Two types of black bass are often caught by North American anglers. Among the most popular freshwater fish in North America, the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass look similar but have considerably different lifestyles.

Largemouth Bass Facts

Adult largemouth weigh up to 20 pounds and can live up to 15 years.

The native range of largemouth bass is the largest of all black bass species. It has been widely introduced beyond its historical limits and is now found in most of the USA.

Largemouth bass are most abundant in shallow, weedy lakes. They are also found in farm ponds, mill ponds, and other small bodies of water.

Largemouth also live in tidal rivers and creeks and can tolerate brackish water more than some other freshwater species.

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is a serious problem  in some lakes and reservoirs. Outbreaks of the disease in an impoundment often reduce bass populations significantly.

Other names for the species include large mouth, bucket mouth, green bass, black bass, river bass.

Smallmouth Bass Facts

Smallmouth bass weigh as much as 6 pounds. They have been known to live as long as 15 years, although fish over 7 years of age are considered uncommon.

Smallmouth bass are found in clear, cool lakes, rivers, and streams.  They prefer large lakes over 100 acres in size and deeper than 30 feet rather than shallow ponds.

Smallmouth bass feed primarily on crayfish and small fish. As adults grow larger, crayfish and small fish make up an even larger part of their diet.

Bass in lakes tend to be more abundant and faster growing than those living in rivers and streams.
Individuals in warmer, southern reservoirs tend to grow faster, but have shorter lifespans than fish from cooler lakes and streams.

In flowing streams, smallmouth tend to be found in deep pools and around rocks. In some streams, adults may occupy a specific pool for the entire warm season.

Smallmouth bass have been introduced into several northern lakes outside their historical range. In northern lakes, the introduction of non-native smallmouth bass has had negative impacts on native species including, brook trout, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, and other fish.

Members of this species are known to seek shade in warm weather and also move into deeper, cooler water during summer.

According to a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Fisheries Biologist, a local angler may have caught and released the oldest largemouth bass in Montana. The bass might also be one of the oldest surviving largemouth bass in North America.

10-year old Garrett Frost of Kalispell caught and released a tagged largemouth bass in Rose Creek Slough on July 16, 2011. The fish was estimated to be 20-22 inches in length and weigh approximately 3.5 lbs.

Prior to releasing the fish, the angler spotted a tag on the fish and recovered it. Fishery Worker Jon Cavigli checked the database and found that the bass had carried this floy tag for 14 years.

According to Garret’s father, Tyler, the bass appeared to be in good condition, and weighed 3-1/2 pounds on his scale.

According to the tag information, the bass was caught and tagged by Phil Rivard in Fennon Slough on October 3, 1997. At that time the fish was 14.2” long and weighed 1.5 lbs.

Based on the size of the largemouth bass in 1997 and the age-growth database, Deleray estimates that the fish was probably 5 years old when tagged. Adding that age with how long the tag was in the fish places its age at 19 years old. This may be the oldest confirmed largemouth bass reported in Montana.

Most sources place the maximum age at 15 or 16 for largemouth bass in the northern United States. Deleray is contacting other fisheries biologists, and, so far, has not found any records of largemouth bass as old as the Rose Creek Slough bass.

Largemouth bass in Montana are at the northern edge of their range. Fish tend to grow slower and live longer in the cold waters found in Montana and other northern states.

source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Fisheries

spring largemouth bass

During spring, anglers enjoy excellent fishing for members of the black bass family. Black bass, including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass and other species feed aggressively in spring, in preparation for spawning.

In parts of North America, bass adapt their feeding patterns in spring, as forage species become available. In some habitats, fish species migrate into spring habitats almost overnight, causing bass to follow.

In spawning areas, bass may eat the spawning species, or feed on minnows or other fish that arrive to feast on fish eggs. Bass in these areas are in ambush mode, and will attack small spinnerbaits, jigs, soft plastics, or other lures that imitate minnows and other small fish.

Bass can act strangely during the spring. For example, bass are sometimes seen very close to the water's edge, preying on sunfish, crayfish and other species that hide among shoreline vegetation, tree branches or other obstructions. These fish can be targeted with senko type worms, top water plugs or other shallow water lures.

In shallow areas bordered by drop offs, lily pads (spadderdock) begin to appear and bass quickly begin patrolling these areas. As lily pad beds expand, micro-communities thrive. The lily pad community food chain begins tiny insects and invertebrates, followed by minnows, sunfish, perch, frogs and other forage species. As the season progresses these areas become important feeding areas for largemouth and other bass species.

Fishing these areas requires weedless lures which imitate natural inhabitants. Good choices for fishing around lily pads include senko worms, texas worm rigs, buzz baits, soft plastic frogs and weedless spoons.

Spinnerbaits are excellent lures for catching bass, crappie, bream, yellow perch and other freshwater fish, especially during cool weather when fish are sluggish.

Most panfish spinnerbaits use a special metal arm and jig combination. One end of the arm is equipped with a swivel and a silver or gold blade. The other end of the arm is equipped with a snap for connecting to the jig.

These simple designs have several advantages:

 - Their modular construction allows anglers to easily change soft plastic lure bodies or jig heads.

 - Most models can be purchased with or without a jig.

 - Simple spinnerbaits catch a wide range of species, including largemouth bass, black crappie, bream sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, and chain pickerel.

 - Anglers can choose from a variety of soft plastic bodies, marabou jigs or add bait strips.

 - Due to their design, spinnerbaits are less likely to get hung up on limbs or other underwater obstructions. 

 - Spinnerbaits can be worked very slowly, allowing sluggish fish time to react.

- Pulsating spinner blades create pressure waves as well as bright flashes which attract fish in murky water.