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The smallmouth bass ( Micropterus dolomieu) is a species of freshwater fish in the Centrarchidae family (Centrarchidae) of the order Centrarchiformes. It is the type species of its genus Micropterus (), and is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the of North America, and has been spread by fish stocking —as well as illegal introductions—to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so introduced in the United States. The maximum recorded size is approximately and .
The smallmouth bass is native to the upper and middle Mississippi River basin, the Saint Lawrence River–Great Lakes system, the Champlain Valley, and the Hudson Bay basin. Its common names include smallmouth, bronzeback, brown bass, brownie, smallie, bronze bass, and bareback bass.
/ref> The coloration of the smallmouth bass' ctenoid scales range from golden-olive to dark brown dorsally which fades to a yellowish white ventrally with dark brown vertical bars or blotches along the body and dark brown horizontal bars on the head. The combination of the muscular fusiform body shape and camouflage like coloring make these fish highly effective ambush predators. The coloration can vary greatly depending on the fishes age, habitat, water quality, diet, and the spawning cycle.
Generally, the protruding jaw of the smallmouth does not extend back beyond the eyes which are red or brown. They have two dorsal fins which are separated by a shallow interdorsal notch. The front dorsal has 9–11 spiney rays and the back dorsal has 13–15 soft rays.
Males are generally smaller than females. The males tend to range around two pounds, while females can range from three to six pounds. Their average sizes and coloration can differ, depending on if they are found in lacustrine or riverine habitats. Smallmouth found in riverine habitats are generally long and slender which allows greater agility in moving water, while those found in lacustrine habitats and shorter and deeper bodied.Schlosser, Isaac J. "The Role of Predation in Age‐ and Size‐Related Habitat Use by Stream Fishes." The Ecological Society of America, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 1 June 1987, esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2307/1938470. Riverine smallmouth that live in dark water tend to be rather torpedo-shaped and very dark brown to be more efficient for feeding. Lacustrine smallmouth bass, however, that live in sandy areas, tend to be a light yellow-brown and are more oval-shaped.
There are two recognized subspecies, the Northern smallmouth bass ( M. dolomieui dolomieui) and the Neosho smallmouth bass ( M. dolomieui velox).University of Missouri-Columbia. (2020, October 19). Management of a popular game fish, the smallmouth bass. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 26, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201019155920.htm The Northern smallmouth bass is much more widespread than the much smaller subgroup called the Neosho smallmouth bass. The Neosho are native to an ecologically isolated region of the lower Midwest known as the Central Interior Highlands, which weave through southwestern Missouri, northern Arkansas and northeastern Oklahoma.
They eat , fish, aquatic insects, and crayfish.Hanke, Gavin. "Smallmouth Bass." Aliens Among Us. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.Animal Diversity Web 2008. Micropterus dolomieu: Information. [1]. Accessed 23 April 2021
The world record size is caught in the Dale Hollow reservoir, on the Kentucky—Tennessee border.
The female can lay up to 21,100 eggs, which are guarded by the male in his nest.
Smallmouth generally begin spawning patterns in spring or early summer when water temperatures are between , which is heavily dependent on latitudinal location.Ridgway, M., Goff, G., & Miles H. A. Keenleyside. (1989). Courtship and Spawning Behavior in Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieui). The American Midland Naturalist, 122(2), 209–213. doi:10.2307/2425905 Smallmouth require clean stone, rock, or gravel substrate for a successful spawn.
With increased industrialization and land use changes, many of the nation's eastern trout rivers were polluted or experienced elevated water temperatures, reducing the range of native brook trout. Smallmouth bass were often introduced to northern rivers with increased water temperatures and slowly became a popular gamefish with many anglers. Equally adaptable to large, cool-water impoundments and reservoirs, the smallmouth also spread far beyond its original native range. Later, smallmouth populations also began to decline after years of damage caused by overdevelopment and pollution, as well as a loss of river habitat caused by damming many formerly wild rivers to form lakes or reservoirs. In recent years, a renewed emphasis on preserving water quality and riparian habitat in the nation's rivers and lakes, together with stricter management practices, eventually benefited smallmouth populations and has caused a resurgence in their popularity with anglers.
Today, smallmouth bass are very popular game fish, frequently sought by anglers using conventional fishing reel and bait casting gear, as well as fly fishing tackle.Murray, Harry, , Lyons Press, 1989Kreh, Lefty, Fly Fishing for Bass: Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Exotics, Lyons Press, 2004. OCLC: 54670187. The smallmouth bass is potentially the toughest fighting freshwater fish in North America, and is commonly the targeted species in many fresh water fishing tournaments.Retrieved 2013 - Bass Fishing Information - Smallmouth and Largemouth Specific In addition to wild populations, the smallmouth bass is stocked in cool rivers and lakes throughout Canada and the United States. In shallow streams, it is a wary fish, though usually not to the extent of most trout. The smallmouth is highly regarded for its topwater fighting ability when hooked – old fishing journals referred to the smallmouth bass as "ounce for ounce and pound for pound the gamest fish that swims".Henshall, James (Dr.), Book of the Black Bass (1881) Smallmouth bass are not usually taken for the table, but rather are caught and released by most anglers. However, smaller specimens in cooler water often have higher quality filets of white, firm flesh when cooked. Arizona Game & Fish Department, Smallmouth Bass
The current all-tackle world record for a smallmouth bass is 11 lb 15 oz, caught by David Hayes in the Dale Hollow Reservoir, on the Kentucky/Tennessee border, in 1955.
For river fishing, spinning tackle or fly tackle has been the most popular angling tools for smallmouth in North America for many years. When fishing in colder water, it is believed to be more effective to fish with smaller lures like hair jigs or small spinners. During the rest of the year, smallmouth are usually taken using soft plastic tubes or spinnerbaits. The best spots in rivers to fish for smallmouth are behind rocks or in eddies, where water swirls around. Smallmouth can also be taken in cool lakes like Lake Erie or any of the northern lakes.
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