Science Name: | Micropterus dolomieu |
Other Names: | Bronzeback, brown bass, black bass, Oswego bass, green trout and redeye |
Ideal Temp: | 60 to 70 |
World Record: | 10 lbs. 14 ounces, Tn. |
Environment: | streams, rivers, lakes |
Techniques: | Casting, live baiting |
Smallmouth bass look similar to their close cousin, the largemouth. Often they are found in the same waters. To tell the two apart, look at the closed mouth. If it extends only to the middle of the eye, it’s a smallmouth. If it goes way beyond the back of the eye, the fish is a largemouth.
In the spring bass disperse to their spawning areas in gravelly shallows of lakes or large, gentle eddies in streams. The male builds the nest. The female lays 2,000 to 10,000 eggs and then heads for deep water. The male remains on the nest two weeks or more, guarding eggs and fry.
As with the largemouth, research on smallmouth has shown no relationship between the number of spawning fish and the success of the spawn. The strength of the year class depends solely on water conditions - in particular, the absence of a sudden cold snap or muddy floodwaters that can kill eggs and fry.
Spawning
Smallmouth bass spawn mostly from the middle of May through the end of June when
water temperature exceeds 15.5° C (about 60° F). We have records of spawning as
late as early August, however. The male selects the spawning site and sweeps out
a nest up to 1 m (3 ft) in diameter with his tail. The nest normally ends up in
a gravel bed, often next to a log, boulder, or other obstruction in 1-3m (about
3-10 ft) of water. Once the nest is built, the male defends it aggressively from
both male and female smallmouth. A female that wants to spawn has to be
persistent. She may be helped somewhat by her change in appearance. The dark
mottling on her body becomes more noticeable as the background color fades, and
this may help communicate to the male that the female is ready. Once in the
nest, both fish lay beside each other and release their eggs and sperm. This
spawning act can be repeated every 30 seconds or so for up to 2 hours. When the
female is done laying the eggs, she leaves the nest and the male stays behind to
protect the eggs from predators. Both males and females usually spawn with more
than one partner. A single female may lay 2,000-14,000 eggs, depending on her
size.
The eggs (embryos actually) hatch in about one week and the free-living embryos continue to develop in the nest for about one more week. After that, they swim up into the water column and begin to feed. In lakes, the male smallmouth may continue to protect the larvae for a short time even after they swim up.
Habitat
Found in manmade or natural lakes, smallmouth prefer clear, mid-depth water.
They seldom appear in small ponds or lakes that run less than 25 feet deep.
Smallmouth also appear in clean, moderate-running rivers and streams.
Feeding Habits
Smallmouth larvae eat copepods, waterfleas, and other small zooplankton (small
floating animals). At about 35 mm (1.5 in) they begin to include aquatic insect
larvae and some small fish. At about 80 mm (3 in), they add crayfish to the
menu. From 1 year old on, smallmouth bass eat mostly fish (darters, minnows,
yellow perch, sunfishes, and others) and crayfish.
Table Quality
Smallmouth bass will not have the grassy taste that occaisionally appears in
largemouth bass. Their meat is white, flaky, and has an excellent flavor.