This Tracking Study Shows Where Bass Actually Live (And It’s Not Where Most Anglers Think)

Radio-Tracked Largemouth Bass: What They REALLY Do by Season (Winter Flats, Summer Weeds & Site Fidelity)

Travis from Green Valley Anglers breaks down a peer-reviewed, two-year radio-tracking study of 27 largemouth bass (14–20 inches) in Lake Eugenia, Ontario, showing how seasonal movements, cover use, grouping, and site fidelity compare to common fishing “rules.” Researchers tracked fish for 16+ months in a drawdown reservoir and found the tightest clustering in winter, with about 74% of fish inside a 27-acre area and ~94% of locations on open, barren flats. Spring fish spread out widely for spawning and favored shoals, bare bottom, and low-density vegetation while avoiding thick weeds. Summer showed moderate grouping with roughly half of locations in moderate-to-high density vegetation. Fall was most variable year to year, with mixed cover use and weaker fidelity. Site fidelity was strongest in winter and summer, including displaced fish returning over a mile in 4–12 days, and Travis explains how to apply these patterns season by season.

00:00 Fishing Myths Setup
00:42 Study Purpose Overview
01:20 How The Study Worked
02:31 Seasonal Grouping Patterns
04:02 Cover Choices By Season
05:04 Do Bass Return
05:45 Displaced Bass Navigate Back
06:25 Season By Season Gameplan
07:50 Key Takeaways Wrap Up
08:19 Outro