whiteduckpottery@bellnet.ca

Aug 12, 2010
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Cause of Death
by: Get Some Bass

Thanks for the question. There are any number of ways for a bass to die, and just like people, an autopsy is sometimes necessary. Short of that you would have to look for clues on the outside of the bass.

A very common cause of death is contact with humans. Careless handling being the number one cause. A bass that is kept out of the water too long, kept in a hot live well without an aerator, or dropped in the boat can die from the stress. They can go catatonic and can't be revived. Also with smallmouth, if they are caught very deep and hauled to the surface, the swim bladder expands and needs to be manually deflated (fizzed) for the bass to swim away. Generally, if a bass is hooked deep enough in the throat that it bleeds, the bass won't make it. Finally, strikes by a boat will definitely kill a bass and often not leave a mark unless the propeller hit it. Those are the bass you often see floating on a fishing lake.

On the natural side, old age and disease like Viral Hemorrhagic Syndrome (VHS) can kill bass without many clues. Also, just like people, bass can choke to death. A misplaced sunfish or perch in the throat can kill a bass just as sure as a careless human. If that happens, the will struggle on the surface and basically suffocate.

Smallmouth bass will live 6 to 14 years generally. Good habitat can increase this life, and mishaps will shorten it. If you see, or catch a smallmouth bass above 5 pounds, that is a real trophy adult. Lake Erie would be the exception where 6 to 8 pounders are the upper end of the scale and not that uncommon.

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