Recreational angling has been shown to reduce baby bass survival by interefering with the paternal care provided by adult male bass guarding the nests. However, during 2019-2020, a study found a 3-fold increase in the abundance of baby bass in a lake in Southern Ontario. This research suggests that both the halt on fishing due to pandemic lockdowns and the US-Canada border closures could rejuvenate the population for years. Replicating these conditions by blocking off nesting areas in lakes and rivers from recreational fishing could have positive outcomes for bass populations. More information here.
