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Largemouth Bass Quick Facts

Related Links: Bass Fishing Tips   Largemouth Bass Fishing 101

Largemouth Features

The largemouth bass is characterized by an upper jaw that extends behind the eye when the mouth is closed. A dark stripe is present along each side. The body is dark green on the back and upper sides with a white belly. It is a rather slender streamlined fish. Largemouth bass reach lengths up to 16 inches in their third year of life.

Senses of The Largemouth Bass

Lateral Line: The lateral line is located on both sides of the largemouth bass and made up of nerve endings that extend towards the skin of the fish. Whether or not the lateral line actualy allows the bass to locate prey is up for debate.

Sight: Largemouth bass do see in color, much like we do. In muddy water the bass doesn’t rely on vision near as much as their lateral line, hearing, and smell. The largemouth can see up to 100 feet in very clear water.

Hearing: Bass have ears inside of their skull versus the outside. Even with this being the case largemouth are very sensitive sound. Keep in mind water travels much better and further in the water than through the air. So try and keep the noise down when fishing as to not spook potential biters.

Smell: Largemouth also can smell and use this sense to both identify prey and predators. Their sense of smell is very sensitive and this is why a lot of plastic lures such as worms are impregnated with salt or other scents.

Spawning Information

Reaching maturity at an age of three years, largemouth bass spawn when the water temperature reaches 68 to 72 degrees. The male builds a nest by fanning his fins near the bottom. The female deposits 2,000 to 100,000 eggs that hatch in three to six days. The male guards the eggs and young, staying with them for some time after they leave the nest. The largemouth bass has an average life span of five to six years.

Largemouth Bass Habitats

The largemouth bass lives in lakes, ponds, sloughs, rivers, and impoundments. It seeks areas with little or no current. It eats mainly fish, crayfish, and large insects but will eat most any animal in the water that it can swallow. It is active at night.

Largemouth Length To Weight Conversion