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