Large Mouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
March 27, 2012 
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Large Mouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Large Mouth Bass courtesy of sabareq on Flickr!
The large mouth bass covers a bigger percentage of the country than the small mouth, being found from the tip of Florida all the way to the Canadian border. In the southern states it grows to a size of from five to fifteen pounds, averaging in the north country to from three to seven pounds. It is distinguished technically from the smallmouth by the fact that the upper jaw extends to behind the eye. The markings and coloration are similar to the smallmouth, except that it has a pronounced grouping of green splotches along the lateral line. The shape is broader and fatter also.
The largemouth is found mostly in lakes and slow backwater meadow streams, feeding on crayfish, minnows, flies, bugs, frogs and mice. It is a voracious feeder, guarding its nest or locale with devilish killing instinct. Best lures are surface plugs, bugs and flies when the water is calm and underwater wounded minnow plugs when trolled or cast underwater. Spinning, bait casting and fly gear are used for lure as well as bait fishing.
Both species spawn in the late spring and at that time they are most easily provoked by surface lures cast over the spawning beds. In some states, fishing for them at this season is illegal for conservation reasons. They are great fun to cast for at night either from the shore of the lake or from a boat drifted quietly along the coves and stream inlets.
