Shoreline Seminar 2023: School of Fry

While shocking a lake in East Texas, Shawn and the team at American Sport Fish come across a school of Fry in early spring.

A school of small fry of bass fish is a large group of juvenile bass fish located together in an environment, usually a lake or river. These smaller bass are typically 4-6 inches in length and have not yet reached maturity. The size of the school can range from dozens to thousands of fish and they will often travel together in search of food sources such as insects, crustaceans, and other aquatic organisms. Schooling behavior allows young fry to move with speed and agility while also providing some protection from predators. Additionally, schools create a ripple effect that propels water outward which can draw food sources closer for easier consumption. Schooling also helps with communication, enabling them to keep track of each other’s whereabouts. As these fish grow larger and mature, they may leave their school and become solitary hunters or form new groups with different species and sizes of bass.