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Legendary Species · Bass, carp, pike and panfish

Largemouth bass

Micropterus nigricans (syn. M. salmoides)[1]

In largemouth bass the upper jaw reaches far past the back edge of the eye (except in small young), the tongue is smooth, and the dorsal fins are not well connected.[1]

  • 125waters list it
  • 11states and regions
  • 3agency sources
Illustration of a largemouth bass: green body with a dark horizontal stripe and a jaw reaching past the eye
Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Artwork: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Identification

  • In largemouth bass the upper jaw reaches far past the back edge of the eye (except in small young), the tongue is smooth, and the dorsal fins are not well connected.[1]
    What the source says
    “The upper jaw reaches far beyond the rear margin of the eye, except in small young. The tongue is smooth. The dorsal fins are not well connected.”
  • A broad, dark, continuous stripe runs along the middle of the side; the upper body is greenish and the belly white.[1]
    What the source says
    “The upper parts are greenish; the lower sides and belly are white, without dark spots or with spots that are irregularly arranged. The midside has a broad, dark, continuous stripe.”
  • Michigan DNR separates it by a deep notch between the two parts of the dorsal fin and an upper jaw that reaches beyond the back of the eye.[2]
    What the source says
    “Two dorsal fins with a deep notch between spinous and soft-rayed portions, body longer than deep, upper jaw extends beyond rear of eye, body usually light green with a dark green lateral streak.”

Habitat and range

  • Largemouth thrive in warm, moderately clear water with little or no current: lowland lakes, impoundments, stream pools and quiet river backwaters.[1]
    What the source says
    “Found in lowland lakes, artificial impoundments of all sizes, permanent pools of streams, and quiet backwaters of large rivers. The largemouth bass thrives in warm, moderately clear waters with little or no current.”
  • Michigan DNR says largemouth are most active in water of 70-85 F and are seldom found deeper than 20 feet in Michigan.[2]
    What the source says
    “In Michigan, largemouth bass are seldom found deeper than 20 feet. Largemouth bass are most active in warm waters of 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.”
  • The native range includes the St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River) and Mississippi basins from southern Quebec to Minnesota and south to the Gulf.[3]
    What the source says
    “Largemouth Bass are native to the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins from southern Quebec to Minnesota and south to the Gulf.”

Life history

  • In Missouri, largemouth spawn from mid-April through late May or June, building nests on firm, silt-free bottoms away from current or waves.[1]
    What the source says
    “In Missouri, spawning occurs from mid-April through late May or June. They prefer to build their nests on rock or gravelly substrates, but any firm, silt-free bottom will do.”
  • They eat fish, crayfish and large insects, and sometimes frogs, mice, snakes or other small animals that fall into the water.[1]
    What the source says
    “Carnivorous, feeding on fish, crayfish, large insects, and occasionally frogs, mice, snakes, or other small animals that fall into the water.”

Fishing for it: what the agencies say

What agencies and extension services say about catching it, with the source for each line.

  • Michigan DNR says that after spawning some bass, especially largemouth, almost always stay shallow near cover such as weed beds, fallen timber or docks.[2]
    What the source says
    “After spawning, bass typically move out to deeper water, though there are almost always some bass, especially largemouth, in shallow water, usually associated with cover such as weed beds, fallen timber or boat docks.”
  • Bass take all types of flies; fly anglers often use streamers that imitate minnows or crayfish.[2]
    What the source says
    “Similarly, bass can be taken on all types of flies, with fly fishermen often using streamers that imitate minnows or crayfish to take them subsurface.”
General advice (ours, not an agency's)
  • Ask a local shop which flies are working on that lake or river this month.
  • Check the state's size, possession and transport rules before you keep or move a fish.
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Where to fish for largemouth bass

Our 125 water pages whose agency species list names largemouth bass (each list links to the agency page it comes from). A species missing from a list does not mean it is absent: many agencies publish no list for a water.

United States 125 waters

Destination hubs

Hubs that list one of these waters, or that a water page is near: each has guides, shops, licences and trip planning for the area.

Sources

Every fact on this page is our paraphrase of the page cited beside it, read on the date shown. Rules and seasons change: check the agency's current regulations before you fish.

  1. Largemouth Bass | Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri Department of Conservation, read Oct 24, 2026.
  2. Largemouth bass Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read Oct 24, 2026.
  3. Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans) - Species Profile U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program, read Oct 24, 2026.

6 states and regions have a page of largemouth bass waters of its own (five or more waters).