Largemouth bass

Identification and biology

The upper jaw of a largemouth reaches well past the back edge of the eye with the mouth shut, and the two parts of the dorsal fin are almost separated by a deep notch; on the smallmouth the jaw stops at about the eye. A broad dark stripe runs along the middle of the side, though Iowa DNR notes it can fade on big adults and on fish from muddy water. Missouri's field guide now files the species as Micropterus nigricans, with M. salmoides as the older name; Texas Parks and Wildlife lists two subspecies in the state, the native one and the Florida largemouth that has been stocked into many Texas lakes. Missouri gives a usual length of 10 to 20 inches and a top of about 24 inches and 15 pounds. Adults eat mostly fish and crayfish, and Missouri adds frogs, mice and snakes that fall into the water.

The spawn, state by state

Spawning starts in spring, and the trigger temperature an angler will read depends on the agency: Texas Parks and Wildlife puts the start at about 60°F, from February in the south of the state to May in the north, while South Carolina DNR gives 65 to 75°F between April and June and Missouri reports mid-April to late May or June. The male fans a nest on firm bottom, in 2 to 8 feet of water according to TPWD, guards the eggs, and keeps watch over the school of fry after they hatch. Iowa DNR describes bass moving toward the nesting areas once the water reaches about 55°F and feeding hard in the shallows between 55 and 62°F; Iowa calls this pre-spawn period a good chance at a big female still carrying eggs.

The mistakes that cost fish

Casting to open water instead of to cover: TPWD describes the largemouth as an ambush feeder that hides among plants, roots and limbs, so most casts should land next to something. Fishing a fast lure in cold water: Iowa DNR advises a slower presentation in early spring and notes that feeding drops off sharply below about 50°F. And expecting a crowd on the beds: adults are usually solitary, Iowa notes, with nests often 20 feet or more apart, so one fish rarely means a school.

Tackle setups

Playbook by water temperature

The legal season is a separate question

Month by month

Best waters for largemouth bass

394 waters we report on where this species is one of the main fish, each with a daily report.

Common questions