Good books on bass brains?

On 23 Aug 2006 09:47:28 -0700, "fishtale"
puked:

Chris
Take a look at Trophy Bass An Angler's Guide by Larry Larsen when your
not on the water. Technically bass don't think; they react
instinctively to stimuli.

If that's the case, I'm interested in how they react. I'm relatively
new to bass fishing, but I'm pretty sure that there's a lot to learn
with regard to fish physiology and whatnot that could lend itself to
more successful fishing.

Sure, I know I'm overthinking this, but I'd rather learn than guess...





Chris Rennert wrote:
Knowing Bass by Keith Jones is right along those lines.
lab~rat :-) wrote:
I'm looking for some good books on how a bass thinks. You know,
something along the lines of how they hunt for food, where they are
during different weather conditions, all of those good things.

Does anyone have any good recommendations or which books are a waste
of time? Again, I'm really looking to learn more how the fish thinks,
specifically large mouths in Florida.

Thanks...
--
lab~rat :-)
Do you want polite or do you want sincere?

--
lab~rat :-)
Do you want polite or do you want sincere?

Chris Rennert wrote:
Rich,
I'm not going to disagree with a textbook definition, but doesn't this
just come down to semantics?

I don't think it's semantics at all. They are two very different mechnaisms.

...this gene pool will pass down their
experiences so there will be a generation that will eventually be inborn
with new patterns based on those experiences.

I think we have a major different of opinion there. I do not for one
instant believe that a bass that learns to avoid biting chartreuse DB3s
because it was caught on that lure three times, passes on that aquired
knowledge to successive generations. This is a gross oversimplification,
but I do believe that the stress of being caught (3 times, no less)
might shorten the lifespan of this bass that has, for whatever reson, a
tendency to strike the chartreuse DB3. In a shorter life span, this bass
will produce fewer offspring. If the weakness for that lure was
particularly strong in this bass for some reason that was based on
instinct, then there will be fewer bass born in succeeding year classes
that carry that particular gene. He didn't pass on the aquired trait, he
just stopped passing on the instinctive self destructive behavior sooner.

This is probably getting way past what the original poster was
requesting, but makes for interesting conversation. I think my sticking
point on this whole argument is the fact that you seem to be completely
rejecting evolution as a viable theory, and if it conflicts with your
belief system I am cool with that and we will leave it that we will just
disagree on the subject.

What constitutes environmental stimuli? Maybe being hooked by the
Chart. crank bait 3 times will not effect future generations, but what
about 50, or 100, or say 1000 times?
Actually...this conversation is really pointless for the simple fact
that none of us will be alive to see the results of what we do today, or
even did 50 years ago. I do believe bass do not worry think about what
they are going to do 2 seconds from any given moment let alone think
about how it will respond if a chartreuse crank bait hits the water in
front of it. I also believe that 50,000 (just an arbitrary figure)
years ago we didn't worry about anything until it was right in front of
us either. I have a hard time believing intelligent design developed
the bass the way it is and that is how it will be tomorrow or 50, 100,
1000 years from now. But I digress and dismount from my hypothetical
soap box.
Lab-Rat, I am sorry for my rant and if you want to catch bass just go
out and pay attention to details, they have basic needs for survival.
Mimic nature, if there is a group of healthy shad swimming around an
area throw a bait similar to the shad, but make your stand out, make it
seem injured (just different). Presentation is the key, keep your
presence hidden from them as much as possible and present baits and
naturally as possible, then if you still are not catching fish take
everything I said and do the complete opposite, because some days that
will load the boat when nothing else will. You can read all the books
in the world, you can sit for story time on Charles Darwin's lap, but it
will not catch you any fish at all until you apply it yourself. Good
luck and keep us posted, and please continue asking questions.

Chris
RichZ wrote:
Chris Rennert wrote:
Rich,
I'm not going to disagree with a textbook definition, but doesn't this
just come down to semantics?

I don't think it's semantics at all. They are two very different
mechnaisms.

...this gene pool will pass down their
experiences so there will be a generation that will eventually be
inborn with new patterns based on those experiences.

I think we have a major different of opinion there. I do not for one
instant believe that a bass that learns to avoid biting chartreuse DB3s
because it was caught on that lure three times, passes on that aquired
knowledge to successive generations. This is a gross oversimplification,
but I do believe that the stress of being caught (3 times, no less)
might shorten the lifespan of this bass that has, for whatever reson, a
tendency to strike the chartreuse DB3. In a shorter life span, this bass
will produce fewer offspring. If the weakness for that lure was
particularly strong in this bass for some reason that was based on
instinct, then there will be fewer bass born in succeeding year classes
that carry that particular gene. He didn't pass on the aquired trait, he
just stopped passing on the instinctive self destructive behavior sooner.

On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:19:52 GMT, Chris Rennert
puked:

Lab-Rat, I am sorry for my rant and if you want to catch bass just go
out and pay attention to details, they have basic needs for survival.
Mimic nature, if there is a group of healthy shad swimming around an
area throw a bait similar to the shad, but make your stand out, make it
seem injured (just different). Presentation is the key, keep your
presence hidden from them as much as possible and present baits and
naturally as possible, then if you still are not catching fish take
everything I said and do the complete opposite, because some days that
will load the boat when nothing else will. You can read all the books
in the world, you can sit for story time on Charles Darwin's lap, but it
will not catch you any fish at all until you apply it yourself. Good
luck and keep us posted, and please continue asking questions.

I appreciate what you're saying. The folks I have been fishing with
have taught me a lot, but I just think I need to bring it to the next
level, and they don't seem to be with me.

For instance, before fishing I did a lot of birding, so I'm really
aware of what's going on above the water. It's been my experience
that if there are birds patrolling the area for smaller fish,
generally larger fish (ie bass) are present. Same for alligators, it
only makes sense. These animals hunt food for a living.

There were times when we have gone out to the 'Glades and the locks
were open and the current was running strong through the canals and
nothing. I feel like understanding the way bass hunt for food and
conduct their lives can only add to the cumulative skills of an
angler.

I'm accused of over thinking things all the time...
--
lab~rat :-)
Do you want polite or do you want sincere?

Fish have been depicted as thinking entities in movies such as Jaws and
Jaws 2. There is a few novels where muskies are depicted as thinking
entities (2 in my fishing library). Further, I've had salmon on the
line that tried to hang me up in the weeds or a snag. Often you think
that they had a well thought out plan to hang you up. Even if it
results in the fish being tethered and worse off since I woulf have
released it.