Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-08
Bass Information
Given By Chief
Game Warden Upton


Game Warden Richard T. Upton.
then he III yet to be introduced to
the Journal. Mr.. Upton knows fish
as he knows his A. b. C.'s. He can
recall without effort their habits at
any time of the year and under any
conditions.
In our cold Maine waters bass
hibernate for several months in the
deep water where actual observa-
ton is impossible" said Mr.. Upton
recently. I'm more shallow ponds
where they have been watched it
has been noted that they bury them
selves in the mud to hide only when
badly frightened, and not for hi
bernating purposes. While bass are
doubtless In a semi-torpid condi-
ton during the winter. they have
never been found incapable of rapid
movement when disturbed. BY
preference O alternating bass seeks
at least q partial shelter. al beside a
rock or under q projecting ledge In
deep water. possibly remaining for
days without moving. Instances
have been reported where bass have
been found In stumps and hollow
logs. or imbedded in their slime in
rocky crevices. Several weeks be-
fore the spawning season they leave
their winter quarters.
Bass emerge from their semi
torpid state with no apparent loss
Of weight or condition. They will
take the fly or something else which
10 very delicate, but they are not
yet ready to feed heavily. This av-
ersion to heavy food lasts until af-
ter spawning time while the fish
steadily lose in weight and condi-
ton. At a water temperature of
about "a degrees the eggs ripen and
the females are ready to spawn.
The spawning season lasts 8 or g
weeks. and in most Lakes and Ponds
averages to run from late May into
early July. After that Is over the
bass are ravenous: they eat greedily
and take on weight until the hiber-
mating season arrives.
by preference the mature bass
feeds upon minnows, crawfsh, In
sects, larvae, frogs and young cells.
He will swallow any smaller fish
coming his way. but he will not at
tempt to actually run down young
trout and salmon as will q pickerel
or pike. Nor will he seek trout
and salmon spawn as will such pests
as cells, suckers and bull-heads.
Our lakes contain plentiful and
varied food for bass of every age.
While 1t is true that the larger fish
Of nearly all kinds greedily attack
young bass, we cannot on that ac-
count alone afford an attempt to
Danish them, because the young of
these other fish afford the best of
food for the more mature bass.
Members of the pickerel and pike
family, unlike the bass, are persis-
~ oh
fishermen who kill these marauders
are helping to conserve our bass.
"Shiners. (roach). Sun fish. and
smells are most desirable to en-
courage, as they afford the best of
food for our bass. yellow perch
are desirable for the same reason.
They also afford good sport when
fully grown, and are an excellent
table food, making very fair
chowder substitute for bass. White
perch are spawn eaters, and may
become a menace to more desirable
| fish in any pond. They are pro-
life. consume great quantities of
feed, and in localities where they
school early multitudes of them
swimming together in shoal water
will attack nesting bass and seri-
ously deplete them. While white
perch afford desirable food. and al
times good sport, on the whole II
is a question whether they should
not be classed with the pests
pickerel. pike. cells. suckers and bull
| heads. rather than with the fish de-
sirable in bass waters-smelts, yell
low perch, sun fish, and roach.
BASS conflict neither with trout
nor salmon, but there seems to be
a grave question whether both trout
and salmon can be made to thrive
at the same time.
How to Conserve Our Bass
Bearing in mind the statements con-
corning bass and their habits, every
thoughtful fisherman will clearly see
several things which will improve our
bass fishing.
First of all, our lakes must be re-
| stocked to obtain plenty of normal,
sporty bass as breeders.
Next. the bass must have an unmo-
Tested spawning season, from the time
the ice goes out until some time in
July. Everyone admits this so far as
using bait is concerned. In reality 1t
applies with equal force to fly fishing.
The delicate fly is far more attractive
to fasting bass than a heavier bait.
During its spawning season a mature
bass with Intentionally swallow only
the most dainty appearing morsels. But
in his desire to rid his bed of every
foreign substance he will attempt to
seize anything in or over 1t. The later
the open season commences, the better
II will be for the bass. In fairness to
all interests about the lakes. hotels.
camps. guides, stores and fishermen, 1t
is probable that the season should open
before the late spawning is entirely
over. In no event, however. should
bass fishing OF any kind be permitted
until after the first hatch have been
finally abandoned by the male parent.
"All bass, especially before spawning
Is over. should be handled with care
and taken in q landing net. They
should not be tightly squeezed. allowed
to strike against any hard substance
nor thrown violently back into the lake
Anyone persistently disregarding these
precautions should have his license re-
voked.
Artificial bats should have all OK.
cept the tail hook removed. to avoid
catching and tearing the fish in sew
cral places.
Have you ever stopped to think that
every male bass taken Off the beds
means the killing of hundreds and
| probably thousands Of small ones, al
| the bass that has been taken on the
bed was the only protection the eggs
| or young had?
Have you ever watched the has.
/ work. from the start OF spawning sea
| son until the little fellows are able e
| care for themselves?
| These male guards get very tam'
| and will at times take . worm out Of
your fingers.
| "I watched. with the late c. B. Bur
| leigh, a fight between q bass and &
| pickerel that insisted upon STAYING II