I recall seeing a video about bass behavior that basically stated that by instinct some bass are cruisers and others become campers.

Some are always on the move looking for food unless nesting down. Others find a comfortable area with good cover and just hang there and rarely if ever leave their favorite spot.

What are your thoughts, experience and opinions on the subject of cruising or camping largemouth?

I feel that most young bass are cruisers and older bass tend to camp. I do know that any really good piece of structure will usually hold the bigger bass and if one is taken off that cover, another of similar size will take it's place.
Big bass are just not good at cruising, it's too easy for the prey to see them coming. Big bass won't move very far or very fast to catch a meal, that's why they camp. I have only caught one bass over seven pounds that was at least to my belief, crusing. She was right in the middle of a school of two-three pounders in a small cove with a creek channel. All my other big fish have been campers, always on or near good structure. I also believe that most male bass are probably cruisers and the females stay at home. Good topic.

I live on a small shallow 15 acre pond. I watch fish alot here. I think that the bigger fish stake out 3 or 4 covers and move between them as prey becomes scarce in a spot. Remember this is a shallow clear pond. The few deeper structures offer little if any shade so they move from the shade of a lowhanging treetop to treetop to a weedbed. The best treetops have the most cover ie: branches and logs under them. The biggest fish roam the best covers. That's what I've seen here.

Nice topic... Geo, did that video happen to be "Bigmouth" by Glen Lau? We did a review of those videos a long time ago. Perhaps some of the most interesting underwater footage I've ever seen. Great production and info...

In his video, Glen documented two types of bass (as you mentioned above). He shows that some bass traveling together and work as a team to feed. He calls this group "Schooling Bass". It is amazing to observe this in the wild. He says that these bass tend to have a more streamlined body, which he attributes to them being on the move all the time following the open water baitfish. One thing to keep in mind is that he filmed everything down in the Florida Everglades. The other group (as you also mentioned above) tends to be fat and lazy, hanging in heavy cover and waiting for the right feeding opportunity to present itself. These bass tend to be the larger or lunker bass.

Here's my take on it... I have seen lunkers in with schools of smaller bass at various times of year. I have seen situations when a school of bass would only produce bass of approximately the same size and no lunkers. Under certain conditions bass will group together by size and you need to find out what/where the bigger fish are targeting. However, the most consistent producer of "lunker" sized bass (shallow or deep) almost always comes from the best available isolated structure/cover, or "Ambush Point".

There are lakes that I fish where throughout a giving season; I can find the same bass hanging in or around the same piece of cover repeatedly. Like Frank mentions, I also believe that these dominant bass pick the best pieces of cover and cycle through them based on the availability of forage at a giving time. I would say this holds true for both shallow and deep bass.

How about the West Coast monsters??? Even these super-bass that you guys have living in your lakes must follow the same general rules, right? They frequent areas with the best structure/cover so that they can ambush an unsuspecting 1 lb trout as it cruises by. In the end it is always the prey that dictates what the bass have to do.

I know that "SWIMBAIT 24/7" has some extensive experience in this area... with many giant bass caught on video to his credit. Perhaps you could provide some thoughts and tips for our members from a World Record Bass Hunter's perspect? Your input would be appreciated by all...

Well from my limited experience at the lakes around the SoCal area I have noticed a couple of things.

It seems to me that they cruise more when they are young. Like kids they run around more than adults.

For sure, cover that produced a large fish will more than likely be a good spot to hook up with another one at some time.

Lakes in my area are prone to huge changes in water levels, 30 to 40 ft. changes in level are not uncommon at Castaic. The drop offs are very steep as well. When I see water at a low level I try to go around to the spots where I've caught better fish and make mental notes of what's there.

The better fish and campers do get forced to leave the good spots but when the water levels come up again.... they move on in to the same good spots.

Since I fish almost exclusively from the shoreline this knowledge comes in handy and gives me an edge not being able to use a fishfinder/depth sounder from the shoreline.

I believe most LMB will camp given the right conditions. They will stay as long as it is good. Others, the fewer in my opinion, probably stay on the cruise most of the time, just have to see what's on the other side of that rock or under that ledge when they feel hungry.

They don't have the patience to wait for the meal to be delivered so to speak.