One of the things I have been pondering is the statement made by someone here that 50% of bass never bite a lure/hook. Some of us have hook shy fish. Is that really genetic or is it more common to hatchery raised fish? Or is it a learned behavior? According to some posters with larger water holes, their efforts at balancing bass heavy ponds has gotten stymied by the learned behavior of their bass. I figured it was only common to small ponds but evidently not. I know that some research is being done by taking bass caught from a pond and removing them to another pond and then catching them and their progeny for further removal to a third pond and so on. Thus, they raise and maybe sell bass that can actually be caught. I don't know the status of these efforts.
A couple of considerations: Eastland started his stocking with larger fish caught elsewhere and he still catches fish. Heck, maybe he is just a better fisherman than I am. But, this might be the previously mentioned genetics. He just didn't stock any non biting fish at the start. On the other hand, Greg Grimes has observed that pellet fed bass are conditioned to feeding on non natural foods and bite lures quicker than non fed fish. This must be learned behavior but he might be only feeding and catching the 50% that will take non natural forage foods. Norm reports that his guests often catch the same fish multiple times. That argues for genetics or maybe just stupidity. I surmise that when a huge bass is caught, it may have been genetically inclined against biting but finally made a mistake due to hunger or just native agressiveness. Cecil reports on another thread that his larger bass flee at the sight of a fishing pole. I consider that fascinating and is obviously learned behavior.
When George and ML hooked me on fly fishing, I readily caught everything on pellet flies and a black midge. That ended. Must be learned behavior because catfish and bluegills all still feed voraciously on pellets. Maybe I need to build a pellet fly without a hook to see whether they are seeing the hook or the line (strings attached) or have learned to ignore a pellet that just doesn't smell right. I tried soaking pellet flies in fish oil vitamins and they wouldn't touch it.
Are there any observations that small fish learn caution from their larger brethren?
Where are they on this study? If anyone has info on this, please bring it, send it or post it.
I would prefer dumb fish.
