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Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
The Largemouth Bass is the most popular game fish in North America. The Largemouth Bass is a slender sunfish with an exceptionally large mouth. Upper colors of the back range from dark olive to a shiny green luster. The color dissipates to a white color on the belly and sides with a dark marginal band. Bass attain an a average of 3-5 pounds with 7-8 pounds not being uncommon. Bass are predator fish--sight feeders and are extremely opportunistic. Their carnivorous diet includes fish, insects, crayfish, snakes, frogs, even small birds or mammals. that require smaller fish for food. Fathead Minnows and Bluegill are an excellent food source. Young bass feed on zooplankton (microscopic animals) and insects until they are 2-3", when they switch to a fish diet. Bass will usually spawn when they are one year old. Bass will normally spawn in shallow water, near the shoreline, when the water temperature begins to increase rapidly in the spring (60-65 degrees) from mid April and goes through late May or early June. Females spawn twice a year, though a third spawning is not uncommon. The growth rate of Largemouth Bass is about 1/2 to 3/4 pound per growing season. in a well managed pond the length of 11"-14" and weight of two pounds or large may be reached with three years. The Largemouth Bass is very effective at controlling unwanted fish populations of Bluegill and other fish species. The Largemouth Bass is sexually mature at two years and may live ten or more years. Bass are arguably the most popular and important sportfish in America. The popularity of the largemouth bass has produced a wave of interest in freshwater fishing unrivaled by any other species.
Portions of this information was taken from literature provided by Fish Wagon and Arkansas Pondstockers. Links to other sites on Largemouth Bass |
