Smallmouth Bass Fishing Guide

The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is widely regarded as the pound-for-pound freshest fighter in freshwater — a fish that jumps repeatedly, makes powerful runs, and refuses to quit until landed. The upper jaw does not extend past the rear of the eye, and the body is typically bronze-brown with dark vertical bars rather than a horizontal stripe. Smallmouth are closely tied to cool, clear water and are considered a reliable indicator of water quality — degraded habitat quickly eliminates them. They are native to the upper Mississippi drainage and Great Lakes basin but have been introduced throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, and parts of the South. Growth is slow in cold northern waters but accelerates in southern reservoirs, where fish may reach 5 pounds in five years.

Smallmouth Bass is a freshwater species.

Habitat

Clear, cool lakes with rocky or gravel bottoms; swift, rocky rivers and streams in the 55–75°F temperature range. In lakes, they relate to gravel points, rocky humps, and windswept shorelines; in rivers, they hold behind boulders and in pool tailouts below riffles.

Diet

Crayfish are the primary forage throughout the year, supplemented by minnows, hellgrammites, and small sunfish. Smallmouth shift heavily to crayfish in summer and fall and to minnows in winter and early spring when water is cold.

Fishing Techniques

Best Seasons

Spring, Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 1.5 lbs. World record: 11.94 lbs (Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee, USA (1955)).