For its size, the smallmouth bass may be the hardest-fighting fish to swim Minnesota's many waterways. It is commonly found in ponds, lakes and rivers and is a member of the sunfish family.
Identification
General description: A medium-sized fish with a dark to golden appearance.
Length: Adults average between 10 to 12 inches long.
Weight: Adults average about three pounds.
Color: Olive green to blackish gold.
Reproduction
Smallmouth bass spawn in the late spring when the water temperature is from 60 to 65 degrees. The male builds a nest in two to eight feet of water by using its tail to fan a shallow plate-like depression on a sandy or rocky bottom. The female deposits her eggs in the nest, which are then fertilized by the male. The male stays to guard the nest. The eggs typically hatch in 10 days.
Food
Smallmouth bass eat plankton, underwater insects, crayfish, and other small fish.
Predators
Perch, catfish, suckers and turtles.
Habitat and range
Ponds, lakes, and rivers. Smallmouth bass prefer cool, clear water that has plenty of dissolved oxygen. They are found mainly in the Arrowhead Region lakes and in the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers and their tributaries.
Population and management
Minnesota's smallmouth bass fishery continues to improve. The statewide harvest is small in comparison to many other popular fish species. Several rivers have special fishing regulations to increase smallmouth bass size. Since other fish (walleye, crappie, bluegill) are considered more tasty, smallmouth bass are often released after being caught.
Fun facts
Many smallmouth bass have red eyes. The state record smallmouth bass is eight pounds. It was caught in West Battle Lake in Otter Tail County. The current world record, 11 pounds, 15 ounces, was caught in Kentucky. The smallmouth bass looks a lot like its cousin the largemouth bass. But on the smallmouth, the back of the mouth goes only back to the middle of the eye. On the largemouth bass, the back of the mouth goes back much farther than the back of the eye.
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