Delta Bass Don’t Move

For years we’ve heard over and over how brackish-water bass migrate due to changes in salinity, water levels, whatever. That’s bull, as we found out in a semi-recent BassParade Science post.

But in case you don’t believe actual trained biologists, here’s something from a basser, in a recent article in the New Orleans paper:

“Cliff Crochet, from Pierre Part, finished 13th at the Classic in Alabama last year in his first full season on the Elite Series. He didn’t qualify for the 2011 Classic, but he has been fishing the Louisiana delta most of his 27 years. Putting together what he learned fishing his home water and what he learned competing against this field gives him a perspective on what to expect.

“Bass don’t move very far over their whole lives,” Crochet said. “In this area, they might move from one end of a canal to the other or from one little (lagoon) to the next – but that’s about it. I don’t think many of these dudes will be running all over from Caernarvon to Bayou Black looking for fish. There’s just too much water.”

More from Cliff

Hack-like optimism about Classic weights: “This cold winter has been holding those bass back from spawning. This will be the first real warming spell we’ve had, and I think that’s going to turn ’em loose. So anyone who found fish during the open period (before last Dec. 13) will go right back there.”