Ontario-Great Lakes Area Fact Sheets

Smallmouth Bass

General Description

The smallmouth bass is a member of the sunfish family and has the following characteristics:

• a robust, laterally compressed body;
• a large, long, head with dark bars which radiate back from the eyes;
• a long, blunt snout with a slightly longer lower jaw;
• two joined dorsal fins which appear as one;
• the back and top of the head are brown, golden brown through olive to green;
• the sides are lighter than the back, more golden with golden flecks on most scales and marked by 8 - 15 pronounced to vague, thin vertical bars;
• the underside is cream to milk-white; the pectoral fins are clear and the others are opaque, dark to amber with some black on rays, spines or membranes;
• the body colour is variable with size, condition and habitat: in clear water hey are darker with pronounced, contrasting markings; and, in turbid water they are lighter with vague markings.

Distribution

The smallmouth bass is a freshwater fish that is native to the lakes and rivers of eastern central North America. In Canada, it occurs in southern Nova Scotia, southern and western New Brunswick, southern Quebec, through Ontario at the latitude of Timmins, at the south end of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, in central Saskatchewan, in the Columbia River system of eastern British Columbia and Saltspring and southern Vancouver Island.

Habitat and Life History

The smallmouth bass is a warm-water fish species, usually found in rocky and sandy areas of lakes and rivers in moderately shallow water and near rocks of shoals or submerged logs. It is less often associated with dense growths of aquatic vegetation than largemouth bass. The smallmouth bass spawns in late spring and early summer, usually from late May to early July. The male builds a nest in 61 - 610 cm (2 - 20 feet) of water on a sandy, gravel, or rocky bottom, of lakes and rivers, usually near the protection of rocks or logs. After spawning, the male guards the nest and fans the eggs. The eggs hatch in approximately 4 - 10 days and the young are about 5.6 - 5.9 mm in length. After 5 - 7 days, the young begin to leave the nest, but are guarded by the male for several days.

Food Habits

The food of the smallmouth bass is mainly composed of insects, crayfish and fishes. The smallmouth bass takes this variety of food from the surface, in the water column, and off the bottom.

Economic Importance

The smallmouth bass is an important commercial, recreational and sport fish. It is one of the most important fishes in the huge sport fishery and associated tourist industries in eastern Canada.

The smallmouth bass is an excellent food fish, marketed fresh and frozen.

Fishing Facts

The sunfish family of fishes includes some of the most highly coloured and attractive North American warm-water fishes.

The smallmouth bass hybridizes in nature with the spotted bass.

Further Information

For further information, please contact your local DFO office: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans-habitat/habitat/aboutus-apropos/regions/arctic-arctique_e.asp?#1