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