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Small Mouth Bass-Micropterus dolomieu
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Posted Sunday, June 5th, 2005 to User Articles
Description and habits of the Small Mouth Bass
Description:
The smallmouth bass is in the sunfish family like the largemouth bass is. The smallmouth derives it's name from the fact that the rear end of the lower jaw does not extend past the eyes, while that of a largemouth does. Smallmouth bass most often are bronze to brownish green in color with dark vertical bars on the sides. Eye color is usually redish. There is a shallow notch in the dorsal fin. Soft dorsal fin has 13 to 15 rays.
Habitat:
Small Mouth Bass like being in cool clear streams, with moderate to swift current over the gravel and rocks. They also like lakes and reservoirs. Ideal smallmouth habitat has protective cover such as shoal rocks, slopes and submerged logs. Their preferred water temp, is 68-70 degrees, cooler than that of a largemouth.
Reproduction:
Spawning activity begins in the spring when the water temp gets 60 degrees or more. The male builds a nest in the quiet water, usually near shore, or downstream from an obstruction that causes a break in the current. The female will lay the eggs in the nest. Since the male will guard the eggs and the newly hatched fry, the nest is never far from deep water, or cover, where he can retreat when scared. The eggs, which are larger than those of the largemouth bass, hatch in two to three days. Then the newly hatched light-colored fry drop down into the bottom of the gravel nest for three or more days. By the time the fry work their way out of the gravel on the ninth or tenth day, they are very dark in color. Under the watchful eye of the male, they swim in a dense dark cloud over the nest for a few days, then they begin to disperse.
Feeding Habits:
Crayfish are the preferred meal when available. Smallmouth will also feed heavy on shad, perch, minnows, panfish and even small bass. Smallmouth will feed at whatever depths they inhabit at the time. At times they may move to shallow water for feeding, they can often be found chasing schools of baitfish or insects on the water surface.
Age:
They mature at 3-4 years old and they have been known to live 10 to 12 years.
Bait:
Live crayfish, minnows, shad, sunfish and perch. Live crayfish and worms can be worked behind bottom-bouncing rigs in flowing water, and under bobbers in calm water. A variety of lures can be used. The lures that look like crayfish, crankbaits, jigs and soft plastic imitation crayfish. When smallmouth are feeding on prey fish then curly-tail grubs, minnow-imitating crank baits and spoons are good to use.
Places to fish:
In lakes fish near rocky points, bluffs, islands and ripraps. In rivers fish below structures, undercut banks, sunken logs, stumps and rock walls during high water season.
Eating Smallmouth Bass:
Like the largemouth bass there are many ways to cook them. Some people like to skin them before preparing the fillets for cooking. Some of the ways to cook them are to fry, bake, grill and broil them. They are good eating.
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