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Rock Bass fish, its habitats, characteristics, fishing methods.
Rock Bass are one of the most aggressive panfish that hit a huge selection of baits and lures. They strike bait extremely hard all the times. These fish most of the time prefer rocky bottoms, but can be find in weedy or brushy areas. Known as a very strong fish, they are very fun to catch for any anglers from experienced to the younger. The most effective bait when fishing rock bass is a night crawler. Rock Bass are dependable. His spawn time, diet and other habits are always the same.
A combination of understanding the fish and the techniques used to catch them will help you to hook more fish to the end of your line. Better knowing and understanding of the fish that you are trying to catch will make you a more successful angler, whether you are fishing for trout on a river or surfing on the beach or trolling on the open water.
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Rock Bass - Ambloplites rupestris is also known as northern rock bass, rock perch, redeye, redeye bass, goggle eye, and rock sunfish. This freshwater fish is a member of the Sunfish family Centrarchidae, associated to bass because of its rocky habitat. It can be found in all the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River system, in Wisconsin, the upper and middle Mississippi River, and down to Missouri, northern Alabama and Georgia in the south, as well as from Quebec to Saskatchewan in Canada.
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Description
Rock Bass have a very deep and laterally compressed short body, red to orange eyes, large, terminal mouth with protruding lower jaw, body coloring from blackish to silver, with white to silver belly. They have 5 to 7 spines in the anal fin and 10 to 12 spines in the dorsal fin. The mouth of the Rock Bass extends past the red eye making it a fish of its size with a quite large mouth. They have a rounded pectoral fin and the lateral line is similar to that of a Largemouth Bass. Rock Bass have unique dark spots on their scales and across their body that make them appear as if they're banded. They as a largemouth use the lateral line to sense vibrations in the water. Rock Bass are about 6 to 9 inches in length, weighing less than 1 lb, rarely exceed 2 lbs. Rock bass can live as long as 10 years.
Habitats
Their favorite habitat is clear, cool to warm waters, with gravel or rocky bottoms, and some vegetation. Rock Bass species are usually found near rocky shorelines and breakwaters, rocks, logs, and any other place that a smaller fish can hide and look for food. Rock bass are less colorful than the bluegill and the pumpkinseed, but with the ability to change rapidly, its color to silver or blackish to match its surroundings, and preferring clear, vegetated and rocky lake margins and stream pools.
Rock bass are feeding on insects, crayfish, crustaceans and smaller fish. Adult Rock bass may eat heavily, particularly in the evening and early in the morning. Younger species become food for larger predatory fish such as Northern Pike,
Muskellunge and
Large Bass. An unusual characteristic of Rock Bass is their activity during the winter, moving to deeper water, where they normally enter a condition of semi-hibernation.
Rock Bass is frequently seen in groups, particularly near other sunfishes, such as the
Black Crappie,
Bluegill,
Green Sunfish,
Largemouth Bass,
Longear Sunfish,
Spotted Sunfish,
Redear Sunfish,
Warmouth,
White Crappie,
Pumpkinseeds and
Smallmouth Bass.
Spawning
Rock Bass reach mature in 3 years. Before they spawn fish school in deep holes where there is a current or swirl that washes food directly to them. Spawning occurs from April to early July in warm waters ranging from 55° to 65° F (15 to 27°C). Rock bass like to spawn on gravel or sandy substrates. In fact, they prefer an area next to some weeds or next to a rocky patch.
The mails are nest builders use their tail to remove all the garbage from an area about a yard wide. Rock bass have a fecundity rate of 2,000 to 11,000 eggs per female, and males become very aggressive to defend their territory while they attract and hold females. After they spawn the fish will go into deeper water off rocky points. The male is an aggressive nest protector especially from the sunfish, the
Bluegill and
Pumpkinseed Sunfish are famous as egg stealers.
Fishing Methods.
Rock Bass avoid sunlight; it could be easy identified on the shady side of a structure, docks, stick ups, or overhanging trees. Try to fish all the structure; where the water shadows. In a river or stream try to fish under fallen trees, brush growing in the water, underwater logs, stumps, and any shadow places where fish can hide for pray. When fishing in ponds look for Rock Bass in lily pads where fish is hiding. Bottom fishing, still fishing, casting are the best methods using
Casting Rods, light
Carbon Pole Rods and live baits.
Late April is a major time to fish Rock Bass. The most effective baits are night crawler and perch minnows. Excellent live baits include the flexible garden worm, crawfish and hellgrammites. When high heat, look for fish in the shaded areas of water or in deep pools. Rocky bottoms in streams and lakes are usual places for hiding Rock Bass. During the spring and early summer spawn, look for Rock Bass to be in a couple feet of water with a gravel bottom, in the rocks with a small current. Any small lure likely will work well on Rock Bass. A small jig that can be accurately cast into the rock and quickly reeled out will work great. Both wet and dry flies will work well for Rock Bass for the fly fishing. Dry flies tied onto a spinning rig with a float and a casting weight can be very effective also.
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