An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their physical environment, functioning as a unit. An ecosystem includes abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components, ranging from a tiny puddle to the entire planet. Components of an ecosystem include plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms, and Bass. Abiotic components include sunlight, temperature, water, rocks, and soil. Together, these components form a complex web of relationships, an autonomous system. Ecosystems are essential for the survival of all living things and constantly change in response to external forces. Understanding and putting the pieces together about the ecosystem you are fishing in will help you catch more fish and be a more successful fisherman! Fishing is 80% mental and 20% physical. Figure out the puzzle for that day, and you will catch fish.

You should know the five senses of a bass: Sight, hearing & feeling, smell and taste. A bass is primarily a sight feeder. The Bass must see your lure. Bass can see color. They have cones and rods, like human beings, so that they can see color. We don’t know precisely how well they see specific colors. Bass eyes are very sensitive to light. They can see much better at night and in dark situations. They can see multiple times better than human beings. If you can see 3 feet in the water, they can likely see roughly 15. Natural colors like brown and green pumpkins in clear water are essential. Black and blue are good color choices for most darker conditions. Dirty water reflects the particles in the water and reduces visibility for all. I think Black/Blue, chartreuse, and reds are good darker choices. Gold blades in dirty water are a good choice. Bass can see left, right, front, and above but not below. When casting, think about how the Bass would see your lure.

Hearing and feeling are the second senses to think about. Sound and feeling are to attract their attention. When something hits the water, a pressure wave is created and pushed through the water. That pressure wave hits the Bass. The Bass has an organ called an Otolith, like an ear combined with a lateral line. The lateral line runs down the body, and senses sound or water pressure. They also have an air bladder. Think of a bubble of air. It controls the bass buoyancy. Remember that the bass is still a sight feeder, so the sound of the lure is meant to get the bass’s attention. You want them to search for your bait. You want it to see and eat your bait when they look for it. Being quiet on the water is extremely important because the noise in the boat makes noise in the water. Sound does not transfer completely between mediums because of mismatched densities. Most low level sounds do not transfer into the water from the air, so it is ok to talk but keep it quiet. 

A bass can smell and taste, and it is a lower importance sense for a bass. They complement the other senses. On the other hand, catfish are loaded with smell and taste sensors, but this blog is not about catfish. A bass has two nostril-like sensors and can taste things when they are inside its mouth. Bass discern taste swiftly, deciding to accept or reject with more haste than an angler can manage to set the hook. Scents applied to your baits can help get that extra bite or help a bass stay on just a second longer for you to set the hook. When the Bass bites your lure, it will also feel and taste better when your bait is in its mouth. Try to appeal to all five senses. 

Bass are cold-blooded. Therefore, they will generally be more lethargic in cold water, and their metabolism will be slower. Therefore, they will not have to eat as much. When the water warms up, the Bass warms up. This means they will have a faster metabolism and need to eat more. Keep that in mind when you are out there trying to figure out the Bass when you are out on the water.

Spawning cycles are HUGELY important to understand and figure out when you are on the water. Generally spring every year is the spawning season. This controls most of what they do. Pre-Spawn: This phase begins when bass move from their wintering locations to search for suitable spawning areas as water temperatures raises. Spawn: This is the actual spawning period when the female bass move to the flats to lay eggs. The males will prepared the nests, and the females join to lay eggs which are then fertilized. Post-Spawn: After spawning, bass enter the post-spawn period. This stage involves recovery from the spawning process, and bass may be less aggressive and can still be caught. They will need to eat to recover.

The water they live in significantly affects their mood and feeding pattern. Pay attention to the oxygen levels in the water. Cold water holds more oxygen, and warm water contains less.

Water temperature is critical in the Spring and Fall. The fish will get more active when things warm up in early spring. Largemouth bass will move to shallow waters to spawn when the water temperature generally reaches 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range is ideal for Bass to spawn and lay their eggs. Bass will usually spawn in the Northwest side of lakes and the upper areas of reservoirs, which tend to be slightly warmer than other lake areas. After a warm rain, Bass often spawn in shallow creek arms with wood and weed cover. During the pre-spawn period, largemouth Bass will start moving in from the depths closer to the shallow flats they will use as their spawning areas when the water temperature warms. The temperature and daylight increase makes the difference. Remember, the surface temperature of the water only really matters in shallow water. In deeper water, the temperature of the lake changes much slower. Temperature is the most important in the transitions of spring and fall. It is generally better to have a water temperature that is increasing versus a water temperature that is decreasing due to cold fronts. This will help indicate how fast you should be fishing. Cooling water means slowing down and finesse fishing with things like jigs, ned rigs, shaky heads and drop shots. Warming water generally means speeding up, so try spinner bait and swim jigs. 

A thermocline is a layer of water in lakes where the temperature changes. It is the transition layer between warmer water at the lake’s surface and cooler deep water below the warm water in the summer. In the thermocline, temperature decreases rapidly from the mixed upper layer of the lake to much colder deep water in the thermocline. At the thermocline in summer, algae may bloom, zooplankton will eat the algae, and baitfish will eat the zooplankton. These schools of baitfish attract larger fish like Bass. This is usually around 25 feet or so. In the fall in northern lakes, the upper water layer cools when it becomes colder than the lower layer. The lake flips, called a fall turnover; the lower water layer moves up, and the upper layer moves down. During this time fishing can be tough.

Pay attention to your surroundings. For example, try those locations where birds chase baitfish, or if you find baitfish on your sonar, try there. Look for the birds on the lake. They are there for a reason, it could be baitfish!

Weather is a BIG factor when fishing. Monitor the weather before you decide to go out. Stable warming weather is generally better. Cooling weather means typically you want to slow down and finesse fish. The wind is another factor. The wind breaks and moves the water’s surface. This adds oxygen and pushes water into a shoreline, making current. This stirs the water against that windblown shore, which moves the zooplankton against the windblown shore. The baitfish will likely be on that windblown shore, so the Bass will likely be there, too. They could also be on the protected shore. Remember they don't feel wind only the effects of the winds on the water. 

Some more ecology tips:

• Cover—Bass can see better than humans. They see great in dark light or shade, better than baitfish. Try targeting cover with shade. Bass will use that to their advantage to ambush their prey.
• Sometimes, don’t match the hatch—give the Bass something slightly different from the baitfish they are gorging on.
• Current – The Bass will likely face the flowing current. This is because their gills are designed to flow water from their mouth, over their gills, and out the back of their gills. Keep that in mind when deciding on your cast.
• Turnover – During turnover, try moving to another part of the lake. The lake turns over at different times based on the water temperature. The north and west parts of the lake heat up most, and first. The southeast part of the lake may be the first to turnover.
• Try fishing shallow. Bass are generally shallow many times during the year. They move up to warm up, feed, mate, or leverage cover. There are always fish that don't follow these generalities. 
• Watch Birds and Baitfish – Birds are eating and searching for bait, and so will the bass. 
• Take whatever bite the fish gives you, and pay attention to the ecosystem when and where that bite happened. It could unlock the puzzle of the pattern that works for the day.
• Feeding times vary—pay attention and be patient. Sometimes, you have the right lure and technique, but the feeding time may not be just right.
• No one knows it all. Try stuff out and get out there. Spending time with a pole in your hand in nature is one of the best ways to learn and gain confidence. Some things will not be explained to you; you have to feel them. Get out there, explore, and make memories. 
• Take care of nature – We want to all fish tomorrow. What you carry in, you carry out. If you see trash that should not be there, remove it. Never leave your junk or harmful things in nature.