Entry 12 - Science Behind Bass Fishing

One of my favorite hobbies is fishing. I'm sure when the first fish was caught, that individual didn't know what, when, or where each type of fish would bite consistently. With one click of a mouse, there are videos and websites with an abundance of information for every fish imaginable. I’ve listed below some ways that Science can relate to fishing.

Observing - characteristics, properties, differences, similarities, and changes of each type of fish caught (small mouth bass's upper jaw does not extend beyond back of the eye, and a large mouth bass's upper jaw extends far beyond the back of the eye)

Classifying - grouping or ordering objects or events according to differences or similarities (graphing or listing characteristics of different kinds of fish)

Measuring - Comparing and recording (weight and length of different fishes )

Inferring - Interpreting or explaining the findings of the observations (certain fish bites when weather is hot, and not when it's cold based on experience fishing in different temperatures)

Predicting - Form an idea of an expected result based on findings of observations, classifying, measuring, and inferring. (predicting due to a certain bait, weather conditions, and time of day, that a certain fish can be caught)

Communicating - Using written and spoken work to transmit information and ideas to others. (gathering information from other fisherman to maximize data and ideas)

Using Number Relationships - Apply mathematical relationships to make decisions. (after observing, classifying, measuring, inferring, predicting, and communicating all ideas and data, mathematical number relationships will form and can be recorded)

Can Bass Remember Lures?

More than 40 years ago, two studies attributed the declining catch rates of largemouth bass in small ponds to their ability to learn. More recent research has found that fishing quickly affects the trout catch rate, too. However, is it possible for a creature with a brain the size of a No. 22 dry fly to outsmart an angler? A University of Florida study published in 2012 seems to have actually measured the bass learning curve. Graduate students began their investigation by first electro-shocking and tagging 347 bass measuring more than 10 inches. Then they went fishing, plying the waters of a 26-acre lake for 12 days over a four-week period, using only lipless crankbaits and soft stickbaits.

The catch rate with the crankbait quickly fell from 2.5 to 0.5 bass per angler hour after only three days of fishing. The catch rate on the stickbait also declined, but much more slowly—from 1.8 bass per angler hour at the start of the experiment to 1 bass per hour after 12 fishing hours. Not only did the bass appear to learn to avoid capture, but they learned to ignore the stimulus-rich rattling crankbait faster than the subtle and silent stickbait. Yes, fishing gets expensive if you want to keep up with the bass learning curve.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/2015/03/fishing-findings-new-science-might-help-you-catch-more%E2%80%94and-bigger%E2%80%94fish