. and you also have a new subcriber! Can't believe you don't have millions of likes and subscribers. . Have you done anything on something like (best fishing times like the solunar calendar, what are your thoughts on the feeding or active times they sugesst?)
Thanks, Troy! Appreciate the feedback. I'm an "old timer" too, and long ago got tired of reading articles that said, "...depends on conditions." "What conditions?! Which conditions?!! ", I'd practically shout. Well, to give those authors a fair shake, it turns out the variables that affect the fish, and our fishing, are complex. And not so easy to identify and tease apart. But I had to know, so... that's what floats my boat. I do believe I've come to some understandings.
I have never followed solunar tables. The idea that fish activity would be controlled, even influenced, by forces so weak in lieu of more immediate and powerful influences like temperature, conditions (sky and water being primary), availability and vulnerability of prey, presence of predators, fishing pressure, etc... just doesn't make sense to me. And angling in itself is such a poor sampling method, I cannot see how one could tease out, and trust, the results on the scale of a matter of mere hours in the day, as such tables purport to predict. In my mind, it's statistically... problematic. The only person I know whose taken a fairly large data set of angling results and applied statistics to them, found very weak significance during some periods, weak enough that the scientific journal he submitted it to, rejected it on statistical grounds. I'm not entirely closed to the idea, but I'll let others do the substantial work that needs to be done on that topic.
Hi, bdb. Great to hear! Thanks! This was the first in a series of documentaries on LMB behavior I've been developing. The second, on the development of behavior, is out now too. Look for it in my Documentaries playlist. Cheers, Paul
Hi, Marvin. Thanks. Very much appreciated, esp from someone whose attempted anything similar. My next doc, on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult, has been an even greater challenge. Working in natural habitats, where lighting is such a challenge, is challenge enough, but for this next doc I am working at the limits of my equipment resolution, shooting foundational behaviors in bass that start out at a quarter inch in length. I've got some really cool shots of those foundational behaviors, but it's been... a project. I'm in the editing phase now. Can always use more shots, but I think I have critical mass. Wish me… godspeed. Cheers, Paul.
Give this man an Oscar. This absolutely blew my mind. I've watched it multiple times and it even had my boys at 9 and 12 stuck to the screen. WELL DONE Sir! I'm beyond impressed at the quality of this video and even more so at the time you took to make it happen. Thank you.
Hi, Jim. Do you mean the fish?? :)) Thanks! Wonderful to hear your boys could enjoy it too. My wife is an elementary teacher and she finds that only a subset of kids can enjoy a documentary, mostly bc they've been exposed to them and have their attention spans stretched a bit. Other kids end up rolling on the floor, unable to attend. I'm in process of getting the next one in the series released. It's taking longer than I'd hoped. Wish me... godspeed. Cheers, Paul
A truly great documentary! I love bass fishing, and it was great to see the actual stages of the spawn. Going to share with all the guys in my bass club.! Everyone should hit the subscribe button!
Hi, fermanimal. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass. Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me. All the best, Paul
This is the video I’ve always wanted to see. The underwater video was stunning! I’ve seen many professional documentaries, and this one is just as good many of them!
Thank you very much for your time and research how anyone could dislike this video has no idea what it takes to not only film this but take time to understand and research bass behavior. Thank you Sir 👍
Hi Chuco. Thanks! Very much appreciated. My next one, on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult, has been much more of a challenge to shoot, and edit. Bass at 1/4" (6mm) in length are at the limits of my equipment's resolution. Not to mention the prey they feed on. Got some neat shots of them all. Hope to release it.... soon. Cheers, Paul.
Badass! Can’t wait to see more videos on bass behavior. This really helped me better understand the spawn and helped me better my approach to fishing for spawning bass
Hi, Arco Angler. Neither can I! I'm steeped in editing now. Next up is the development of behavior, from egg to adult. If you can, share with like-minded folks. Cheers, Paul.
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Wow....Thanks for the reply...you says your up North is that Canada? I live in Washington State... and l fish small lake too they don't ice over but they do get cold...my buddy's think i'm crazy for fishing this time of year but l'm addicted!...Thanks again keep up the good work...looking forward to it!!!
Hey, Roy. I'm in N Colorado. Our winters are generally a bit milder than other areas at 40N latitude. But, they are highly variable. Our shallowest waters can be at risk of winterkill which, IME, has hit at a sub-decade frequency. My bass operate like Northern LM's... "in the north". CO is not Canada however, where things are much more intense climate-wise and some adaptations are required. What's really interesting about understanding the lives of far N LM's, at the edge of their possible range(s), is that it exposes the specie's physiologic and ecologic imitations. Florida is an interesting state too. If you fished it, N to S, it might be one of the best states to get a bead on the range of bass' population responses to climate. Hey, only you know if you're being crazy out there fishing in the cold. ;) Paul
This production reeks of your knowledge & experience on this subject matter and is something that you should be very proud of - Really enjoyed that one. Simply saying Thank you doesn't seem like enough. Well Done Sir
As an avid Bass angler that's boarder line OCD about the sport/passion....this video is phenomenal. Thank you for your dedication and willingness to share your knowledge. Subscribed!!
Well done, man. Looking forward to the next chapter! Would you mind sharing how you captured the UW footage? Did you just leave the camera in the water on record or have some external link to stream it? Fascinating stuff!
Hi, MD. Glad you liked it. Next documentary is on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult. It's a fascinating story, highlighting the ffindamental mechanisms that connect bass (and other animals too) to the world around them. I hope I can do it justice. Shooting for a spring release. Cheers, Paul
This is such a awesome video I love how you made it. I pray that you do a crappie spawning video I would love to see that I mean love to see that. Please send me a message if you put out a crappie spawning video or any video about crappie Behavior
Thanks, CHTv. Unfortunatley, I probably won't get to crappie anytime soon. I have them here, and video them as a matter of course. Will let you know if/when I've got critical mass for such a production.
Hi, Alex. Glad you liked it. It sure is cool seeing what's going on under there. I'm fascinated. This was the first in a series of documentaries on LMB behavior I've been developing. The second, on the development of behavior, is out now too. Look for it in my Documentaries playlist. Cheers, Paul
Hi, Zach. Thanks. Finishing up documentary #2 here, on the development of behavior in largemouth bass, from egg up. Feel free to share with friends. Cheers, Paul
Thank you sir for sharing this amazing information with us all, I hope that someone, (hopefully the National Geographic) can help you on your journey to create more material that you can share with us all, have you written any books? Or have you done any lectures? I would take a whole college class about spawning habits of the large mouth bass for sure, but only if you were teaching it if course 🙂
Hi, UfO. Thanks so much. No I haven’t written a book but have considered it. Just so much to cover. Decided to spend my time with the video route. Plenty of other options just need the time to pursue them. Thanks again. Best, Paul
Top shelf in every way! A Constant in ALL your informative productions, and works art! Well Done Paul! Well Done Sir! ( yes, ive viewed this one before....)
Hi, Michael. Great to hear from you. Yes, this timely piece is making its way around again. A lot of people have yet to see it! Hope all is well, and your fishing tour is going well. What an awesome thing to do. Paul
Its a adventure! And the Constant is meeting so many great folks fishing! Like your Journals they feed my enthusiasm! ..like i need it, eh? Water here in SE is muddy, high and still in upper 40's. It climbs into low 50's but falls back due to ...well, its still winter. ;-) So Im vibrating with anticipation for pre spawn. Might be in Glades next couple days and try for some Peacocks....
Is there scientific proof that bass spawn in the fall? I have argued with my bass fishing buddies that bass only spawn in the spring. I have been bass fishing for 40 years and have never witnessed spawning behavior in the fall but I have seen on many occasions 1 1/2 - 3 inch bass fingerlings in December in southern lakes and right after ice out in my local lakes in Northeast Ohio.
Hi, Joe. In the laboratory, yes. Bass can be manipulated by photoperiod and temperature to spawn early in the spring. And they've been manipulated by temperature alone to spawn in the late summer and into fall. These fish were staved off with unseasonably cold water, then put into warm water. And they successfully spawned. In the wild? Yes, again. Swingle (1956b) reported "occasional" fall spawning largemouths in Alabama during temperature drops to around 70F. But precious little detail was provided. It's been suggested that these were young fish, just maturing. This is not a common scenario, and I'm not aware of any other such reports, and some time has passed since 1956. Fall spawning in other spring spawning species has been reported, but infrequently. I remember seeing a report of fall spawning chain pickeral. I suppose I could see chain pickeral fingerlings doing a bit better in the winter than bass would, due to their greater activity levels during winter. I've seen, and caught, plenty of early winter spawning rainbow trout in Great Lakes tribs, but, those were all hatchery fish so who knows what hatchery life was like for them. I know from talking with hatchery folks in the state of NY, that they'd experimented some with photoperiod manipulations in rainbows. Didn't sound terribly wide-spread though. Anglers have reported bass "tending beds" in late summer and fall. But, it's hard to tell what these anglers actually saw, or what those bass were actually doing. I've yet to hear of anyone actually seeing bass laying eggs out of season though. The guys at Tactical Bassin' (Matt and Tim) did a video in which they talked about what they called "false spawners" in the late summer and fall. I too have seen largemouths in the late summer in shallow water, on appropriate substrate, that looked like they were staking out territory, seemingly focused on a small area and not spooking away from it. Just this past August I saw two such individuals, and it was during a cool spell. But, again, what these fish are actually doing is hard to say. After listening to the TB guys describe what they call "false spawners" I plan to be a bit more attentive to these fish. If I get the opportunity, I'll drop a few cameras on them. Such out of season activity would be most likely to occur in the south, where winter mortality tends to be more due to predation than from harsh temperatures and starvation. In the north, the limitations on survival created by harsh winters tends to keep spawn timing pretty important. However, I too have seen tiny largemouths (~2" or so) in early spring here in Colorado (40N lat.). Such little bass definitely have given me pause. But, it is possible, maybe more likely, that such fish were simply late normal-season fingerlings, that didn't become piscivorous in time, and managed to survive the winter. Because of the altitude here, our winters can be on the short side for the latitude, and we can have some real warm spells. Some years, ice cover may only span not much beyond a 2 month period. That's what I can say at this point. I'm maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism, or being conservative in my assumptions, at this point. I think it's pretty safe to argue with your buddies that bass are spring spawners. That said, I'll' be keeping my eyes open, and will be sure to drop some cameras in on such suspect fish if I get the opportunity again. Cheers, Paul
Thank so much, Joe. Been at this kind of work for a long time. It's time I got it out there. It's so great that the technology and platforms exist to do it in a visual video format. And, without having to engage a giant production studio. However, I'm at the other extreme, one guy wearing a lot of hats. At this point, I can't produce at the rate that the UA-cam model supports. Right now, I'm pressing hard to get the next documentary in the series out by Christmas. Wish me... godspeed! It's really encouraging having people that take the time to comment, and ask questions. The feedback, and participation, are the flip- side of this effort. Thanks, again.
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Just watched Tactical Bassin's video you are talking about, 15 pounder locked on a bed in October. Funny I watch this , and read the comments right after. Great info !
Yep, our southern folks are already in the spawn. And it's working it's way north with the sun. The spawn will kick off here, in the smaller waters, in mid-April. Our far northern folks will have to wait until June. The pre-spawn carnage may be some of the best fishing of the year though. Yes, good luck all. It's starts with putting some warm clothes on and getting out the door!
Hi Jim. Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Once upon a time I thought someday I'd know it ALL! Bru-ha-ha-ha-ha! But, there turned out to be a big big world out there. I now know enough to know that'll I'll die having just scratched the surface. Once I got used to that idea I realized there's just a whole lot more cool stuff to look into than I ever thought.
10/10. This film was very well produced with great cinematography and in depth information. I will probably watch this more than once and feel like this information is fascinating. Thank you so much for your research. I love being able to correlate my own observations out while fishing to a more legitimate scientific study
Thanks, TR. This documentary pulls together what I've read and discussed in the scientific and angling literature, with my own and others observations. So, it's my take on what goes on during the spawn. I'm sure things will be altered and added to as time goes by. That's the nature of knowledge.
WOW! That was the most amazingly informational Bass video I've ever seen! I did not see this video on National Geographic. Thank YOU so much for your time and expertise, You are very intelligent and truly talented!
Hey Paul! What a great video! So much information that will be useful on the lake this season. It was great meeting you last weekend, and thanks again for the help with my buddies lure. We are definitely new subscribers! Thanks again!
Hi Rick, and crew. Yes, it was fun meeting you guys. One of the perks of having my video poles handy is being able to clear the "litter" from the trees of our local ponds. :) It was fun arriving right on cue for Aaron's SB. "I just got a call! Someone's got a spinnerbait caught in a tree!" :)
FANTASTIC Video. I just ran across this Neat Footage. That's why I don't fish during the Spawn every year. I want the Species of Bass to Survive. It only makes a lake Better. AWESOME Photography & Documentry on the fish.
Thanks, Rodney. Glad you enjoyed it. There's another documentary on the way, on the development of behavior in LMB. As to fishing during the spawn... In the northern part of the bass's range, spawning seasons are more apt to be closed to fishing bc of the shorter more intense spawning seasons. In the south, with longer spawning seasons, and less climatic pressures, bass seasons can be year round. Where it's legal, fishing the spawn is a personal choice. For me, I tend to simply leave the males, in particular, alone. I have fished for females though, but haven't in a number of years bc I tend to be shooting video then. And, there is so much good fishing year round that I don't miss fishing the spawn. As I've ended up putting it, "There's less meddlesome fishing to be had". Even during the spawn. Cheers, Paul
Hi, E Bear. Thanks. Great to hear. The depth of my content doesn’t allow me to upload as often as the YT algorithm would like. So it seems my growth will come by word of mouth. Pass the word. All the best. Paul
Awesome and educational! Bass is about to spawn here in South Africa, will be on the water this weekend. Will definately take more time to observe before casting. well done and thanks!
Hi, Andre. Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. My channel is focused on fish (currently Largemouth Bass) and has 3 "playlists": Documentaries (I've released two, so far); Video Fishing Journals, which are high content, almost documentary-like -meant to be archivable- treatment of actual on-the-water outings; Tackle Know How, that address tackle, considering the fish's perspective. Feel free to share with like-minded friends. Cheers, Paul
I've fished for bass my whole life and am sitting here taking notes. Very informative documentary!! Keep em. coming!! I really like the info on the moon phases!
Thanks, Kelly. There's surprisingly little out there that really pulls together ecological info for anglers. It's what's always floated my boat, and made me a better thinker on the water.
Hi, Stu. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary continues the story, by following the development of young bass through their first year. The focus again is on their behavior, with special interest in bass' cognitive development -what the world around them "means" to them- setting the stage for future docs on the behavior of adult bass. And, if you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists: -Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB; -Fundamentals that fleshes out important background information on stuff I don't have time to cover in-depth in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s). -Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration, and that supports our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s); -Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test. TNF is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year, and each outing adds some new wrinkles to the same basic plan. The more we experience and learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content. Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me. All the best, Paul
Hi, Richard. Just my own, and from the angling literature. You can find this sort of info all over the internet. BassResource.com is a very good discussion forum, where you can ask questions and get lots of responses. They have articles too. My Video Fishing Journals on this channel cover the fishing end of things here. Check my VFJ playlist, and maybe start with VFJ17: Tracking the Pre-Spawn to Spawn Transition. Hope this helps get you started. Paul
I came across your channel through a comment someone had made on another video. Words will fail anyone who attempts expressing gratitude for the work you've done. Thank you, anyway.
@@thenatureoffishing7591 I tend to obsess about activities that interest me. I've watched hundreds of hours of video and read dozens of books about fishing. Seriouly, you have a gift for sharing your wealth of knowledge. It pains me to think that you have less than 30K subscribers, you should have well over 1M. I'll happily watch your existing videos ad infinitum, but I am curious if you've done any research on any other species?
Dude that was awesome. Hats off to you for putting together something like this. The fish on my home waters are in all kinds of different stages of spawn right now and this video helped tremendously to give me a better understanding. Thank you.
@@thenatureoffishing7591 what's really great is, I too wondered what the heck is going on down there. So, set down the rod n reel, and learn a little! This will equip me much better as a fisherman, and educate me on the ecosystem and intricacies of the bass species! Again, great job and very well done. Very much appreciated!
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I really don’t even know what to say. That was incredible. Thank you. You answered so much that I was wondering about. Thank you again
Well done.
Excellent. Thank you!
As a biologist I love how deep you go into this. Thank you for putting all of this together. You deserve way more subs and likes than your have. This whole series is incredible and very well done.
Thanks, AFB. I have enough research background to provide me the ability to access quite a range of scientific literature. And, I now pretty much think that way. Part of my challenge has been to relate it to my fishing, and vice-versa. I, think anyway, that I'm making some progress at fathoming... just what the hell goes on down there. :) Glad to have a fellow nerd with me here. Paul
What an absolute UA-cam gem. Amazing footage. You deserve some kind of award for this, thank you for the informative video!
Thanks, Joe! Glad you enjoyed it. The only award I really need is the opportunity to keep producing deeply informative videos. The kind of information I've always wanted to see. It's taken a long time to acquire the knowledge, figure things out, and come up with the language and production skills to share my passion for... just what the heck is going on down there!
Paul, this is the third or fourth straight spring that I’ve watched this video to get ready for the fishing season here in MN. It’s obvious you have a genuine passion for this and put hundreds of hours of research to put this together. Well done!
Hi, Tom. Great to hear. Thanks! Paul
Sincerely the best video on bass behavior on the internet. Not just some bro and his dad kissing fish but genuine science and recorded evidence with clear thought process. Thank you so much.
Hi, Aaron. Thanks. Yeah, this is kind of channel I always wanted to see. Sometimes you just gotta do stuff yourself. :) Cheers, Paul.
This was an awesome experience. Makes me feel less inclined to wet the line and more inclined to observe from afar.
Hi, K. Yeah, it sure is cool getting to see what's actually going on down there. I find it almost, maybe as, interesting as fishing and catching itself. Years ago a trout and salmon stream I fished regularly was closed for a couple of years to fishing to give Atlantic Salmon a chance to procreate. What was interesting was how many people came down to just watch the trout and salmon spawning runs. Parking lot full in the mornings, evenings, lunch breaks and weekends. No fishing rods. Many were fishers, others not. Everyone was excited, oohing and ahhing. Many just stared, nearly mesmerized. Very cool. I'm always excited to get home and review my new footage, as though I'm about to embark on a fishing excursion. In fact, I have cameras in right now. Can't wait to see what I've got. Cheers, Paul
I've been fishing for over 50 years. But videos like these teach me even more. Well made.
Hi Kip. We've got a good 100years between us, and there's still so much more to learn. Quite a while back I came to the realization that I'd never know it all. Once I got used to that notion, I came to the realization that I'd never again be bored! :)
What a fantastic documentary. Not enough of this quality stuff. Can't imagine many are willing to put down the rod and observe, kudos my friend.
Thanks, Austin. You know, it's surprisingly easy for me to "put the rods up". I LOVE to catch fish -am obsessed. But I realized what drives me is an unquenchable desire to know what's really going on under the water. I fish to satisfy the predator in me. But that is also why I am driven to learn. That's were I live. Glad there are others out there interested too.
The Nature of Fishing thank you so much
The Nature of Fishing what are your observations regarding size and mate selection? I.e. do the larger females tend to pair with larger males?
.... an aside, where can I find your publications? Btw if you wrote a book, it would likely be a best seller.
@@jpvand1 I just stumbled on this comment. I only get notifications for new comments, not those added to comment threads.
I am not aware of size selection in bass. Seems there may be preferred males, but whether it's the male or the territory or bed site, I don't know. Paul
This is by far one of the best videos done on youtube on bass. Thank you.
Hi, Scott. Thanks. Paul
About 5 minutes in I realized I was in for an amazing video. So I paused it, got up and grabbed some sweet tea and proceeded to enjoy every second of the video. Awesome work!
Thanks, Ben. Glad you liked it.
Yeah... I had a shower, made dinner and ate at my laptop, enthralled, skipping back every so often to absorb what had just been witnessed. I will sleep well tonight.
The Nature of Fishing I agree with lake St Croix that you can Not keep any bass thill after they spawn till June. Great video. Ty
@@robertmartin265 Regs vary by region. And there is science to back them up. Inside of the regs, we each decide what we are comfortable with. I choose to leave bedding/guarding males alone. There is better, less meddlesome fishing to be had then. Paul
Yes this is what I want to do in the future. I'm a young adult, just 18. I am looking to pursue a career as a wild Life Biologist, ecologist, and wildlife and fisheries management. I know I want to work with the MN DNR in my future. I love this work, and I wish to know your college path. What you took as a program in college. What internships you joined, how you gained experience to become involved in your career. My name is Kevin Vue, I live in Minnesota. I have a true passion to understand fisheries, not just for recreational use, but for conservation for the future. This documentary is a true work of art and passion. Thank you for your work.
Hi Kevin. I've done quite a bit: internships, volunteering, employment, academics. Pursue it. Step up and get involved. Don't be idle. Find out what's available, talk with people -esp the right ones. Everyone who has real passion loves to share it. Just ask. A quick story: Years ago, while i was working full time at a large tackle shop and also attending school full time as a Fisheries major, I applied to an Ivy school. At the tackle shop I got the chance to meet Bruce Shupp, then NYS Fisheries Commissioner (later the Conservation Director for B.A.S.S) and Gerry Barnhart, a Federal Great Lakes Fisheries Commissioner. I boldly asked both if they would write me a recommendation. They did! My channel email is thenatureoffishing@gmail.com. Feel free to contact me with questions.
I grew up watching Jacques Cousteau and wanted the same as you.
At a college recruiting event I attended, I was discouraged from even trying to pursue anything in that area of expertise. The reason being, the lack of jobs and payscale.
He was wrong to do that to a fresh eager young mind.
I missed out.
Don't you miss out.
Do what your heart tells you.
Do what you know is right for you.
I wish I woulda!
Good luck!
Should be a whole lotta fun!
@@harrisgraves592 This line of work, basic research and resource management, is not well supported by the current economic model. But it is necessary and will not be going away. To be employed in it you have to have a calling, dedication, and willingness to grow into positions over time. But one must also get into the more senior ranks and that takes education and time. Long but rewarding road. Like teaching, my wife being a teacher. There's also parallel work in the "green" industries and services. Not the direct involvement with wildlife, but rewarding and necessary outdoor work. I would never suggest someone not follow their bliss. Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thank you, Paul
I wish I wouldn't have listened to that recruiter so long ago.
I have however used my love for all things nature to guide my life and teach my children to respect, love and appreciate both flora and fauna of this place we call home, Earth.
My youngest biological son has a very strong desire to attend college and earn a degree in the field of entomology.
I have supported him 100%!
Thank you for your work, Sir!
Wow! This video is by far one of the best, most "in-depth" (literally) and visually stimulating/intriguing UA-cam gems I've seen yet! The narration coincided perfectly with the amazing underwater scenes that make you feel as if you're right there, under the water's surface to appreciate the "depth" of this really awesome video masterpiece. Job well done and I'm looking forward to more ... especially if there's a smallmouth equivalent! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, The Real. Wonderful and encouraging comment. Share it if you would.
As a new angler, this is about as good as it gets! Standing ovation!
I keep coming back to this video. Amazing information about the Spawn. Excellent work!
Thanks, UBS. I keep coming back to it too. Remember, it's a draft version. Still getting feedback and making adjustments, and adding/replacing shots. Working on the next two docs as well. Dunno where things will end up. Still working on that aspect; It looms large, esp at 2a.m.
The Nature of Fishing Awesome! I can't wait to see the next ones! You do amazing work.
One of the best most in depth videos ive watched explaining the bass spawn. Thank you for sharing this with us all. Extremely informative
Hi, Shane. Thanks! Cheers, Paul
This is one of the best breakdowns I've seen on the spawn cycle. Super helpful to see this from a non fishing-biased perspective.
Very well done!
Thanks, Jake.
Who the heck are the 71 people to dislike this video?! I need 71 logical explanations why you wouldn't like this informative masterpiece. Thank you for the work you put in for this!
Hi, RSB. Thanks. Me thinks some people just want to be entertained. My channel won't be for them. That's OK, I didn't start a channel to... have a YT channel. And, no, I can't make a short fishing journal. Too much going on out there! My wife teaches elementary grades and says that there are some children who cannot sit through a documentary. If it's not fast-moving attention-grabbing content, they cannot attend. These are usually kids who haven't had experience watching or listening to something that takes time to develop, and often never having been read to. Lotsa options out there and on the internet one can simply click away if they don't like something. Cheers, Paul
Easily the most educational bass video I have seen. Thank you so much.
Hi, Carlos. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting.
If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass.
If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists:
-Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB;
-Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s).
-Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration;
-Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test.
TNF is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year, and each outing adds some new wrinkles. And, the more we learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content.
Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me.
All the best, Paul
This thing is amazing, I keep making people watch it and even ones with no interest in fishing become enthralled.
Thanks, Drew! I like it too. It's the kind of thing I've always wanted to watch. :) Yeah, I've had a number of non-fishers watch and enjoy it. "I never knew what fish's lives were like..."
Hey guys I just put up a new fishing video if you could check it out and let me know what you think that would be great! Thanks!
Dude you kill it
I have so much more knowledge on there behavior.
Can't wait to see another one
Thanks
drew harman l*
Thanks, Mike. I can't either. Working on em.
Definitely one of the best explanation of the spawn and what these fish are actually doing at different times. I will be happy to share it for you!
That would be great. If there is sufficient interest, that's my go ahead to continue. My goal is... full steam ahead. Thanks, Rosey.
Your welcome what part of the north was this shot
N Colorado.
This was absolutely amazing. I truly appreciate this documentary more than you will ever know. Thank you!
Thanks, Aaron.
As a beginner bass angler.. this was everything I needed to know that a lot of beginners bass angler videos didnt have. This was amazing and informative. Thanks alot
Thanks, KAM. Yeah, this is the type of information I was always looking for. Guess sometimes ya gotta do stuff yourself. :)
Working on more documentaries, as well as finding support for them. This first documentary has been well received. Heading toward hunting behavior and why bass take artificial lures, and maybe more importantly, why they so often don't. But before that, some important background is needed on how bass develop into adult bass, and reach super-predator status.
Thank you for the time and energy you've invested here. Wonderful film.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
This was honestly one of the best informational videos I have ever watched about fish. Thank you for all of the hard work that you put into the production of this well made and extremely informative video!
Hi, R. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your time around water. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting.
If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass.
If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists:
-Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB;
-Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s).
-Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration;
-Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test.
Be sure to share with friends. The more the merrier is the way YT works.
Cheers, Paul
Dude...unbelievable...
I hung on every second of this video. I know it’s a major task but man...as long as you keep making these, I’ll be watching. I would absolutely pay for videos of this caliber, no questions asked. It’s something you should consider, for real. This is a mess load of effort and you should be compensated.
Hi, manifestgtr. Thanks for the encouragement. Not all options are off the table, exactly. But, I want this kind of info available to people, since the commercial world seems to be focused elsewhere. And the scientists have other commitments, of course. So… sometimes you’ve just gotta do things yourself! :)
Early on, I consulted with some pro video, and fishing, folks. And they told me I should really be looking at other venues besides YT. One pro said, flat out, that this kind of content "should not be given away for free". I'm giving YT a shot first, bc I like the control self-publishing provides, and the potential breadth of the audience. But, no, I won’t go broke doing it. I have a family to prioritize.
I've been looking into support options, trying to plot the best course -for all of us. And, no, I won't be "going commercial". My goals for the project are very specific and, I think, pretty self-evident. They are going to have to fly on their own merit. I’m not in this to be a YT personality, or to simply support a fishing “habit”. I’m genuinely interested in the subject -how the aquatic world really works- and I’m betting that I’m not alone in that. It’s not easy info to get at.
It’s taken me a long time to piece together, with best information, what goes on under the water. And, it’s going to be some serious work yet to get it out there. If I have a goal, it’s developing a communications vehicle that is accessible to as many interested people as possible, and can support the development of this kind of material. Exactly how it will come together, remains to be seen.
Wish me -all of us, interested in this kind of content- godspeed. Gonna need it. There’s a lot of work to be done here.
Thanks for your interest. It helps knowing there are like-minded people out there.
Cheers,
Paul
Absolutely, even websites like patreon and all that are good, respected platforms. The UA-cam community is typically very supportive and understanding when it comes to those websites, given how difficult it can be to get honest, controllable monetization going. The brilliant thing about that model is that it gives guys like me an option for support without putting everything behind a pay wall for the younger audience, etc. You have the right attitude at any rate. The information and the community being of paramount value.
I been fishing bass all my life and this by far is most education work I have ever seen. This as a angler will increase your knowledge of what exactly is going on at water temp and seasonal movement . Thank you for the hard work and time invested. Barry
Hi, Barry. Great to hear. Thanks, Barry. If you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists:
-Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB;
-Fundamentals that provides important background information, in depth. Info that comes up in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s).
-Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration;
-Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test.
TNF serves is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year. And, the more we learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content.
Be sure to share with friends. The more the merrier is the way YT works. All the best, Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thank you Paul. definitely going to look into. Reminds me of the old Doug Hannon videos on steroids lol. I have used his camo fishing line for years. Over years there are changes in climate but Bass always go back to doing all the same habit activities and adjust accordingly to weather temp effecting water temps. Keep up the great work ......
Barry, yeah, I think Doug Hannon and I share(d) some personality quirks. :) Paul
Halfway through, and this is awesome.
There is a true need for this type of quality content. I definitely look forward to future documentaries!
Me too. believe me! I'm in the thick of the next one now. Man, I'm ready to have it off my plate!
You really did an amazing job on this. You should be proud of it. I look forward to seeing more of your videos.
Thanks, john. More in the works. Cheers, Paul.
Your video gives the best explanation of the spawn I’ve ever seen or read. Your delivery was great as well. Not convoluted. This is an excellent tool for any bass fisherman.
Thank you and keep it up !
Thanks, Scott. Really nice to hear. At first I was concerned how well my delivery would go over, with fisherman in particular. (All the non-fishers that previewed my doc were rapt, and surprised fish's lives were so complicated.) Wasn't sure how many fishers could sit through talking head sessions. Do you think that that format is OK for the Fishing journal vids too?
The Nature of Fishing
The format is great. It’s very direct. No filler. All great information delivered in a manner that anyone can follow and understand.
If you had a series of videos like this that covered bass behavior in every season, I would pay money to own it. It would be great if you could break it up into regions as well. I live in New England and I grew up watching fishing shows based down south. It’s just not the same.
I did like how you covered the importance of temp as a main catalyst for initiating the spawning behavior.
Captivating! Well created A+. Couldn’t stop watching. Another reason why not to fish during the spawn.
Hi, SD. Thanks. Glad you liked it. More on the way. Cheers, Paul
Another reason to catch and release
This was an outstanding and amazing documentary. As an avid bass angler here in the north east, I can truly appreciate the time linen you presented beginning with the ice out.
Extremly well done and well presented. I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into such a fascinating look at the spawning season of the bass.There is not enough content out there, in this fashion being presented. I sincerely hope there will be more in this series of Bass Behavior.
Thank you kindly for sharing.
Thanks, Christopher. More are in the works. Exactly how and where they will be released remains to be seen. Plan A is to release them, in some form or another, through YT, provided I can generate enough interest to help defray expenses. YT looked like a promising platform a year ago. But I've been denied monetization twice in that time as YT keeps changing it's rules for partnership. It's simply going to come down to channel growth rate, unless other means come through. Working on that end of things as well.
Thanks, and wish me luck.
Paul
Oh, while you're here see my fishing journals too. They also focus on behavior. Likes and Subs will help at this point in the game.
The Nature of Fishing , I just subscribed to your channel, especially after seeing your fishing journals. They are presented in such a unique way, like you said, in a documentary platform.
Very informative, and unique. Its not the same typical repetitive vidoes you find on the UA-cam platform. Believe me, I will be sharing your channel to other anglers.
Great insight on the first video in this series, looking forward the the rest of the series
Paul, this was brilliantly done, in my opinion. I will return to watch this again as there is a great deal to chew on. Very professionally done and excellent information.
Thanks, Ed!
Love the scientific approach to this. Definitely got my attention!
Hi, Wesley. Great. Me too. :) More to come. Cheers, Paul.
His series of documentaries are best I ever have seen. As a season starts again, I am watching these again as a refesher as there is so much in here there is no way I can retain it all. Absolutely fantastic and different than just about anything else out there on both content and presentation.
Hey, Brian. That's pretty much as I've seen this TNF channel, as an archive that can be revisited. The more we know, the more we see...and the more questions we have. I gain more from books, articles, and videos the more I revisit them, even after...decades. Happy to know you are making use of TNF. All the best, Paul
Really enjoying this documentary you created. Very well done. But I had to pause long enough to comment about "Spawning PERIODS". I live in East/Central Florida. Been living & bass fishing here since 1969, and I can tell you that our PRE-spawn staging begins around mid to late November, right as "winter is about to begin" elsewhere in the country, and the males start making beds in December, with full on spawning beginning in early January. HOWEVER: Due to our long and "blurred" season of the "winter/spring transition", our bass here actually stage at pre-spawn, build nests, and spawn like a long drawn out "conveyor belt".......that is, as some bass are just finishing the spawn, others are moving up to begin. All 3 stages of staging/pre-spawn, spawn, and post spawn occur here from late November, all the way through April, with the majority of the spawn itself taking place in January/February. But a fair & considerable amount of spawning is actually taking place before & after that too, thus "the long, drawn out conveyor belt" of spawning activity here. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED WITH THIS "CENTRAL FLORIDA BASS PHENOMENON". This "long staging/spawning season" becomes even MORE "blurred" in South Florida, because they see very little "winter" at all. North Florida has more defined "seasonal changes", and therefore, all 3 stages of pre/spawn/post spawn occur over a much shorter period. Where I LIVE, in Melbourne Florida, is smack-dab between the two. The result is BIGGER, HEAVIER BASS, because we have just enough seasonal change that the bass can sense it, and PORK UP BEFORE THE SPAWN.......even though the whole process starts a bit earlier, and lasts longer than North Florida. This also explains why you very seldom see bass over 12 lbs in SOUTH FLORIDA.........because the seasonal change is almost virtually non-existent, so the bass don't "pork up" as much just before the spawn. The bass in NORTH Florida AND Central Florida can and do grow a good bit bigger than in SOUTH Florida. As I'm typing this comment, I have been very recently ( today is November 28, 2017 ) catching large female bass that are extremely fat, and eggs nearly fully developed, just in the past 2 weeks. ( So far THIS season, I've caught several in the 8 lb range, but there are far bigger, and it's only a matter of "luck and opportunity" before I catch some of them. I almost always do. ) I fish mainly in our famed Stick Marsh/Farm 13, due to the proven giant bass population. To date, I've caught four 12 lb'ers, thirteen 10 lb'ers, several 9's, and I literally can't count the 7 & 8 lb bass I've caught over the years. I have also lost several giants that I KNOW were far bigger than the 12 lb'ers I've caught. I dare say between 15 and 18 lbs. As I said earlier, we are TRULY BLESSED here in Central Florida!!! ( I can back "my claims" with many photo's and images of my catches.) Tight Lines everyone, and God Bless-
Thanks for the comments. And glad you enjoyed it. From the start I've been wondering how many people are willing to sit through something that's information dense. So far so good I guess. Again, thanks for the feedback.
Great comments fleshing out the FL spawn for us. You describe it exactly as I've come to understand it: the prolonged spawn period and the differences between N and S FL. And you are not alone in FL with the prolonged spawn; It exists in all subtropical waters LM have been introduced: notably in Puerto Rico, and in the Philippines (I've fished for them there). I like the "conveyor belt" analogy. I've heard them called "waves" too. I only briefly mentioned the prolonged spawn in subtropical waters in my doc. It's interesting to study a critter across its whole range, esp one that's relatively recent in an evolutionary sense, they originating S of glaciations. Believe it or not, the FL subspecies/species (depends on who you talk to) is a derived, the more recent, form. I would have guessed the other way around. I've had discussions with FL anglers about the importance of temperature. Biologists call it "The Master Factor" and over the vast majority of the LM's range it certainly is. But... there are springs in FL that stay in the 70s year round, yet the bass spawn there. What informs the "Prime Directive" (to reproduce) are cues, and they are malleable (in the long term). So, FL spring bass likely cue to subtle photoperiod change, subtle temperature change, and likely, to booms in prey abundance for fry. Success breeds success, quite literally. Thank for the awesome comments. Very much appreciated.
One thing I'd be interested in knowing more about is the ability of S FL bass in "porking up". I've always noted the thin bodies of far S FL bass. My assumption has been that the high water temps and shallow heavily vegetated waters are the cause. This is akin to the period in mid to late summer up here in the N when bass get thin in shallow heavily vegetated waters when temps are high. Cooler deeper waters may allow bass to maintain weight if available. Does this seem to make sense to you? Am I describing most S FL waters accurately -shallow and heavily vegetated?
The pleasure is all mine. I understand that you live "way up there".....so I just wanted to elaborate on our bass spawning periods down here. I have a friendly challenge for you: I respectfully ask that you google: "Scientists using REAL science and modern technology to prove evolution is SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE". Don't do this "for me".......do this for yourself. As far as I'm concerned, DNA alone assures that ALL species remain exactly that, the same species all throughout time. Environmental factors can "condition" slight changes, but the species remains the same species. ( Unless it died off for whatever reason. ) The fossil record also proves "evolution" is a very WEAK THEORY. WHERE ARE ALL THE BONES OF "THE TRANSITIONAL SPECIES"????........They do NOT exist......because they NEVER DID. We had no technology way back when the Communists invented the THEORY of "evolution". That has now changed. Trust me on this. See for yourself.
Absolutely amazing. Great job creating a documentary/guide that most anglers have been looking for.
Hi, Steven. Thanks. More to come. Cheers, Paul
Thank you for such an informative and well produced video.
Thanks, Randy.
If things go well, I should have the next documentary out this spring. This next one is on the development from egg to adult, the focus being the development of behavior. Pretty cool seeing those behaviors come on-line.
Cheers,
Paul
Fantastic work here! Loved the film very much. Thanks for putting it together for us all.
Thanks, Mike.
Thank you for making this video. I am so much more intrigued now and I look forward to watching more of your videos. Very well done!
Its about time I found you. Nice to hear from you. Love the podcast network. Great stuff!
Hi, Steven. Sorry, not sure which podcast network you are referring to. Paul
It doesn't matter, but of the bass behaviors videos are very interesting. I accidentally stumbled upon your videos some years ago. I'm just glad I found your podcast.
@@stevenphelps7929 Which podcast are you referring to? I've only done one, that was aired. Curious. Thanks, Paul
Awesome info covering the spawn from start to finish. I'm particularly glad you touched on how the females may lay eggs with several males in the same spawning season. I have believed this to be true for quite some time as I have watched fish start spawning in mid march and stop as late as early June, although most years it tends to end in late may. Having observed these fish on our local waters for years, I have concluded that the same fish continue to move up and down time and time again until every last female has laid all of her eggs. Until that happens, the males will continue to make beds and be willing participants to a female that is ready. Many anglers assume that these are numerous waves of fish that come and go throughout the spawn and refer to females as post spawn, not knowing that while she has been on a bed or perhaps 2 or 3 beds, she still might not be completely done until she is empty. Fishing pressure, cold fronts, lake levels, predators, etc continuously interrupt the spawn, but mother nature takes care of her own and these resilient fish spawn successfully more times than not despite the odds they face and consequently the species continues to thrive. As a result of my observations, I happen to believe that bass tournaments held during the spawn have minimal impact on the overall spawn despite the fact that many fish are caught off of beds both knowingly and incidentally at the same. I believe that upon their release, they will recover and carry on spawning just as they would have before they were caught and released that same spawning season. I don't have any factual evidence to back this up, other than the fact that some of our states best public waters undergo extreme pressure from tournament anglers on an annual basis throughout the spawn and for the most part these lakes remain strong and in many cases appear to be getting better. Mother nature is truly amazing and the bass spawn exemplifies this at its finest!
Thanks Derek. You are likely right that females are spawning multiple times more often than fisherman realize. I've not tried to identify individual females but I think you're right that we're seeing many of the same females return to spawn banks over the course of the season. And yes, what's missing from our assessments of "where the bass are in the season" misses the rather lengthy period that individual females are in interim between spawning bouts. Good comment.
Derek Snider One thing that I've noticed is that even if a hard cold front hits.It takes a lot to get the fish off of spawning mode it seems in the south Texas area.Once they are locked on the beds even a hard cold front doesn't detour them from Spawning.Correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't think you are wrong sir. If the female has laid eggs, I believe that the male will remain "locked" until the eggs are hatched or something keeps them from hatching, but yes often times they will remain locked on after a cold front hits and consequently be sitting on bed in water as cold as low to mid 50's. However, if the male is up and hasn't paired with a female just yet or has paired but the eggs haven't been laid; then a cold front will often bump these fish until the next warm spell. The main point I was attempting to make was that I believe that the same females spawn more than once and don't lay all of their eggs on one single bed. I believe she might move up and start in late march and hook up with a male of her liking and lay say a 1/4 fraction of her roe and then repeat the process the next new or full moon in april and complete the process in may. I think that they are all different and some females may get it all done at once and others might take 4-5 times before she is empty and done for the year. These are simply my opinions based on my experiences having fished and studied the spawn for 30 years.
As an avid largemouth bass fisherman, I’m absolutely enjoying watching this. Thank you for posting it.
Hi, Caleb. Check my documentaries playlist for the second doc, on the development of behavior in LMB, essentially a follow-up to the spawn doc. Best, Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Thanks man.
This is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
A lot of work went into this. Well done!
Hi, Handberrydea. A-yup! I'm in the thick of the next one right now. Hoping to release it... ASAP. My eyes, and hind end, need a break. I may put in a field day tomorrow, just to stretch my legs. Thanks, Hbd. Paul
The Nature of Fishing I love what your doing man. Take a look at what I have on my channel and let me know if your interested in doing a long distance collaboration. Tight lines!
@@Handberrydea , right now I'm swamped. More to do then I have time to do it. So, probably not anytime soon. But, thanks. Hey, I like your Housatonic video. Paul
The Nature of Fishing Thanks man
That was a work of art!!! So educational and amazing video to explain.. This was more like a professional DVD bought at somewhere like BassPro shop than some UTUBE vid.. One of the best vids I have have seen bought or on here and I have been a bass guide on lake Okeechobee in Florida many many years.. and I was surprised of different ways of looking at the cycle.. highly appreciate your hard work , Thank you and now I'm gonna see if you have more videos. . I ABSOLUTELY hope so..
Yes you do.. and you also have a new subcriber! Can't believe you don't have millions of likes and subscribers. . Have you done anything on something like (best fishing times like the solunar calendar, what are your thoughts on the feeding or active times they sugesst?)
Thanks, Troy! Appreciate the feedback. I'm an "old timer" too, and long ago got tired of reading articles that said, "...depends on conditions." "What conditions?! Which conditions?!! ", I'd practically shout. Well, to give those authors a fair shake, it turns out the variables that affect the fish, and our fishing, are complex. And not so easy to identify and tease apart. But I had to know, so... that's what floats my boat. I do believe I've come to some understandings.
I have never followed solunar tables. The idea that fish activity would be controlled, even influenced, by forces so weak in lieu of more immediate and powerful influences like temperature, conditions (sky and water being primary), availability and vulnerability of prey, presence of predators, fishing pressure, etc... just doesn't make sense to me. And angling in itself is such a poor sampling method, I cannot see how one could tease out, and trust, the results on the scale of a matter of mere hours in the day, as such tables purport to predict. In my mind, it's statistically... problematic. The only person I know whose taken a fairly large data set of angling results and applied statistics to them, found very weak significance during some periods, weak enough that the scientific journal he submitted it to, rejected it on statistical grounds. I'm not entirely closed to the idea, but I'll let others do the substantial work that needs to be done on that topic.
I couldn't be more appreciative of your effort and time spent putting this together. This is amazing and THANK YOU!
Thanks, BB.
This is an excellent video! Very educational and informative. Gave me an understanding about the bass spawning process. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Stan. My next doc is on the ontogeny, or development, of bass behavior.
Subscribed! I can’t wait to see it! Thanks
Excellent work Paul. Best illustration and insights into bass behavior I have ever seen. Thank you very much.
Hi, bdb. Great to hear! Thanks! This was the first in a series of documentaries on LMB behavior I've been developing. The second, on the development of behavior, is out now too. Look for it in my Documentaries playlist. Cheers, Paul
Outstanding video my freind...one of the best I have seen..I do know the time you have put in... And I DO appreciate it...thanks !#!
Hi, Marvin. Thanks. Very much appreciated, esp from someone whose attempted anything similar. My next doc, on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult, has been an even greater challenge. Working in natural habitats, where lighting is such a challenge, is challenge enough, but for this next doc I am working at the limits of my equipment resolution, shooting foundational behaviors in bass that start out at a quarter inch in length. I've got some really cool shots of those foundational behaviors, but it's been... a project. I'm in the editing phase now. Can always use more shots, but I think I have critical mass. Wish me… godspeed.
Cheers, Paul.
Give this man an Oscar. This absolutely blew my mind. I've watched it multiple times and it even had my boys at 9 and 12 stuck to the screen. WELL DONE Sir! I'm beyond impressed at the quality of this video and even more so at the time you took to make it happen. Thank you.
Hi, Jim. Do you mean the fish?? :)) Thanks! Wonderful to hear your boys could enjoy it too. My wife is an elementary teacher and she finds that only a subset of kids can enjoy a documentary, mostly bc they've been exposed to them and have their attention spans stretched a bit. Other kids end up rolling on the floor, unable to attend.
I'm in process of getting the next one in the series released. It's taking longer than I'd hoped. Wish me... godspeed. Cheers, Paul
A truly great documentary! I love bass fishing, and it was great to see the actual stages of the spawn. Going to share with all the guys in my bass club.! Everyone should hit the subscribe button!
Thanks Lancaster. Yes, sharing will help a lot.
That was the most amazing piece I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. Well done.
Hi, fermanimal. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting. If you haven't already found it, my second documentary follows the development of young bass through their first year. The focus, again, is on behavior with special interest in bass' cognitive development, setting the stage for coming docs on the behavior of adult bass. Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me.
All the best, Paul
Thank you for your hard work. Totally amazing!
This is the video I’ve always wanted to see. The underwater video was stunning! I’ve seen many professional documentaries, and this one is just as good many of them!
Hi Jack, Yeah, this is the kind of video I've always wanted to see too. And I got to make it. :) Working on more.
Thank you very much for your time and research how anyone could dislike this video has no idea what it takes to not only film this but take time to understand and research bass behavior. Thank you Sir 👍
Hi Chuco. Thanks! Very much appreciated. My next one, on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult, has been much more of a challenge to shoot, and edit. Bass at 1/4" (6mm) in length are at the limits of my equipment's resolution. Not to mention the prey they feed on. Got some neat shots of them all. Hope to release it.... soon. Cheers, Paul.
Please subscribe to my channel nothing compared to your videos but anything helps thanks
Badass! Can’t wait to see more videos on bass behavior. This really helped me better understand the spawn and helped me better my approach to fishing for spawning bass
Hi, Arco Angler. Neither can I! I'm steeped in editing now. Next up is the development of behavior, from egg to adult. If you can, share with like-minded folks. Cheers, Paul.
this is so relaxing to watch
Thank you for this...this is about the best I've seen in understanding the bass
Thanks, Roy. My next documentary will be on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult. Shooting for a spring release.
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Wow....Thanks for the reply...you says your up North is that Canada? I live in Washington State... and l fish small lake too they don't ice over but they do get cold...my buddy's think i'm crazy for fishing this time of year but l'm addicted!...Thanks again keep up the good work...looking forward to it!!!
Hey, Roy. I'm in N Colorado. Our winters are generally a bit milder than other areas at 40N latitude. But, they are highly variable. Our shallowest waters can be at risk of winterkill which, IME, has hit at a sub-decade frequency. My bass operate like Northern LM's... "in the north". CO is not Canada however, where things are much more intense climate-wise and some adaptations are required. What's really interesting about understanding the lives of far N LM's, at the edge of their possible range(s), is that it exposes the specie's physiologic and ecologic imitations. Florida is an interesting state too. If you fished it, N to S, it might be one of the best states to get a bead on the range of bass' population responses to climate.
Hey, only you know if you're being crazy out there fishing in the cold. ;)
Paul
This production reeks of your knowledge & experience on this subject matter and is something that you should be very proud of - Really enjoyed that one.
Simply saying Thank you doesn't seem like enough. Well Done Sir
Thanks AJ! I am proud of it. But the accolades I've received help a lot. Ralph Manns reviewed it and his opening line was "WOW!" :)
The Nature of Fishing final question (for tonight anyway :)), what state/area was your work done?
As an avid Bass angler that's boarder line OCD about the sport/passion....this video is phenomenal. Thank you for your dedication and willingness to share your knowledge. Subscribed!!
Thanks, solocam. Really happy to have another OCD angler along. We come by it honestly too. ;)
Cheers,
Paul
Well done, man. Looking forward to the next chapter! Would you mind sharing how you captured the UW footage? Did you just leave the camera in the water on record or have some external link to stream it? Fascinating stuff!
I just leave them in the water. However, I know just when and where to leave them. I know those fish, and waters, pretty well.
Thank you for taking the time to put that together
Hi, MD. Glad you liked it. Next documentary is on the development of behavior in LMB, from egg to adult. It's a fascinating story, highlighting the ffindamental mechanisms that connect bass (and other animals too) to the world around them. I hope I can do it justice. Shooting for a spring release.
Cheers,
Paul
Subscribed and ready for the next video.
Well done, thank you for putting this together!
Thanks, Pat.
This is such a awesome video I love how you made it. I pray that you do a crappie spawning video I would love to see that I mean love to see that. Please send me a message if you put out a crappie spawning video or any video about crappie Behavior
Thanks, CHTv. Unfortunatley, I probably won't get to crappie anytime soon. I have them here, and video them as a matter of course. Will let you know if/when I've got critical mass for such a production.
Count me in too!! We need a Crappie one
This is, absolutely incredible. The information, the footage.. truly remarkable. You have undeniable expertise.
Hi, Alex. Glad you liked it. It sure is cool seeing what's going on under there. I'm fascinated.
This was the first in a series of documentaries on LMB behavior I've been developing. The second, on the development of behavior, is out now too. Look for it in my Documentaries playlist. Cheers, Paul
A lot of work, will done sir
Thanks, Jonathan. A lot of work, and some fun too. I fish bc I want to know what's going on down there. UW videography scratches the same itch.
A few years on but I just discovered this. Thank you so much for your time and dedication. This was a fantastic video!
Hi, Zach. Thanks. Finishing up documentary #2 here, on the development of behavior in largemouth bass, from egg up. Feel free to share with friends. Cheers, Paul
Thank you sir for sharing this amazing information with us all, I hope that someone, (hopefully the National Geographic) can help you on your journey to create more material that you can share with us all, have you written any books? Or have you done any lectures? I would take a whole college class about spawning habits of the large mouth bass for sure, but only if you were teaching it if course 🙂
Hi, UfO. Thanks so much. No I haven’t written a book but have considered it. Just so much to cover. Decided to spend my time with the video route. Plenty of other options just need the time to pursue them. Thanks again. Best, Paul
Top shelf in every way! A Constant in ALL your informative productions, and works art! Well Done Paul! Well Done Sir! ( yes, ive viewed this one before....)
Hi, Michael. Great to hear from you. Yes, this timely piece is making its way around again. A lot of people have yet to see it! Hope all is well, and your fishing tour is going well. What an awesome thing to do. Paul
Its a adventure! And the Constant is meeting so many great folks fishing! Like your Journals they feed my enthusiasm! ..like i need it, eh? Water here in SE is muddy, high and still in upper 40's. It climbs into low 50's but falls back due to ...well, its still winter. ;-) So Im vibrating with anticipation for pre spawn. Might be in Glades next couple days and try for some Peacocks....
You deserve a Oscar 💪🏽🤙🏽😅
Hi, again, Chuco. Thanks!
This might be one of the most informative bass fishing videos I have ever seen. Thank you very much for sharing. Subbed.
Hi, Lou. Great! And welcome. Feel free to share with your friends. More to come. Cheers, Paul
Is there scientific proof that bass spawn in the fall? I have argued with my bass fishing buddies that bass only spawn in the spring. I have been bass fishing for 40 years and have never witnessed spawning behavior in the fall but I have seen on many occasions 1 1/2 - 3 inch bass fingerlings in December in southern lakes and right after ice out in my local lakes in Northeast Ohio.
Hi, Joe.
In the laboratory, yes. Bass can be manipulated by photoperiod and temperature to spawn early in the spring. And they've been manipulated by temperature alone to spawn in the late summer and into fall. These fish were staved off with unseasonably cold water, then put into warm water. And they successfully spawned.
In the wild? Yes, again. Swingle (1956b) reported "occasional" fall spawning largemouths in Alabama during temperature drops to around 70F. But precious little detail was provided. It's been suggested that these were young fish, just maturing. This is not a common scenario, and I'm not aware of any other such reports, and some time has passed since 1956.
Fall spawning in other spring spawning species has been reported, but infrequently. I remember seeing a report of fall spawning chain pickeral. I suppose I could see chain pickeral fingerlings doing a bit better in the winter than bass would, due to their greater activity levels during winter. I've seen, and caught, plenty of early winter spawning rainbow trout in Great Lakes tribs, but, those were all hatchery fish so who knows what hatchery life was like for them. I know from talking with hatchery folks in the state of NY, that they'd experimented some with photoperiod manipulations in rainbows. Didn't sound terribly wide-spread though.
Anglers have reported bass "tending beds" in late summer and fall. But, it's hard to tell what these anglers actually saw, or what those bass were actually doing. I've yet to hear of anyone actually seeing bass laying eggs out of season though.
The guys at Tactical Bassin' (Matt and Tim) did a video in which they talked about what they called "false spawners" in the late summer and fall. I too have seen largemouths in the late summer in shallow water, on appropriate substrate, that looked like they were staking out territory, seemingly focused on a small area and not spooking away from it. Just this past August I saw two such individuals, and it was during a cool spell. But, again, what these fish are actually doing is hard to say. After listening to the TB guys describe what they call "false spawners" I plan to be a bit more attentive to these fish. If I get the opportunity, I'll drop a few cameras on them.
Such out of season activity would be most likely to occur in the south, where winter mortality tends to be more due to predation than from harsh temperatures and starvation. In the north, the limitations on survival created by harsh winters tends to keep spawn timing pretty important. However, I too have seen tiny largemouths (~2" or so) in early spring here in Colorado (40N lat.). Such little bass definitely have given me pause. But, it is possible, maybe more likely, that such fish were simply late normal-season fingerlings, that didn't become piscivorous in time, and managed to survive the winter. Because of the altitude here, our winters can be on the short side for the latitude, and we can have some real warm spells. Some years, ice cover may only span not much beyond a 2 month period.
That's what I can say at this point. I'm maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism, or being conservative in my assumptions, at this point. I think it's pretty safe to argue with your buddies that bass are spring spawners. That said, I'll' be keeping my eyes open, and will be sure to drop some cameras in on such suspect fish if I get the opportunity again.
Cheers,
Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 thank you for the information and all the hard work you put into your videos.
Thank so much, Joe. Been at this kind of work for a long time. It's time I got it out there. It's so great that the technology and platforms exist to do it in a visual video format. And, without having to engage a giant production studio. However, I'm at the other extreme, one guy wearing a lot of hats. At this point, I can't produce at the rate that the UA-cam model supports. Right now, I'm pressing hard to get the next documentary in the series out by Christmas. Wish me... godspeed!
It's really encouraging having people that take the time to comment, and ask questions. The feedback, and participation, are the flip- side of this effort.
Thanks, again.
@@thenatureoffishing7591 Just watched Tactical Bassin's video you are talking about, 15 pounder locked on a bed in October. Funny I watch this , and read the comments right after. Great info !
Hey, UBSS. The TB guys spend a lot time on the water. Always worth checking in on them.
Outstanding video.... Answered a lot of my questions about spawning Bass...... Your narration and videography is superlative...
Thanks, Nolan.
It's just about that time again! Good luck in 2019 everyone!
Yep, our southern folks are already in the spawn. And it's working it's way north with the sun. The spawn will kick off here, in the smaller waters, in mid-April. Our far northern folks will have to wait until June. The pre-spawn carnage may be some of the best fishing of the year though. Yes, good luck all. It's starts with putting some warm clothes on and getting out the door!
when you thought you knew it all and then you come across a gem like this. Thank you boss.
Hi Jim. Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Once upon a time I thought someday I'd know it ALL! Bru-ha-ha-ha-ha! But, there turned out to be a big big world out there. I now know enough to know that'll I'll die having just scratched the surface. Once I got used to that idea I realized there's just a whole lot more cool stuff to look into than I ever thought.
Bass are pimps lol
They put the ASS in Bass!!!
10/10. This film was very well produced with great cinematography and in depth information. I will probably watch this more than once and feel like this information is fascinating. Thank you so much for your research. I love being able to correlate my own observations out while fishing to a more legitimate scientific study
Thanks, TR. This documentary pulls together what I've read and discussed in the scientific and angling literature, with my own and others observations. So, it's my take on what goes on during the spawn. I'm sure things will be altered and added to as time goes by. That's the nature of knowledge.
I keep coming back to these videos every year.
Great to hear, Kennedy L. Working on getting things back in place after a cross country move. Looking forward to it. Cheers, Paul
WOW!
That was the most amazingly informational Bass video I've ever seen!
I did not see this video on National Geographic.
Thank YOU so much for your time and expertise,
You are very intelligent and truly talented!
Thanks, Jake.
Hey Paul! What a great video! So much information that will be useful on the lake this season. It was great meeting you last weekend, and thanks again for the help with my buddies lure. We are definitely new subscribers! Thanks again!
Hi Rick, and crew. Yes, it was fun meeting you guys. One of the perks of having my video poles handy is being able to clear the "litter" from the trees of our local ponds. :) It was fun arriving right on cue for Aaron's SB. "I just got a call! Someone's got a spinnerbait caught in a tree!" :)
FANTASTIC Video.
I just ran across this Neat Footage.
That's why I don't fish during the Spawn every year. I want the Species of Bass to Survive. It only makes a lake Better.
AWESOME Photography & Documentry on the fish.
Thanks, Rodney. Glad you enjoyed it. There's another documentary on the way, on the development of behavior in LMB.
As to fishing during the spawn... In the northern part of the bass's range, spawning seasons are more apt to be closed to fishing bc of the shorter more intense spawning seasons. In the south, with longer spawning seasons, and less climatic pressures, bass seasons can be year round. Where it's legal, fishing the spawn is a personal choice. For me, I tend to simply leave the males, in particular, alone. I have fished for females though, but haven't in a number of years bc I tend to be shooting video then. And, there is so much good fishing year round that I don't miss fishing the spawn. As I've ended up putting it, "There's less meddlesome fishing to be had". Even during the spawn.
Cheers,
Paul
How am I just now finding this! The first 20 second, or so, opening was captivating. Loved it!
Hi, E Bear. Thanks. Great to hear. The depth of my content doesn’t allow me to upload as often as the YT algorithm would like. So it seems my growth will come by word of mouth. Pass the word. All the best. Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 already have
This a great documentary. I know a lot of hard work went into making this so I greatly appreciate the effort. Well done.
Hi, Michael. Thanks. Appreciate your comment. Glad you enjoyed it. Best, Paul
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this video and I want to thank you for all the hard work you put into it! You have a outstanding channel!
Hi, Pondman. Great to hear. Thanks! Paul
The Nature of Fishing 👍
me being a new bass fisherman I learned so much by watching this video thanks for putting it together!!!!
Daredevle spoons and a decent variety of softball jigs are the best bass baits.
Awesome and educational! Bass is about to spawn here in South Africa, will be on the water this weekend. Will definately take more time to observe before casting. well done and thanks!
Thanks! Very cool. Yeah, the more you know the more interesting things get. Good luck with the catching too.
Awesome video man. Thank you so much for the time you took to do this. Looking forward to the next edition!
Thanks, Matt.
Stumbled upon this video and wow. You did a great job and explained everything so well
Hi, Andre.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. My channel is focused on fish (currently Largemouth Bass) and has 3 "playlists": Documentaries (I've released two, so far); Video Fishing Journals, which are high content, almost documentary-like -meant to be archivable- treatment of actual on-the-water outings; Tackle Know How, that address tackle, considering the fish's perspective.
Feel free to share with like-minded friends.
Cheers, Paul
I've fished for bass my whole life and am sitting here taking notes. Very informative documentary!! Keep em. coming!! I really like the info on the moon phases!
Thanks, Kelly. There's surprisingly little out there that really pulls together ecological info for anglers. It's what's always floated my boat, and made me a better thinker on the water.
FABULOUS documentary! Awesome job from start to finish!
Hi, Stu. Thanks. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps in your fishing. Or, at very least, makes it that much more interesting.
If you haven't already found it, my second documentary continues the story, by following the development of young bass through their first year. The focus again is on their behavior, with special interest in bass' cognitive development -what the world around them "means" to them- setting the stage for future docs on the behavior of adult bass.
And, if you haven't already been around the channel, The Nature of Fishing (TNF) has four playlists:
-Documentaries that give us a better understanding of the fishes themselves, currently focused on LMB;
-Fundamentals that fleshes out important background information on stuff I don't have time to cover in-depth in our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s).
-Fishing Tackle Know-How, where we take an in-depth look at the tools of the trade, taking the fish’s perspective into consideration, and that supports our Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s);
-Video Fishing Journals (VFJ’s), where we hit the water together and decipher the system, and the conditions & circumstances, in front of us. And to put our knowledge and decisions to the test.
TNF is meant to serve as an archive that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal. Things really do cycle around again every year, and each outing adds some new wrinkles to the same basic plan. The more we experience and learn, the more we can get out of re-visiting in-depth content.
Be sure to share with like-minded friends for me.
All the best,
Paul
Wow! Most comprehensive bass video I've ever watched. I believe this will hel0 me in my angling. Thank you.
Hi, Richard. Thanks. Glad to hear. Such info can help in our fishing, and make it more interesting too. More to come. Cheers, Paul.
@@thenatureoffishing7591 do you have any research on what lures/bait works best during those phases?
Hi, Richard. Just my own, and from the angling literature. You can find this sort of info all over the internet. BassResource.com is a very good discussion forum, where you can ask questions and get lots of responses. They have articles too. My Video Fishing Journals on this channel cover the fishing end of things here. Check my VFJ playlist, and maybe start with VFJ17: Tracking the Pre-Spawn to Spawn Transition. Hope this helps get you started. Paul
Excellent and very informative video. Thank you
Hi, Nathan. Glad you liked it. Check out my Documentaries playlist for the follow-up documentary on the development of LMB.
Cheers, Paul
I came across your channel through a comment someone had made on another video. Words will fail anyone who attempts expressing gratitude for the work you've done. Thank you, anyway.
Hi, Peter. Thanks so much. All words are appreciated. Cheers, Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 I tend to obsess about activities that interest me. I've watched hundreds of hours of video and read dozens of books about fishing. Seriouly, you have a gift for sharing your wealth of knowledge. It pains me to think that you have less than 30K subscribers, you should have well over 1M. I'll happily watch your existing videos ad infinitum, but I am curious if you've done any research on any other species?
Thanks, Peter!
Such a great little documentary. I'm so glad I found it.
Hi, Jason. Glad you enjoyed it. Don't forget to share with friends. Cheers, Paul
Will do
Nice video. Very educational and organized. Something you would expect to see in a college course
Hi, DGE. Thanks. I have to be E&O. Otherwise I'd go crazy! :) Feel free to share. More to come. Cheers, Paul
Dude that was awesome. Hats off to you for putting together something like this. The fish on my home waters are in all kinds of different stages of spawn right now and this video helped tremendously to give me a better understanding. Thank you.
Fantastic doc. Very well done and informative. Anyone serious about bass fishing should watch this.
Hi, James. Thanks! Glad you liked it. Be sure to share with friends. Cheers, Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 what's really great is, I too wondered what the heck is going on down there. So, set down the rod n reel, and learn a little! This will equip me much better as a fisherman, and educate me on the ecosystem and intricacies of the bass species! Again, great job and very well done. Very much appreciated!