The Biggest Bass Yet…But It’s Still the Wrong Species

Finally, a bigger fish.

Early in this episode from the Chattahoochee River, I land the largest bass of the trip so far — a fish just over 12 inches long. Unlike many of the earlier hybrids, this one appears to lean much more strongly toward true Spotted Bass ancestry, and I break down the characteristics that point me toward that conclusion.

Spotted bass are great fish to catch…within their native range.

The problem is that this stretch of river historically belonged to native shoal bass, not spotted bass and their hybrids.

As the day continues, I discover a major concentration point: a single tree hanging into current near a rocky current break. In rivers, spots where shade, woody cover, current, and depth all intersect can stack fish together in surprisingly high numbers. Once you find one of these feeding stations, sometimes the best strategy is simple — keep casting until the party ends.

And the fish just keep coming.

But while catching bass is always fun, this situation raises an important conservation question. Spotted bass generally remain much smaller than many of the native black bass they replace. A 15-inch spotted bass is a true giant for the species, yet anglers have intentionally spread these fish far outside their native range across the Southeast.

In many cases, that means replacing native bass capable of reaching 3–4 pounds or more with fish that often top out around a pound.

From both a conservation and fisheries perspective…that’s not exactly a great trade.

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Follow along to see the rest of the series:
Part 1 - https://youtube.com/shorts/7ZlH7PAbfwU
Part 2 - https://youtube.com/shorts/_OK3MkBE28I
Part 3 - https://youtube.com/shorts/QmaKGZAqCXU
Part 4 - https://youtube.com/shorts/N49DQOjuCfY
Part 5 - https://youtube.com/shorts/eXQ5SEJJznU

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#chattahoocheeriver
#bassfishing
#nativebass
#blackbass
#riverfishing
#fishinghistory
#conservation
#blackbassfishing

Видео The Biggest Bass Yet…But It’s Still the Wrong Species канала Black Bass Talk