Quick question…
When fishing with Slop Bass through the holes in the ice on Saturday, I hooked me a whopper… a 3″ Largemouth Bass…yes, a 3 *INCH* largemouth… fought hard, too… 
Shouldn’t the yearlings be bigger than that? Curious how big and how quick bass grow in our temperate climate? Feels like spring today!
Just thought JC/MossBoss/Bass423 might know with their biology backgrounds?
Everything that I have ever read has indicated that where we live, It takes 5-6 years for a bass to reach “legal” measurement (14 Inches). Unless they do not grow at a steady rate, it sounds like it would have been one of last years hatch.
JHall
Just off the top of my head, I would think 3-4 inches is probably about right for a largemouth in one year in the northern climate we have. I have a chart somewhere at home showing many age-length estimations for different Wisconsin species. If I can ever find it is the big question.
I will try and look into it some.
I’ve seen the “thumb rule” referred to in several articles about northern bass. Basically the rule says if a yearling bass isn’t as long as your thumb by ice-up it won’t have enough energy stored to survive the winter. My thumb is 2.5 inches long. 
YOY at this time of the year at three inches is a good growth rate for northern LM. If it is a 1+ then it is below average and indicates poor invert populations during the growing season where the fish was living. Our fish grow slow up in da nort wooods der hey! Riverfan was that the thumb rule or another body part !! 
The growth rate of bass in northern climates is diverse at best based upon the ecosystems fertility. Typically bass grow 2 – 4 inches during the first year of life, 5 – 8 inches in the second and all those “buck bass” we catch every year are around 3 years old. Just for reference the 3 – 4 lb bass we are all looking for in tourney preparations are around 8 years old. With all the shad and other forage we are seeing in the past 2 years I am hoping that we will gain a year and maybe 2 if these mild winters keep up. Just adding an additional month of 50 degree water will can yield a 3lb bass a 6 years.
Just food for thought.
Jc
JC,
Does that mean that if we were to have a string of really long cold winters that the exact oppisite would happen?
JHall
Yep, It can dramatically decline the growth rate. The key is obiously keeping these fish in productive feeding conditions. The growth rates for suthern bass are almost 2 to 1.
jc
We had a mn dnr biologist talk at our bass club and he said much the same as jc. He was saying that southern fish grow much faster, but don’t live as long. The average lifespan for a bass is almost 3 times better here than Fl.
Hmmm… so, does that mean that the colder climate prolongs the life of the fish, or does the *size* of the fish dictate the length of life? In other words, FL fish get bigger, faster, but die sooner. Fish in WI live longer but grow slower.
Is the reason the larger fish in CA are getting so large and the new record that is expected to come from southern CA due to the fact that the weather is more *stable* and *warm*, but not hot…thus resulting in a very stable growing environment for the bass?
Thoughts? 
Something to think about that this conversation made me think of… in colder weather, things get smaller… Anyone remember George swimming in the pool and Elaine’s response? 
Nice one, JC! 
Or maybe Schwingage?
ok
Im not pointing a finger but I think someone has a little too much free time.
JHall… Unless you’re ice fishing or south of the Mason-Dixon line, we *ALL* have too much time… man, how I can’t wait for the water to stop looking like a popcicle! (sp?) 
reel guy! i agree.I want this winter to be over so bad!.Im not one of the guys that walk on water.My fishing is out of da boat!!!Let the thaw begin 
Well,
I only fish out of a boat too! Still I am plenty busy chasin HP and bothering Flick all day!
JHall
and you do one heck of a good job at it…….
Thought you all might like a look at that stellar looing yearling caught on a hook and line with my amazing ice-fishing guide, Mr.Slop Bass! 
Hey, Slop Bass, I am only kidding with you, I enjoyed it. Thanks!!! 
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