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