# Smallmouth Bass (*Micropterus dolomieu*) The Smallmouth Bass is a fun fish that loves to swim in clear lakes and rivers. It has a small mouth and is known for being a great fighter when caught! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Lakes and rivers - **Also known as:** Bronze Bass, Rochelle Bass, Smallmouth ![Smallmouth Bass](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426661/objects/4666.jpg) ## Appearance The Smallmouth Bass has a bronzy-brown to olive-green body with darker vertical bars that sometimes break into spots. Its distinguishing feature is its large mouth, with the upper jaw extending only to the middle of its eye. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Centrarchidae - **Genus:** Micropterus ## Interesting facts - Male bass build and guard the nest, a true underwater dad! - Smallmouth Bass are sometimes called "bronze-backs" for their shimmering color. - They are famous for their exciting fighting spirit when caught by anglers! - They prefer clear, cool water with rocky bottoms and swift currents. ## Special abilities - **Rocky Retreat:** Smallmouth Bass can change color slightly to match rocky riverbeds, which helps them blend in and ambush prey or avoid predators. - **Super Sight Hunter:** Smallmouth Bass has excellent eyesight that helps them spot tiny insects and darting minnows even in low light or clear water. - **Parent Protector:** Smallmouth Bass can fiercely guard their nests and newly hatched young, protecting them from hungry invaders. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 25-60 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-5.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-12 years - **Swim Speed:** 20 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 15 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding These hungry hunters eat many small creatures, like insects, crayfish, and minnows! - **Age differences:** Young bass eat mostly tiny insects; adults eat larger prey like fish and crayfish. - **Primary Foods:** Crayfish, Aquatic insects, Minnows, Frogs - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Red Swamp Crayfish (*Procambarus clarkii*) — A top food choice for hungry adult bass. - **Eats:** Fathead Minnow (*Pimephales promelas*) — An important food source for both young and adult bass. - **Eaten by:** [Osprey](https://www.snappit.app/explore/osprey) (*Pandion haliaetus*) — Large birds of prey often snatch bass from the water. - **Eaten by:** [North American River Otter](https://www.snappit.app/explore/north-american-river-otter) (*Lontra canadensis*) — Clever mammals that hunt fish in rivers and lakes. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Smallmouth Bass? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Smallmouth Bass? 25-60 cm ### How much does Smallmouth Bass weigh? 0.5-5.5 kg ### How long does Smallmouth Bass live? 6-12 years ### What does Smallmouth Bass eat? These hungry hunters eat many small creatures, like insects, crayfish, and minnows! ### How fast can Smallmouth Bass swim? 20 km/h ### Where is Smallmouth Bass usually found? Lakes and rivers ### How does Smallmouth Bass hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Algonquin Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/algonquin-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Grand Caverns](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-caverns) — Virginia, US · Natural Landmark - [Ridgewood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ridgewood-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Camp Edwin F. Glenn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-edwin-f-glenn) — Indiana, US · Historic Site - [Canoe Landing Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canoe-landing-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park [View all places to see Smallmouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/smallmouth-bass) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Smallmouth Bass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/smallmouth-bass)