Smallmouth BassDescription The Smallmouth Bass has a thick but elongated body, red eyes, and a broad and slightly forked tail. Its pelvic fins are situated near the front of the body below the pectoral fins. A single spine is found on each pelvic fin and on the front of the anal fin. The two dorsal fins are merged with the front one spiny and the second one featuring one spine followed by several soft rays. Coloring will vary from brown and golden brown to olive green on the back, which fades to gold on the sides and white on the belly, although the dominant colors will often extend all the way down the belly. Young smallmouth have more distinct vertical bars or rows of spots on their sides, and the tail fin is often orange at the base with black and white outer edges. The smallmouth is easily distinguished from its cousin, the largemouth, by its jaw bone, which extends to about the middle of the eye. The largemouth’s jaw will extend well beyond the eye. The coloration is also different, as smallmouth are more brownish in color, while the largemouth is predominantly green. Where They Live Smallmouth bass prefer clear, calm waters and seek out areas with gravel, rubble, or rocky bottoms. They live in near rocky bluffs, steep drop-offs and large shoals. They will also utilize weed beds and other vegetation, especially if found near some type of rock. Mature smallmouths prefer rocky, shallow areas of lakes and rivers and retreat to deeper waters as temperatures rise. They tend to seek cover and avoid bright sunlight. They hide in deep water, behind rocks and boulders, and around underwater debris and crevices, preferring water temperatures between 66 and 72 F. As temperatures fall, they become less active and seek cover in dark, rocky areas.
What They Eat Young smallmouth bass feed mainly on plankton and switch to larger prey like water insects, amphibians, crayfish, and other fish as they grow. Adult smallmouth bass are opportunistic predators and will eat whatever prey is available in their environment. Though they consume both aquatic and terrestrial insects, the majority of their diet is made up of crayfish and several prey fish species. Crayfish are the preferred meal where available, but smallmouth will also feed heavily on shad, perch, minnows, panfish and even small bass. Smallmouth will feed at whatever depths they inhabit at a given time. At times, they may move to shallow water specifically for feeding, and can often be found chasing schools of baitfish or insects at the surface. When They Spawn Smallmouth bass spawn in the spring or early summer depending on latitude. Spawning movements will begin when water temperatures warm to between 60 and 65 F. Males build the nests in water anywhere from 1 to 12 feet deep depending on water clarity and available habitat. Nests are usually built over a gravel or rock bottom, though smallmouths will use a sandy bottom in lakes if gravel or rock is not available. They will also seek the protection of logs and boulders for the nests.
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