Depth
How often does it hold at this depth, in this season?
Rare · Regular · Core
Spring
Ice-out through the spawn and recovery — warming water
| Largemouth Bass | Smallmouth Bass | Walleye | Northern Pike | Muskellunge (Muskie) | Trout (Rainbow · Brook · Lake) | Yellow Perch | Crappie | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth the fish holds at | ||||||||
| 0–1 m (0–3 ft) | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | Regular — Broadcast spawn in shallow water — commonly less than 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) | Core — Spawns in flooded marsh so shallow that the fish show their backs | Regular — Spawning pairs cruise in under 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft); fish sun in skinny water | Regular — Ice-out lakers sometimes cruise water you could wade; brookies wake at 7–10 °C (45–50 °F) | Regular — Egg ribbons are draped in roughly 0.5–3 m (2–10 ft) | Regular — Stained water: nests sit at 0.3–1 m (1–3 ft), tight to visible cover |
| 1–3 m (3–10 ft) | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | Core — Spawns usually shallower than 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft), at night, at 6–10 °C (43–50 °F) | Core — Post-spawn weed flats in 1–3 m (3–10 ft) — every size class shallow together | Core — Post-spawn: still shallow on new weed growth in 1–4 m (3.3–13 ft) | Core — Laker: under 5 m (16 ft) at ice-out · lake rainbows and brookies cruise 1–4 m (3–13 ft) | Core — Spawns in roughly 1–4 m (3–13 ft) of weedy bay | Core — Nests usually 0.5–2 m (1.6–6.5 ft); in clear lakes 2–4 m (6–13 ft) |
| 3–6 m (10–20 ft) | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | Core — Recovering females come back along 2–5 m (6–16 ft) transitions at 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) | Regular — First drop-off outside a spawning marsh — arguably the best trophy pattern | Regular — New weed growth down to 4 m (13 ft) in and just outside the spawning bays | Regular — Laker: ice-out fish in less than 5 m (16 ft), catchable from shore | Core — Post-spawn schools spread onto 2–6 m (6–20 ft) weed flats within days | Core — Staging breaks at 3–6 m (10–20 ft) outside the bays; loaded at about 12 °C (54 °F) |
| 6–10 m (20–33 ft) | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | Rare | Presque jamais | Presque jamais | Rare | Rare | Rare |
| 10–15 m (33–49 ft) | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | Presque jamais | Presque jamais | Presque jamais | Regular — Laker: past ~13–15 °C (55–59 °F) at the surface it stages on 10–20 m (33–66 ft) structure | Presque jamais | Presque jamais |
| 15–25 m (49–82 ft) | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | Presque jamais | Presque jamais | Presque jamais — Hangs over 15–30 m (50–100 ft) basins but rides 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down — never the floor | Regular — Laker: by early summer commonly 15–25 m (49–82 ft), following smelt and cisco | Presque jamais | Presque jamais — Below its band: even southern winter timber tops out near 15 m (49 ft); deep fish rarely survive release |
| 25 m+ (82 ft+) | — — Not a routine search recommendation. This matrix cannot establish absence or frequency at extreme depth; require local evidence. | — — Not a routine search recommendation. This matrix cannot establish absence or frequency at extreme depth; require local evidence. | Presque jamais — Over deep basins it rides 6–15 m (20–49 ft) down — the floor is too cold, often airless | Presque jamais — Lake trout water — even cisco-lake giants stay near the thermocline, typically 8–15 m (25–50 ft) | Presque jamais — Uses deep basins without going deep in them — suspends 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down | Presque jamais | Presque jamais — Not perch fishing anywhere — a daylight sight-feeder with a sealed swim bladder | Presque jamais — Far below its band — the depth that matters is the fish's, not the bottom's |
| Position in the water column | ||||||||
| Suspended off bottom | — — Follow observed suspended forage and fish, rather than assuming every bass must stay on bottom. | — — Follow observed suspended forage and fish, rather than assuming every bass must stay on bottom. | Rare — Post-spawn fish work shallow flats near bottom; suspending starts with summer | Presque jamais | Rare | Rare | Presque jamais | Rare |
| Tight to bottom | — — Bottom prey and useful rock or weed cover can favour bottom-oriented fish; other individuals may feed higher. | — — Bottom prey and useful rock or weed cover can favour bottom-oriented fish; other individuals may feed higher. | Regular — A jig-and-minnow worked slowly through the staging holes is the whole playbook | Rare — Forward, upward-biased eyes — it takes baits above it far more readily than below | Rare | Regular — Stream trout rest in the slow layer along the bed, where food drifts · Laker: often belly-to-bottom between raids | Core — Feeds tipped nose-down on the bottom; the strike zone is within ≈ 0.5 m (1–2 ft) of it | Rare — Hovers mid-column by default — after a cold front the school sinks toward the basin floor |
Summer
Local warming and habitat use; stratification varies among waters.
| Largemouth Bass | Smallmouth Bass | Walleye | Northern Pike | Muskellunge (Muskie) | Trout (Rainbow · Brook · Lake) | Yellow Perch | Crappie | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth the fish holds at | ||||||||
| 0–1 m (0–3 ft) | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | — — A 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft) rock flat can be productive when temperature, light, cover/current and food suit fish; test beyond dawn. | Rare | Rare | Presque jamais | Rare | Rare | Presque jamais |
| 1–3 m (3–10 ft) | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | Regular — Dusk, after dark and first light: slides up into less than 2 m (6.6 ft) | Regular — Lives in the top few metres — but past ~21 °C (70 °F) mostly small and mid-size fish | Regular — Structure fish on weed edges and rock bars in 2–6 m (7–20 ft) | Rare | Regular — Small fish graze the shallow end of 2–6 m (6–20 ft) weed flats | Rare |
| 3–6 m (10–20 ft) | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | Core — Top of the 3–10 m (10–33 ft) structure band — the dusk floor | Core — Deep weedline at 2–5 m (7–16 ft); trophies use deep weed edges in 3–6 m (10–20 ft) | Core — The casting fish: weed edges, rock bars and points in 2–6 m (7–20 ft) | Rare | Core — Small and mid-size fish: 2–6 m (6–20 ft) weed flats; release works fine under 5–6 m (16–20 ft) | Core — The band is often 1–2 m (3–7 ft) thick, somewhere around 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| 6–10 m (20–33 ft) | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | Core — Heart of the 3–10 m (10–33 ft) band; thermocline layer commonly 6–12 m (20–39 ft) | Regular — Mid-latitudes: big females (75 cm (30 in) up) go down to 8–15 m (25–50 ft) | Core — Cisco lakes: giants suspend at 5–12 m (16–39 ft) over basins of 15–30 m (50–100 ft) | Regular — Lake rainbow: thermocline edge, typically 6–12 m (20–39 ft), best at dawn | Core — Jumbos: flats, shell beds and basin edges in 6–12 m (20–40 ft) | Core — Schools suspend 4–8 m (13–26 ft) down over 10–15 m (33–50 ft) of water |
| 10–15 m (33–49 ft) | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | Regular — Clear or cisco lakes pull fish below 10 m (33 ft); deeper than that is a keep decision | Regular — Mid-latitudes: big females follow cisco and whitefish down to 8–15 m (25–50 ft) | Regular — Bait and giants stack near the thermocline, often 8–12 m (26–39 ft) | Regular — Lake rainbow to 12 m (39 ft); lakers this shallow only at 50°N-plus | Regular — Jumbo flats run to 12 m (40 ft), pinned just above the thermocline | Rare |
| 15–25 m (49–82 ft) | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | Rare — From 15 m (50 ft) and beyond, release survival drops seriously | Rare — Only clear cisco lakes with oxygen in the cold layer — 8–15 m (25–50 ft) is the usual floor | Presque jamais — Hangs over 15–30 m (50–100 ft) basins but rides 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down — never the floor | Core — Laker: the 8–12 °C (46–54 °F) stratum — typically 20–30 m (66–98 ft) at mid-latitudes | Rare — Most lakes end at 12 m (40 ft); only big clear water carries feeding light deeper | Presque jamais — Below its band: even southern winter timber tops out near 15 m (49 ft); deep fish rarely survive release |
| 25 m+ (82 ft+) | — — Not a routine search recommendation. This matrix cannot establish absence or frequency at extreme depth; require local evidence. | — — Not a routine search recommendation. This matrix cannot establish absence or frequency at extreme depth; require local evidence. | Presque jamais — Over deep basins it rides 6–15 m (20–49 ft) down — the floor is too cold, often airless | Presque jamais — Lake trout water — even cisco-lake giants stay near the thermocline, typically 8–15 m (25–50 ft) | Presque jamais — Uses deep basins without going deep in them — suspends 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down | Core — Laker: midsummer at 20–30 m (66–98 ft), sometimes deeper — below the thermocline | Presque jamais — Not perch fishing anywhere — a daylight sight-feeder with a sealed swim bladder | Presque jamais — Far below its band — the depth that matters is the fish's, not the bottom's |
| Position in the water column | ||||||||
| Suspended off bottom | — — Follow observed suspended forage and fish, rather than assuming every bass must stay on bottom. | — — Follow observed suspended forage and fish, rather than assuming every bass must stay on bottom. | Regular — Pelagic crowd at 6–15 m (20–49 ft) over water twice that deep — trollers' fish | Regular — Mid-latitude big females suspend along the thermocline with cisco and whitefish | Core — Rises through the whole column from over a 10 m (33 ft) basin to crush a topwater | Regular — Laker: holds the band, raids bait above it and drops back | Presque jamais | Core — Default state: hovering motionless at one exact depth — 4 m (13 ft) down over 10 m (33 ft) |
| Tight to bottom | — — Bottom prey and useful rock or weed cover can favour bottom-oriented fish; other individuals may feed higher. | — — Bottom prey and useful rock or weed cover can favour bottom-oriented fish; other individuals may feed higher. | Core — Bright, calm, clear midday: goes deep and glues to bottom shadow | Rare — Forward, upward-biased eyes — it takes baits above it far more readily than below | Rare — Eyes set high, attacks upward — holds beside or over cover; baits run above it get eaten | Regular — Stream trout rest in the slow layer along the bed, where food drifts · Laker: often belly-to-bottom between raids | Core — Feeds tipped nose-down on the bottom; the strike zone is within ≈ 0.5 m (1–2 ft) of it | Rare — Hovers mid-column by default — after a cold front the school sinks toward the basin floor |
Fall
Cooling, prey and cover changes; basins may mix at different times.
| Largemouth Bass | Smallmouth Bass | Walleye | Northern Pike | Muskellunge (Muskie) | Trout (Rainbow · Brook · Lake) | Yellow Perch | Crappie | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth the fish holds at | ||||||||
| 0–1 m (0–3 ft) | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | Rare | Rare | Presque jamais | Rare | Presque jamais | Presque jamais |
| 1–3 m (3–10 ft) | — — Cold Canadian open water can still hold large fish in useful 2–3 m (7–10 ft) weeds with prey. Not a fixed catch-depth rule. | — — Keep shallow cover and prey in the search when local conditions suit fish; noon and summer do not exclude it. | Core — Big females on 1–3 m (3–10 ft) rock after dark, right to ice-up | Core — At 7–13 °C (45–55 °F) the biggest females are shallow again, until ice | Regular — Ciscoes push shallow onto rock to spawn and the giant females follow them in | Core — Laker and brook trout spawn shallow — laker shoals start at 1 m (3 ft); everything feeds shallow | Rare | Regular — Turnover: dock, brush and timber fish in 2–5 m (6.5–16 ft) keep biting |
| 3–6 m (10–20 ft) | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | Regular — After turnover fish can be at 3 m (10 ft) or 15 m (50 ft) | Core — Big fish slide up onto deep weed edges, rock points and flats | Regular — The last green weed — deep cabbage stays alive longest | Core — Laker: rocky shoals and reef tops in 2–10 m (6–33 ft), spawning at night | Regular — First stop: the last green deep weedline, before the 6–10 m (20–33 ft) flats | Regular — Early fall: 3–6 m (10–20 ft) brush, channel bends and bridge pilings load up |
| 6–10 m (20–33 ft) | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | — — Check usable structure, cover and forage here, alongside shallower and deeper alternatives; not a prescribed seasonal band. | Regular — Daytime schools start at 8 m (26 ft) on steep breaks; release freely above ~8 m (26 ft) | Rare | Regular — Steep breaks near deep water — oversized rubber crawled down the drop-offs | Regular — Laker: the spawning shoals reach down to 10 m (33 ft) | Core — Hard-bottom flats at 6–10 m (20–33 ft), then shell and gravel at 8–12 m (26–40 ft) | Core — Regroups on deep structure, typically 6–12 m (20–39 ft); late fall 6–10 m (20–33 ft) |
| 10–15 m (33–49 ft) | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | Core — Daytime: tight-grouped fish on steep breaks at 8–15 m (26–50 ft) | Rare | Rare | Core — Laker: climbs to 10–20 m (33–66 ft) as surface falls 15 °C (59 °F) → 12 °C (54 °F) | Regular — Shell and gravel to 12 m (40 ft); at 10 m+ (33 ft+) these are keep-decisions | Regular — Late-fall schools at 8–12 m (26–39 ft), deeper in clear northern lakes |
| 15–25 m (49–82 ft) | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | — — Possible where the waterbody, oxygen and prey support it; do not infer occupancy from the season. Plan for deep-water release risks. | Rare | Presque jamais | Presque jamais — Hangs over 15–30 m (50–100 ft) basins but rides 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down — never the floor | Regular — Laker: intercept the climb at 12–20 m (40–66 ft) before turnover finishes the job | Rare — Great Lakes and the largest clear lakes: late-fall schools past 15 m (49 ft) — every fish a keeper | Presque jamais — Below its band: even southern winter timber tops out near 15 m (49 ft); deep fish rarely survive release |
| 25 m+ (82 ft+) | — — Not a routine search recommendation. This matrix cannot establish absence or frequency at extreme depth; require local evidence. | — — Not a routine search recommendation. This matrix cannot establish absence or frequency at extreme depth; require local evidence. | Presque jamais — Over deep basins it rides 6–15 m (20–49 ft) down — the floor is too cold, often airless | Presque jamais — Lake trout water — even cisco-lake giants stay near the thermocline, typically 8–15 m (25–50 ft) | Presque jamais — Uses deep basins without going deep in them — suspends 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down | Rare | Presque jamais — Not perch fishing anywhere — a daylight sight-feeder with a sealed swim bladder | Presque jamais — Far below its band — the depth that matters is the fish's, not the bottom's |
| Position in the water column | ||||||||
| Suspended off bottom | — — Follow observed suspended forage and fish, rather than assuming every bass must stay on bottom. | — — Follow observed suspended forage and fish, rather than assuming every bass must stay on bottom. | Rare | Rare | Regular — Suspended giants are in transit toward structure; baits run above marks still get eaten | Core — Laker turnover scatter: mid-column with bait, 3 m (10 ft) down over 40 m (131 ft) | Presque jamais | Regular — Scattered for weeks — some still suspended, some drifting toward structure |
| Tight to bottom | — — Bottom prey and useful rock or weed cover can favour bottom-oriented fish; other individuals may feed higher. | — — Bottom prey and useful rock or weed cover can favour bottom-oriented fish; other individuals may feed higher. | Regular — Post-front fish slide down a contour or two and tighten to bottom | Rare — Forward, upward-biased eyes — it takes baits above it far more readily than below | Regular — Late-fall fish lie low along steep breaks — oversized rubber crawled down the drop-offs | Regular — Stream trout rest in the slow layer along the bed, where food drifts · Laker: often belly-to-bottom between raids | Core — Feeds tipped nose-down on the bottom; the strike zone is within ≈ 0.5 m (1–2 ft) of it | Rare — Hovers mid-column by default — after a cold front the school sinks toward the basin floor |
Winter
Cold-water and ice conditions depend on location; follow the actual waterbody.
| Largemouth Bass | Smallmouth Bass | Walleye | Northern Pike | Muskellunge (Muskie) | Trout (Rainbow · Brook · Lake) | Yellow Perch | Crappie | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth the fish holds at | ||||||||
| 0–1 m (0–3 ft) | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Presque jamais | Presque jamais | Presque jamais | Rare | Presque jamais | Presque jamais |
| 1–3 m (3–10 ft) | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Rare | Core — Weedy bays and flats in 1.5–4.5 m (5–15 ft) near remaining green weed | Presque jamais | Regular — Rainbow/Brook under the ice: 1.5–5 m (5–16 ft) over the first break | Regular — Late ice, Feb–Mar (Canada, northern US): jumbos stage on 2–6 m (6–20 ft) flats | Presque jamais |
| 3–6 m (10–20 ft) | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Rare | Regular — Weed flats down to 4.5 m (15 ft) and the adjacent breaks | Rare | Regular — Laker: can be shockingly shallow under first ice — anywhere from 3 m (10 ft) | Regular — Late ice: staging flats and breaklines at 2–6 m (6–20 ft) outside weedy bays | Regular — First ice in 3–8 m (10–26 ft); basin fish hover 2–5 m (7–16 ft) off bottom |
| 6–10 m (20–33 ft) | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Core — Basin edges, points and flats in roughly 6–12 m (20–39 ft), shallower on dark water | Regular — Midwinter: shifts to the deeper flats where perch schools winter — perch flats run 6–12 m (20–40 ft) | Core — Moderate basins and deep flats, often 5–12 m (16–39 ft); moves little | Regular — Laker: hunts baitfish over 5–20 m (16–66 ft) structure | Core — Soft-bottom basin flats in 6–12 m (20–40 ft), all winter | Core — Release only from under about 9 m (30 ft) — don't ice-fish the deepest holes |
| 10–15 m (33–49 ft) | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Regular — 10 m+ (33 ft+) is a common ice-season basin depth — keep what you catch, don't sort | Rare | Regular — Deep flats to 12 m (39 ft); from 10–12 m (33–39 ft) it usually equalizes — never fizz | Core — Laker: 5–20 m (16–66 ft) structure, fished aggressively — vents gas on the way up | Regular — Basin flats to 12 m (40 ft); a deep perch is a kept perch | Regular — Ice-free south: deep timber at 8–15 m (26–49 ft) — fish from 10 m+ (33 ft+) bloat |
| 15–25 m (49–82 ft) | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Rare | Presque jamais | Presque jamais — Hangs over 15–30 m (50–100 ft) basins but rides 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down — never the floor | Regular — Laker: under the ice anywhere from 3 to 30 m (10 to 98 ft) | Rare — Big clear water only: schools winter past 15 m (49 ft); from 10 m (33 ft) down, keep what you catch | Presque jamais — Below its band: even southern winter timber tops out near 15 m (49 ft); deep fish rarely survive release |
| 25 m+ (82 ft+) | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Presque jamais — Over deep basins it rides 6–15 m (20–49 ft) down — the floor is too cold, often airless | Presque jamais — Lake trout water — even cisco-lake giants stay near the thermocline, typically 8–15 m (25–50 ft) | Presque jamais — Uses deep basins without going deep in them — suspends 5–12 m (16–39 ft) down | Rare — Laker: to 30 m (98 ft) — one ripped up from 25 m (82 ft) burps gas, swims down | Presque jamais — Not perch fishing anywhere — a daylight sight-feeder with a sealed swim bladder | Presque jamais — Far below its band — the depth that matters is the fish's, not the bottom's |
| Position in the water column | ||||||||
| Suspended off bottom | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Rare — Mostly near bottom under ice; feeders rise off it at dusk — watch the flasher | Regular — Under ice pike cruise well off bottom — tip-up baits set mid-depth get eaten | Presque jamais — Settles deep beside its summer–fall range, metabolism at minimum; season closed across most of its range | Regular — Laker: famously chases a jig 10 m (33 ft) up and eats it under the hole | Rare — Late ice: marks ride 1–2 m (3–7 ft) off a stale bottom — that lift is the oxygen line | Core — Rarely on bottom: schools hover 2–5 m (7–16 ft) up over 6–12 m (20–40 ft) basins |
| Tight to bottom | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | — — Low metabolic demand, not zero feeding. Depth and activity windows depend on local current, oxygen and habitat. | Regular — Holds along structure edges; a school's cruising band can be one contour wide | Rare — Forward, upward-biased eyes — it takes baits above it far more readily than below | Regular — Below ~8 °C (46 °F) it sits deep and nearly dormant, close to bottom | Regular — Stream trout rest in the slow layer along the bed, where food drifts · Laker: often belly-to-bottom between raids | Core — Feeds tipped nose-down on the bottom; the strike zone is within ≈ 0.5 m (1–2 ft) of it | Rare — Hovers mid-column by default — after a cold front the school sinks toward the basin floor |
Read the conditions in each bass cell: local temperature trend, clarity, light, current, cover and prey guide the search. Check both the precise feeding feature and nearby habitat; shallow and deep patterns can coexist.
Les niveaux sont des jugements tirés des notes sur les espèces de ce site — des tendances, pas des garanties. La note de chaque case indique sur quoi repose le niveau.
Fiches comparatives des espèces
Chapitres liés
- Achigan GB · Swim bladder & pressure — How deep each fish holds, season by season
- Habitat — Where, then how deep — both by season