Understanding Bass Species

Black bass species have unique characteristics and behaviors, and, except for largemouth bass which are located almost everywhere, they are found in specific regional locations.

Why is Understanding Bass Species Important?

Understanding Bass Species is important as it helps knowing:

  • Where They Live: Both regionally and where on the lake to find more bass.
  • Unique Species Characteristics: Using unique physical features to help with species identification plus understanding behavior characteristics to find and catch more bass. 
Understanding Bass Species

Black Bass: (Micropterus) A genus generally called bass including seven species and four subspecies:

  • Largemouth: (Micropterus Salmoides) Also referred to as: American Black Bass, Widemouth, Bigmouth, Bucketmouth, Largies, Potter’s Fish, Florida Bass, Florida Largemouth, Green Bass, Green Trout, Filsdorf Bass, Oswego Bass, Bayou Bass, LMB(abbreviation), and .
    • Location: Across USA, much of Canada, Japan and a few other countries around the world.
    • Identification: [Figure 1] Compared to smallmouth, largemouth bass are generally greener, larger mouth, gills set back further from mouth, larger gap in dorsal fin and with horizontal stripes.
    • Habitat and Behavior: Generally, they resided in shallow water spending most of their time near cover, not traveling large distances unless a habitat change is required. They stay near cover to ambush forage more the roam for forage as compared to smallmouth bass. They do live in murkier water than smallmouth. 
    • Spawning:
      • Water Temperature: 62-68 F
      • Spawning Bed Behavior:
        • Nests: Males construct saucer-shaped nests typically, near cover, specifically submerged grass, brush, or laydowns that attract females.
        • Defense: The male will guard the nest after the female lays her eggs. Largemouth attack forage that might eat the fry[Figure 3], but unlike smallmouth they may not eat them unless provoked. 
    • Schooling: Do not commonly school.
    • Shallow: Shallow in the summer and deep in the winter. 
    • Lifespan: 10 to 16 years.
    • Subspecies:
      • Florida Largemouth Bass wiki: (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) A subspecies known to grow much larger and faster than the northern largemouth bass.
      • Northern Largemouth Bass: (Micropterus salmoides salmoides) A subspecies that are smaller and handle colder water better than Florida largemouth bass
Figures 1: Largemouth Bass courtesy of American Gun Facts
Figures 2: Smallmouth vs Largemouth Mouth Location courtesy Outdoor Life
Figures 3: Largemouth Bass Fry courtesy of Fishes of Boneyard Creek
  • Smallmouth (Micropterus Dolomieu): Also referred to as Bronzeback, Brown bass, Brownie, Smallie, Bronze Bass, Bareback Bass
    • Locations: Not found in Southern USA and found in the Northern, Central and Eastern USA, Canada and introduce to few locations around the world.
    • Identification:  [Figure 4] Compared to largemouth, smallmouth bass are generally browner, smaller mouth, gills closer to the mouth, no gap in dorsal fin and with vertical stripes.
    • Habitat and Behavior: Stay close to cover when not actively feeding but when actively feeding they will roam for forage much more than largemouth bass. They reside in both shallow and deep water at the same time influenced partially by the water temperature and season. Generally a preference for clear water more than largemouth plus cooler waters.
    • Migration: Some suggest they go deeper, stay close or on bottom, when water is below 60 F. Spawn more shallow in the spring.
    • Spawning:
      • Water Temperature: 60-65 F
      • Spawning Bed Behavior:
        • Nests: Males use their tails to create saucer-shaped nests in protected sunny areas with clear stone/sand/gravel typically shallow under 5 to 20 depending on water clarity. Some suggest it is the nests that attract females. 
        • Defense: Males protect eggs and fry, but unlike largemouth, smallmouth eat forage that might eat the fry [Figure 3], and not attack them.
    • Behavior: Common to school. Deep and shallow. 
    • Lifespan: 15-18 years.
Figures 4: Smallmouth Bass courtesy of American Gun Facts
  • Spotted Bass: (Micropterus Punctulatus) Also referred to as Spotty, or Spots.
    • Locations: [Figure 5] Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
    • Identification:  [Figure 5] Spotted bass have a row of dark spots below the lateral line and single tooth patch on the tongue. Plus, spotted bass are generally greener like a largemouth and a gap in the dorsal fin like a smallmouth bass and upper jaw bone does not extend back to or beyond the rear edge of the eyes similar to a smallmouth.
    • Habitat and Behavior: Generally clear water more open water then largemouth similar to smallmouth but warmer water like a largemouth. 
    • Spawning:
      • Water Temperature: 63-78 F
      • Spawning Bed Behavior:
        • Nests: Males use their tail to create saucer-shaped nests free of silt and sediment in protected sunny areas with clear stone/sand/gravel typically shallow under 5 to 20 depending on water clarity which attracts females. 
        • Defense: Males protect eggs and fry, but unlike largemouth, smallmouth eat forage that might eat the fry, and not attack them.
    • Behavior: School like a smallmouth, deep and shallow. 
    • Lifespan: Up to 5 years.
    • Subspecies:
      • Alabama Bass (Micropterus punctulatus henshalli) A subspecies known to regionally be located in Alabama and similar to the spotted bass.
      • Wichita Bass (Micropterus punctulatus wichitae) A subspecies known to be regionally located in Red River drainage in parts of Oklahoma and Texas. They look similar to spotted bass.

Considered More Regional Bass Species: 

  • Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculii) A species know to be regionally native to Texas, specifically found in the Edwards Plateau region and have vertical black bars or blotches along its sides with a greenish hue on the back that transitions to a silvery-white belly.
  • Redeye Bass (Micropterus coosae): [Figure 7] A species commonly found in rivers and streams across the southeastern United States and typically have a reddish tint around their eyes.
    • Coosa Bass (Micropterus coosae coosae) Also known as the Coosa Redeye Bass, a subspecies known for their regional location of Coosa River system in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
    • Warrior Bass (Micropterus coosae warriorensis) A subspecies known commonly found in the river systems in Alabama.
  • Shoal Bass (Micropterus cataractae) A species known to be regionally located in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida typically found in rivers, streams, and creeks.
  • Suwannee bass (Micropterus notius) A species known to be regionally located in the suwannee River basin in Florida and Georgia and for their greenish to bronze-colored back, with a white or pale belly, and a dark lateral blotches that may resemble tiger stripes. Also, they can display vibrant colors especially during the spawning season.
Figures 5: Spotted Bass Courtesy of Northern Kentucky Tribune
Figures 6: Spotted Bass Locations courtesy of In Fisherman
Figures 7: Bass Fry courtesy of 50 Mission Cast
Additional Considerations

  • Hybrid Bass:

    • Meanmouth: Meanmouth, or Mean Mouth,  refers to a hybrid of a largemouth and a smallmouth bass.  The name came about as it was believed to be more aggressive than largemouth or smallmouth.  Largemouth bass eggs with smallmouth sperm resulted in more successful crosses than the reciprocal cross (largemouth male and female smallmouth).
    •  F-1 Largemouth Bass Hybrid:  F-1(F1) is used in fisheries science to denote offspring resulting from mating two different species, subspecies, or genetic strains of animals. F-1 Largemouth Bass are a first- generation cross of a Northern Largemouth Bass and Florida Largemouth Bass. F-1 Largemouth Bass are generally a pond stocking consideration.
    • Tiger Bass: The name Tiger Bass is a registered trademark of American Sport Fish Hatchery in Montgomery, AL and refers to the specific cross of the aggressive northern largemouth bass bred with a strain of proven trophy Florida largemouth.  Tiger Bass are generally a pond stocking consideration.
It's About the ALLURE™

Generally, lure selection is based on strike zone depth, fishing speed, lure visibility, if and what targeted cover and a number of other factors. As smallmouth generally have different habitats than largemouth it often results in different lure selection, but not because of the species, but because things like fishing depth and fishing speed. So statistically, some lures are used more often for one species over another species, but not because they were selected as a “Largemouth Lure” or a “Smallmouth Lure”.  If there is a species considerations, it would be based on the size/profile of the lure, for example:

  • Largemouth Lure Selection: Some suggest a larger lure as the largemouth bass’ mouths are larger. 
  • Smallmouth Lure Selection: Some suggest faster lures as smallmouth bass tend to roam for forage.
  • Spotted Lure Selection: Some suggest small lures as spotted bass are typically smaller.

Shallow Lures
Statistically, more common for largemouth bass.

Deep Lures
Statistically more common for smallmouth bass.

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