Largemouth Bass

The Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides, is a member of the Sunfish family along with the Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Crappie, and Smallmouth Bass.

The back of the Largemouth is black or dark green and mottled, with varying shades of green to brownish green on sides, and an off-white belly.The most distinctive marking is the horizontal dark band running along the side from head to tail. The head is a greenish gold color. The upper jay extends past the rear edge of the eye.

Largemouth bass can be found in a wide range of freshwater habitats. They prefer warm, slow streams and quiet, heavily vegetated lakes. Largemouth Bass prefer clear water such as found in reservoirs and ponds; however they can also be found in backwaters and sloughs.

The Largemouth prefers water temperatures from 65 to 85 degrees and is usually found at depths less than 20 feet.

The largemouth bass' diet changes with size. Young fish feed on microscopic animals (zooplankton) and small crustaceans such as grass shrimp and crayfish. Fingerling bass feed on insects, crayfish, and small fishes. Adult bass will eat whatever is available including fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, salamanders, snakes, mice, turtles and even birds.

Largemouth Bass Fishing Tips

Bigmouths eat most anything and will strike just about any live or artificial bait. The most productive lures include plastic worms, surface plugs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, bass bugs and shiner minnows.

Largies may be found in Lake Lowell, St. Joe River and connecting lakes up North, smaller ponds and lakes all around Idaho.

The Idaho record Largemouth is 10 lbs. 15 oz. from Anderson Lake, a chain of lakes on the Coeur d’ Alene River