Big Indiana Bass

by Richard Ziert

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian Behavioral Scientist who is well known for his work with dogs, and Classical Conditioning (He didn't like being called a Psychologist/ Physiologist because of their lack of ability at the time). “Classical Conditioning” in turn is a form of behavioral learning in which a previously neutral stimulus acquires the power to bring forth the same innate reflex produced by another or a series of other stimulus.

We know Pavlov’s Dog drooled at the sound of a bell which was substituted for the sight of food. But, what if that dog was a fish? What stimuli are present in a fish’s environment which would trigger a feeding response? Certainly hunger, and immediate opportunity, are core elements. But, what other stimuli might be present, or lead to elicit the same response?

Moving water is widely known as a situation where feeding is frequent and activity levels are increased for prey and predator.  In all types of water the effect of wind and current creates visual and sound turbulence on several levels. This same turbulence creates a certain camouflage, dappled or flicker texture, to light penetration and sound resonance.  In clear water the light effect reaches deeper. In stained water the sight trigger can be overtaken by sound.  In this mottled environment, prey and predator are able to move around more undetected in search of food.

In the case of a sudden storm, or low pressure systems passing, with its rapid change in wind speed, surface chop and cloudiness, it becomes an opportunity that wasn't’ there moments ago - it becomes that stimulus which precedes a conditioned response; a feeding trigger.

Experience tells us to look for underwater turbulence, or change, to find other situational feeding triggers. Transition edges, like those of top water mornings, bottom content changes, and even seasonal differences, are a form of Classical Conditioning.  The edge of water temperature differences, the edge of underwater springs effluence, rain and/or accompanying clouds, moving water/flowage's, surface chop, wing dams of any sort, weed beds and other shade, depth in a compounded sense, or any natural or artificially generated current create the same situational environment for the ring of Pavlov’s Bell. They are leads to the opportunity for fish to feed.

Remember to think about different things that can cause current and shadow to one degree or another.  Even partly cloudy days were the Sun peaks in and out on the water rhythmically can be considered not only shadow but ebb and flow of another element . . . possible current on a higher level.

When I lived in Northern California  I fished a particular Impoundment regularly.  This lake has a marina and a boat ramp where the majority of boats are launched. Once off the launch, the boats travel on a more or less confined (30 – 100 yards wide, by 200 – 300 yards long. ) path before the bigger parts of the lake open up.  In so doing, they create artificial current in their wake.  After some days of  the frustration of these boats disturbing my fishing, I found that if I pitched my offering into the tailing end of that wake, fish were consistently all over my bait before it hit bottom. The situation was enhanced where bends in the channel occurred or where other “structure” was nearby.  It was an outboard motor derived current, shadow, sight, and sound, scenario for active fish.