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dark. Bass have less reason to swim up a few feet when they feed in summer.
We've all experienced catching bass in the hottest part of August within inches of the surface in murky water. Obviously, water clarity, not temperature, determines bass depth. Power-plant lakes, with surface temps over 90o F often have surface feeders if and when abundant prey stay near the top.
Avoiding warmth isn't a big factor with bass. They will even swim briefly into water hot enough to cook them if necessary to easily catch prey.
4. Does warm water hold too little oxygen for bass? This idea may not be a
myth yet, but it continues to be promoted by some pro-anglers so may become
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one. In fact, 95o F water still holds 7 ppm dissolved oxygen. And bass show no ill effects in 5 ppm and don't move away until oxygen drops below 3 ppm.
Moreover, oxygen gets into water at the surface and from vegetation that needs to be near the surface to get light. If low oxygen is a problem at the surface, conditions are usually worse deeper. Bass usually don't go deep to get more oxygen.
5. Are bass irresistible, voracious predators that kill prey for fun? Writers like to glorify and make bass tough and challenging, but bass merely typical predators. They catch food when they can. Often, as noted earlier,
they go without eating. Prey are good at eluding them, and life isn't easy.
(Continued on page 9)
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