| The Largemouth Bass is one of the most popular | | | | 85 degrees F. They can tolerate water in excess |
| freshwater gamefish in the U. S., and maybe the | | | | of 90 degrees. |
| world. More fishing tackle and equipment is | | | | Largemouths prefer semi-clear, non-flowing water |
| manufactured and sold for Largemouth Bass | | | | with plenty of aquatic vegetation and cover. They |
| fishing than all other sportfish combined. U. S. Bass | | | | can be found in ponds, rivers, lakes, and even |
| Tournaments are a multi-million dollar industry, | | | | brackish estuaries. They are nest-builders and |
| with the number of participants and spectators | | | | spawn when the water temperature reaches 60 |
| rivaling NASCAR. | | | | degrees. Males prefer to build a nest over a hard |
| Names like Tom Mann, Jimmy Houston, Fred | | | | bottom, along a shallow shoreline. |
| Arboghast and Buck Perry are as familiar to | | | | Largemouth Bass are solitary, ambush-type |
| anglers as Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey | | | | feeders, and seldom move far from their |
| Mantle are to baseball fans. Why has this fish | | | | established territory unless forced out. They will |
| overshadowed the other fine species available? | | | | defend their area viciously against all intruders. |
| To understand the attraction, you have to | | | | Smaller Largemouth Bass may school for a time, |
| understand the fish itself. | | | | but when they mature, they will stake out their |
| The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is | | | | own areas and become completely solitary, |
| also known as the Black Bass, Oswego Bass, | | | | except for spawning. A Largemouth typically will |
| Green Bass, and Bucketmouth Bass. They are not | | | | hide somewhere near, or in dense cover, and |
| a true bass, but the largest member of the | | | | remain there until suitable prey comes along, |
| panfish family, which includes crappie and sunfish. | | | | which can be anything from small fish and insects, |
| Native originally to the Eastern United States, it | | | | to swimming mammals and ducks pretty much |
| has become one of the most widely distributed | | | | anything the Bass thinks it can get into its mouth! |
| gamefish in the world. This is due in part to the | | | | They are not particularly picky about their food, |
| fact that it is an incredibly hardy and adaptable | | | | most of the time. When prey comes near |
| fish, and also because of its popularity with | | | | enough, the Bass will shoot from cover and |
| anglers. | | | | explosively inhale the hapless creature and |
| Noted for explosive strikes, completely-airborne | | | | swallow it whole. |
| leaps, Wild-Weasel evasive maneuvers, incredible | | | | If the food is not to their liking, they can spit it |
| strength and stamina, and generally pugnacious | | | | out just as quickly, as many a discouraged angler |
| attitude, this fish puts up an epic battle on the end | | | | with a multi-hooked lure stuck in his lap can tell |
| of a line. There are two subspecies of | | | | you. One of the trademarks of Largemouth Bass |
| Largemouth Bass in the U. S.: the Florida | | | | is that whatever they do, they do it decisively. If |
| Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides | | | | they bite, they do it viciously. If they don't bite, |
| floridanus), and the Northern Largemouth Bass | | | | they don't bite at all. |
| (Micropterus salmoides salmoides). The Florida | | | | There is nothing timid about this fish. They are |
| Largemouth can attain a weight of 20+ pounds. | | | | not line-shy, and seldom spook easily. For |
| The Northern subspecies seldom exceeds 10 | | | | Largemouth Bass fishing, the bigger and uglier |
| pounds.Largemouth bass are a warm-water fish, | | | | your bait is; the better. |
| thriving in temperatures from 65 degrees F., to | | | | |