The largemouth bass is a popular sport fish because it attacks lures and leaps out of the water when hooked. Since largemouths aren't considered to be a tasty fish, they are often released after being caught.

Identification

General description: A medium- to large-sized fish shaped like a small football. These aggressive eaters aren't afraid to attack fishing lures.

Length: The average length is about 14 inches.

Weight: About 2 to 3 pounds.

Color: Gray, olive green, and silver.

Reproduction

Most largemouth bass begin to spawn when they weigh 1 to 3 pounds. The spawning season begins in early spring, depending on the water temperature. In areas with enough food and good habitat such as water plants, largemouths can grow fast.

Food

Largemouth bass eat underwater insects, other fish, frogs, snakes, and sometimes even ducklings. They use their sense of smell to tell if something is good to eat.

Predators

Any larger predatory fish including bass, walleyes, northern pike and muskies.

Habitat and range

Largemouth bass are found throughout Minnesota in lakes, ponds, impoundments, rivers, and wetlands. Anglers usually find them along underwater weed lines, or in the shade of fallen trees, boulders, and stumps.

Population and management

Although many people fish for largemouth bass, the population of this species is healthy. The reason is simple: more and more anglers practice catch and release. The DNR stocks some largemouth bass, but most bodies of water have plenty of this species due to natural reproduction.

Fun facts

The largemouth bass looks a lot like its cousin the smallmouth bass. But on the largemouth bass, the back of the mouth goes back much farther than the back of the eye. On the smallmouth, the back of the mouth does only to the middle of the eye.