U. S. Bass Tournaments are a multi-million dollar industry, with the number of participants and spectators rivaling NASCAR. Names like Tom Mann, Jimmy Houston, Fred Arboghast and Buck Perry are as familiar to anglers as Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are to baseball fans. Why has this fish overshadowed the other fine species available? To understand the attraction, you have to understand the fish itself.



The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is also known as the Black Bass, Oswego Bass, Green Bass, and Bucketmouth Bass. They are not a true bass, but the largest member of the panfish family, which includes crappie and sunfish. Native originally to the Eastern United States, it has become one of the most widely distributed gamefish in the world. This is due in part to the fact that it is an incredibly hardy and adaptable fish, and also because of its popularity with anglers. Noted for explosive strikes, completely-airborne leaps, Wild-Weasel evasive maneuvers, incredible strength and stamina, and generally pugnacious attitude, this fish puts up an epic battle on the end of a line.

There are two subspecies of Largemouth Bass in the U. S.: the Florida Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus), and the Northern Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides salmoides). The Florida Largemouth can attain a weight of 20+ pounds. The Northern subspecies seldom exceeds 10 pounds.Largemouth bass are a warm-water fish, thriving in temperatures from 65 degrees F., to 85 degrees F. They can tolerate water in excess of 90 degrees.

Largemouths prefer semi-clear, non-flowing water with plenty of aquatic vegetation and cover. They can be found in ponds, rivers, lakes, and even brackish estuaries. They are nest-builders and spawn when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees. Males prefer to build a nest over a hard bottom, along a shallow shoreline.Largemouth Bass are solitary, ambush-type feeders, and seldom move far from their established territory unless forced out. They will defend their area viciously against all intruders.

Smaller Largemouth Bass may school for a time, but when they mature, they will stake out their own areas and become completely solitary, except for spawning. A Largemouth typically will hide somewhere near, or in dense cover, and remain there until suitable prey comes along, which can be anything from small fish and insects, to swimming mammals and ducks pretty much anything the Bass thinks it can get into its mouth! They are not particularly picky about their food, most of the time. When prey comes near enough, the Bass will shoot from cover and explosively inhale the hapless creature and swallow it whole. If the food is not to their liking, they can spit it out just as quickly, as many a discouraged angler with a multi-hooked lure stuck in his lap can tell you.

One of the trademarks of Largemouth Bass is that whatever they do, they do it decisively. If they bite, they do it viciously. If they don't bite, they don't bite at all.

There is nothing timid about this fish. They are not line-shy, and seldom spook easily. For Largemouth Bass fishing, the bigger and uglier your bait is; the better.