largemouth bass

The largemouth is marked by a series of dark, sometimes black, blotches forming a jagged horizontal stripe along each flank. They are usually green with dark blotches that form a horizontal stripe along the middle of the fish on either side. The underside ranges in color from light green to almost white. They have a nearly divided dorsal fin with the anterior portion containing nine spines and the posterior portion containing 12 to 13 soft rays.The upper jaw (maxilla) of a largemouth bass extends beyond the rear margin of the orbit. The largemouth is the largest of the black basses, reaching a maximum recorded overall weight of 22 ¼ pounds. The fish can live as long as 23 years.

The northern largemouth is native to North America, while the Florida-strain largemouth is a hybrid developed by fisheries scientists. Northern and Florida largemouth are known to interbreed, an uncontrollable but undesired circumstance for fisheries resource managers. The Florida strain tends to exhibit faster growth rates and attain a larger weight than the northern, due in part to its preferred temperate climate zone.

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Transitional Tips
Shorter days and cooler nights tip the biological clocks of largemouth bass, including their appetite. Fall triggers the predator instinct of bass, setting off feeding frenzies and movements into and out of shallow and deep water. Here’s a collection of tips to help you make the most of the transition period.

Large versus Small
Exploring nuances and behavior of largemouth bass, when compared to the smallmouth, can only be done at the angle of Al Lindner and his crew of experts. This show examines the differences between the largemouth and smallmouth.

Reading the Clues
Bill Dance is a believer in "listening" to what the bass are trying to tell him. That means understanding basic behavior and signs the fish are displaying, above and below the water, in their feeding habits and more.

Reaction Bait
Jerkbaits get their name from the wrist-snapping action imparted by the angler. For the bass, the erratic darting action of the bait is irresistible to its predator instinct. Here's Roland Martin with a jerkbait lesson.

New Lake Strategies
Glen Lau, the famed underwater cinematographer, believes in cruising new water instead of hurrying up and casting lures into unknown territory. Here's his approach for fishing a new lake for successful bass fishing.

When All Else Fails
You've tried everything in the box and can't get a bass to bite. Downsizing lures won't even work. Under extremely tough fishing conditions, the finesse approach will turn your fishing success around. Here's how to do it.