Smallmouth bass

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Smallmouth Bass | status = Conservation status: Secure | image = Micropterus_dolomieu.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Actinopterygii | ordo = Perciformes | familia = Centrarchidae | genus = Micropterus | species = M. dolomieu | binomial = Micropterus dolomieu | binomial_authority = Lacépède, 1802 }}

The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus. One of the black basses, it is native to a wide area throughout eastern North America, encompassing the upper and middle Mississippi River basin, the Saint Lawrence River–Great Lakes system, and up into the Hudson Bay basin.

The smallmouth bass is marked by a series of dark bars on the sides, and its upper jaw does not extend past the eye. It grows to a maximum recorded overall length of 69 cm (27 in), weighing up to 5.4 kg (12 lb). Specimens have been recorded living up to 26 years.

M. dolomieu is found only in clear water, preferring shallow, rocky-bottomed areas of lakes and rivers. Because it is relatively intolerant of any type of pollution, the smallmouth bass is a good natural indicator of a healthy environment. Carnivorous, its diet comprises crayfish, insects, and smaller fish, the young also feeding on zooplankton.

The female can lay up to 21,000 eggs which are guarded by the male in his nest.

One of the world's most popular game fish, the smallmouth bass is stocked in rivers and lakes throughout the United States, and has been introduced in many countries, sometimes with adverse effects on native fish populations. It is a wary fish, and a bit more of a challenge to catch than it's bigger cousin the largemouth bass, but well worth the effort for it's tremendously strong fight - old fishing journals referred to the smallmouth bass as "ounce for ounce and pound for pound the gamest fish that swims". More delicate in flavor than the largemouth, it is a very good eating fish, though as often as not, it is released to fight another day.

Lures

Load your tackle box with an assortment of grubs, tubes, and jigheads and you are pretty well set for the entire year. Twister tail grubs 3 inches long on a 1/16 oz jig heads work well in rivers. Craw imitation plasicts are effective in summer months.

Rod and Line

For rivers spinning rods and reels are recommended. A 6'6 medium fast rod matched with a 200 yard 6-8lbs line is a good setup. Green colored line is effective in clear water rivers.

References

• FishBase: Micropterus dolomieu
• ITIS: Micropterus dolomieu
• Rohde, F. C., et al. Freshwater Fishes of the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1994.
• Whitlock, John. "Micropterus dolomieu: Information". Animal Diversity Web. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, 2004.

• New River in Virginia

Note: Smallmouth populations are adversely affected by fisherman who harass bedding fish. Protect your lake's future by avoiding spawners and targeting pre-spawn and post-spawn fish during the spring.ja:コクチバス