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BASS, YELLOW
The Yellow Bass is a species of temperate bass. It is named for its characteristic yellowish gold body and eye. They occur more frequently in medium to large tributaries and backwater areas of reservoirs and rivers. These fish like to stick together in schools. They like to be with other fish of similar sizes, appearances, and demeanor. That's when they feel the most comfortable. The schools travel together in search of the perfect foods. They prefer eating other, smaller fish of any type and tiny crayfish. Yellow Bass spawn in the spring. They don't create nests for their offspring, the females lay the eggs in no particular area and leaves the young to fend for themselves.
Although Yellow Bass are sometimes confused with White Bass or young Striped Bass, there are several distinguishing characteristics. First, the belly may take on a yellow color, from which the species derives its common name. Second, unlike other temperate bass, the two lowermost stripes are distinctively broken just posterior to the middle. Also, the second and third anal spines are approximately equal in length. This species can reach a length of 46 centimetres (18 in) though most are only around 23.9 centimetres (9.4 in). The greatest recorded weight for a specimen of this species is 11 kilograms (24 lb).
Fishing Methods include fly-fishing, spin-casting, still fishing using a bait fish like minnows or killifish, nightcrawlers. Try jigs and flashy spinner-jig combinations: white, yellow, silver, or chartreuse, with reflective tape on the spoons and polished spinners. Any small lure that looks like a shad will catch Yellow Bass when a school is located. Live Shad is good, all-around bait. Also try crankbait spoons, minnow imitation plugs, jigging spoons, and propellered surface lures. Topwater plugs that sputter are good to use when Yellow Bass feeding is in full force. In spring, shore fishing for Yellow bBass can be fantastic; fish have a big appetite, strike eagerly at lures once waters warm. Bottom fishing at night with live bait may also make great success.
Best time for fishing bass usually in late afternoon or early morning, especially in late summer and early fall, and daytime from late fall through early spring; late evening through first light in summer. Yellow Bass that are near structure (submerged trees, formations) more active and willing to bite than fish that are suspended in mid-depths. Use jigs or crankbaits in spring and summer, baitfish in fall. To catch Yellow Bass, use medium-to ultra-light spinning tackle on a 5 to 6 foot(1.5-1.8m) rod. 6 pound(3kg) test line works best.Yellow Bass are excellent fighters, and are considered excellent table fare.
International
Although native populations do exist in areas of Oklahoma, Texas, and Mississippi, the species was primarily restricted to the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana. Introduced populations ocurr as far west as Arizona, as far north as Wisconsin and Iowa, and as far east as central Tennessee. In Texas, Yellow Bass range from the Red River south to the San Jacinto drainage.