25 Interesting Facts About Largemouth Bass

Are you look for some cool facts about largemouth bass?

If so, you are in the right place.

In this post, we will look at 25 facts that you probably didn’t know about these fish.

Let’s get started…

Largemouth Bass Profile

• Scientific Name: Micropterus Salmoides
• Family: Centrarchidae (sunfish family)
• Native: North America
• Where they can be found: United States, Europe, South Africa, Guam, Lebanon, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines
• Common names: black bass, bucket mouth, largies, bigmouth bass, green bass and LMB (Largemouth Bass)

25 Largemouth Bass Facts

1. What Other Names Do Largemouth Have?

Many anglers refer to theses giants as:

• Black bass
• Bucketmouth
• Largies
• Bigmouth bass
• Green Bass
• LMB (largemouth bass)
• Lunkers
• Toads

2. What Do Largemouth Bass Look Like?

Largemouth bass are olive green in color with dark sometimes black blotches that form a line along the side of the fish.

It has a single dorsal fin that almost appears to be separated located on its back. The dorsal fin has a spiny section and a softer section.

It is most well known for its largemouth that extends well past its eye, hence the name largemouth bass.

3. Do Largemouth Bass Have Scales?

Yes, they do. There are two types of scales that a fish can have, either ctenoid or cycloid scales. Ctenoid scales have jagged edges while cycloid scales that have round edges. Largemouth bass have ctenoid scales.

4. What do largemouth bass eat?

Largemouth bass enjoy eating: shad, trout, panfish, crawfish, frogs, worms, insects, smaller bass, small birds and yes even mice.

Remember largemouth bass are predators so if it moves in or on the water, there is a good chance these fish are going to eat it or at least try to eat it.

In fact, because of their large mouth they can inhale prey that is half their size.

You may also enjoy reading: What Do (Largemouth/Smallmouth) Bass Eat?- #11 May Surprise You!

5. Where are largemouth bass found?

Largemouth bass are native to the Eastern United States.

Due to the fact they are a popular fish to fish for and because they can thrive in a variety of different climates they have been introduced into a number of different countries.

Today largemouth bass can be found in the United States, Europe, South Africa, Guam, Lebanon, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

6. Can Largemouth Bass Live In Saltwater?

No, largemouth bass are freshwater fish You can find them in rivers, ponds, lakes, streams throughout the United States

You can also find them in Brackish water which is a mixture of freshwater and saltwater.

7. How Long Can A Largemouth Bass Live Out Of Water?

Studies have shown that a largemouth bass can live between 10 to 13 minutes of out water.

With that being said, just because they survive an extended time out of the water, doesn’t mean you should keep them out for that long. The best practice should be to return the fish back into the water as soon as possible.

8. How often do largemouth eat?

Much of their eating habits depend on the season other as well as other conditions like the water temperature.

Generally, when the water temperature is warmer their metabolism picks up and they are actively looking for food.

When the temperature is below 50 degrees they eat very little. As it increases (50-68 degrees) they begin to feed more regularly.

They tend to feed more when the water temperature is between 68 to 80 degrees. When the water temperature reaches 80 degrees the fish start to slow down.

9. What Time Of Day Are Largemouth Bass Most Active?

Largies generally are most active in the early morning hours and at night.

However, this can vary greatly depending on the season, water temperature and sunlight.

10. Do Largemouth Bass Sleep?

Yes, bass like most fish do sleep, but perhaps not in the way that you imagine.

Oftentimes, they will hover near the boat or in a safe location. During this period they are aware of things going on around them and obviously they can’t shut their eyes because they don’t have eyelids.

It is during this time that largies will enter a state of inactivity in order to recharge and regain energy.

11. Do Largemouth Bass Have Teeth?

Yes, largemouth bass have small needle-like teeth located on lips. These teeth help them to hold on and crush their prey. However this isn’t a reason to fear them, their teeth aren’t big enough to cause any serious injury.

12. Do Largemouth Bass Bite Humans?

No, largemouth bass do not bite humans. In fact, in most cases they are more afraid of us then we are of them.

The worse thing you may experience is what many anglers call Bass Thumb. This is when your thumb feels likes you ran it across a piece of sandpaper because of holding many bass from their jaw.

12. When Do Largemouth Bass Spawn

Largemouth bass typically spawn in the spring months when the water temperature reaches 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the warmer states such as Texas and Florida the spawn can happen as early as February and into March. For the northern states such as Maine and Washington, where it is a little cooler the water doesn’t reach this temperature until late May or early June.

13. How Long Do Largemouth Bass Spawn?

The whole process takes about 3 weeks. It first begins when a male bass will move up into shallow water and start to build a next. They usually build the nest on a hard bottom area.

After the nest is built the female will come and lay her eggs. Once she has laid the eggs she leaves the nest and the male is left behind to protect the nest.

Depending on the water temperature it can take 2 to 5 days before the eggs hatch.

The male will protect the nest and later the fry until they are self-sufficient.

13. How Many Eggs Does A Largemouth Bass Lay?

Female largemouth bass lay about 4,000 eggs per pound. That means that most females lay between 2,000 to 30,000 eggs at a time, depending on her size.

During the spawn, a female can spawn once, twice or three different times on multiple nests.

Once laid, only about 2,000 to 12,000 eggs will hatch.

14. How Long Does It Take For The Eggs To Hatch?

Depending on the conditions it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 days for the eggs to hatch.

After they have hatched they will feed on the yolk sac all while under the watchful care of their father.

After a few weeks, the father will no longer guard the nest and the fry will be on their own.

15. What Do Largemouth Fry Eat?

Once they have hatched fry will begin to feed on the yolk sac of the egg. At eight days old they will begin to feed on zooplankton, which is a very small plankton, and insect larvae.

As they get bigger, they will start to feed on small insects and then small fish.

16. How Long Do Largemouth Live?

The average life expectancy is around 15 years, but most will only live until they are 11 years old.

17. How Fast Do Largemouth Grow?

Depending on the area and the conditions a largie can grow 4 to 6 inches in the first year or two, 8 to 12 inches in the second to third year and it can take up to 3 years to hit that 16 inch mark.

The bottom line is that it takes a long time to grow those trophy fish.

Keep in this mind the next time you catch a hog and always treat her with care.

18. How Big Do Largemouth Bass Get?

The largest bass ever caught was 29.5 inches long and weighed over 22 pounds.

However, typically largemouth bass will grow to about 18 or 19 inches long. Depending on where they live they could reach a maximum weight of 10 pounds in the northern states and a maximum of 20 pounds in the south.

Keep in mind that is the maximum weight that they can grow to.

The average largies that you are going to catch in the northern states might be between 4 to 6 pounds and in the southern states 5 to 8 pounds.

19. What Is The World Record For Largemouth Bass?

The biggest largemouth bass ever caught is 22.5 pounds by Manabu Kurita in 2009. He caught this giant fishing with a live bluegill in Japan.

However, according to the official rules in order to become a world record, you have to beat the current record by two ounces.

His fish only weighed one ounce more than the current record so technically he tied with the previous world record caught by George Perry in 1932.

George caught a giant 22.4-pound largemouth bass in Montgomery Lake in Georgia.

Largest Largemouth Bass By State

• Alaska – an unknown angler caught a .5 pound on Sand Lake in 2008
• Alabama – Thomas Burgin caught a 16 lbs, 8 oz on Mountain View Lake in 1987 
• Arizona – Randall White caught a 16 lbs, 7 oz on Canyon Lake in  1997 
• Arkansas – Ann Mardis caught a 16 lbs, 8 oz on Mallard Lake in 1976 
• California – Micheal Arujo caught a 21 lbs, 12 oz on Lake Castaic in 1991 
• Colorado – Jarrett Edwards caught an 11 lbs, 6 oz on Echo Canyon Reservoir in 1997 
• Connecticut – Frank Domurat caught a 12 lbs, 14 oz on Mashapaug Pond in 1961 
• Delaware- AJ Klein caught an 11 lbs, 10 oz on Wagamons Pond in  2016 
• Florida – Billy  O’Berry caught a 17 lbs, 27 oz on an Unnamed Lake in 1986 
• Georgia – George Perry caught a 22 lbs, 4 oz on Montgomery Lake in 1932 
• Hawaii – Dickie Broyles caught a 9 lbs, 9.4 oz on Waita Reservoir in 1992 
• Idaho – M.W. Taylor caught a 10 lbs, 15 oz on Anderson Lake, year unknown
• Illinois – Edward Walbe caught a 13 lbs, 1 oz on Stone Quarry
  Lake in 1976 
• Indiana – Jenifer Schultz caught a 14 lbs, 12 oz on an Unnamed Lake in 1991 
• Iowa – Patricia Zaerr caught a10 lbs, 14 oz on Lake Fisher in 1984
• Kansas – Tyson Hallam caught an 11 lbs, 12.8 oz, on a Private Pit Lake in 2008
• Kentucky – Mark Ward caught a 14 lbs, 9.5 oz on Highsplint Lake in 2019
• Louisiana – Greg Wiggins caught a15.97 lbs on Caney Lakein 1994
• Maine – Rodney Cockrell caught an 11 lbs, 10 oz on Moose Pond in 1968
• Maryland – Colton Lambert caught an 11 lbs, 6 oz on Huntington Farm Pond in 2013
• Massachusetts – Walter Bolonis caught a 15 lbs, 8 oz on Sampson Pond in 1975
• Michigan – William Maloney caught an 11 lbs, 15.04 oz on Big Pine Island Lake in 1934
• Minnesota – an unknown angler caught an 8 lbs, 15 oz on Auburn Lake in 2005
• Mississippi – Anthony Denny caught an 18 lbs, 2.4 oz on Natchez State Park Lake in 1992
• Missouri – Marvin Bushong caught a 13 lbs, 14 oz on Bull Shoals Lake in 1961
• Montana – Darin Williams caught an 8 lbs, 12.8 oz on Noxon Rapids Reservoir in 2009
• Nebraska – Paul Abegglen Sr. caught a 10 lbs, 11 oz on Sandpit Near Columbus in 1965
• Nevada – Micheal R. Geary caught a12 pounder on Lake Mead in 1999
• New Hampshire – G. Bullpit caught a 10 lbs, 8 oz on Lake Potanipo in 1967
• New Jersey – Robert Eisele caught a 10 lbs, 14 oz on Menantico Sand Wash Pond in 1980
• New Mexico – Steve Estrada caught a 15 lbs, 13 oz on Bill Evans Lake in 1995
• New York – John L. Higbie caught an 11 lbs, 4 oz on Buckhorn Lake in 1987
• North Carolina – William H. Wofford caught a 15 lbs, 14 oz on a Private Pond in 1991
• North Dakota – Leon Rixen caught an 8 lbs, 7.5 oz on Nelson Lake in 1983
• Ohio – Roy Landsberger caught a 13 lbs, 2 oz on a Private Pond in 1976
• Oklahoma – Dale Miller caught a 14 lbs, 13.7 oz on Cedar Lake in 2013
• Oregon – B. Adam Hastings caught an 11 lbs, 1.6 oz on Ballenger Pond in 2002
• Pennsylvania – Donald Shade caught an 11 lbs, 3 oz on Birch Run Reservoir in 1983
• Rhode Island – Brandon Migliore caught an 11 lbs, 3.2 oz on Johnson’s Pond in 2016
• South Carolina – P.H. Flanagan 16 lbs, 2 oz on Lake Marion in 1949
• South Dakota – Richard Vierick caught a 9 lbs, 3 oz on Hudson Gravel Pit in 1999
• Tennessee – Gabe Keen caught a 15 lbs, 3 oz on Chickamauga Lake in 2015
• Texas – Barry St.Clair caught an 18 lbs, 2.8 oz on Lake Fork in 1992
• Utah – Sam Lamanna caught a 10 lbs, 2 oz on Powell Lake in 1974
• Vermont – Tony Gale caught a10 lbs, 4 oz on Lake Dunmore in 1988
• Virginia – Richard Tate caught a 16 lbs, 4 oz on Connor Lake in 1985
• Washington – Bill Evans caught a 12 lbs, 9 oz on Lake Bosworth in 2016
• West Virginia – Eli Gain caught a 9 lbs, 9.9 oz on Dog Run Lake in 2001
• Wisconsin – an unknown angler caught a 11 lbs, 3 oz on Ripley Lake in 1940
• Wyoming – Caleb Salzman caught an 11 lbs, 9 oz on Kleenburn Ponds in 2018

20. Do Largemouth Bass Hibernate?

No bass do not hibernate. As the water temperature drops bass will become less active and feed less frequently. However, even in winter, they will continue to feed.

21. Are Largemouth Bass Territorial?

Yes, Black bass are extremely territorial fish. This is especially true during the spawning season. Anything that comes on or near the nest they will attack without thinking twice about it.

Big bass also tend to be solitary and territorial.

22. Can You Eat Largemouth Bass?

Yes, you can eat largemouth bass.

There is a lot of controversy about whether or not to eat bass Many anglers feel that by eating bass you are preventing them from growing and you are limiting the number of bass in lakes.

However, I feel that in order for bass to get big, you need to remove some of the smaller ones. This is going to reduce the number of bass in a body of water and thus improve their chances of getting bigger.

With that being said, I personally don’t see anything wrong with eating largemouth bass from time to time, but that is just my opinion I respect the opinions of others.

With that being said there are a number of different ways to prepare a bass fillet.

One of my favorite ways to cook them is to fry them.

Here is a simple and easy recipe to follow:

23. What Do Largemouth Bass Taste Like?

Largemouth bass is a white meat that has a strong taste to it. Unlike other fish it tastes more meaty than flaky and thus a reason why many people choose to walleye or perch over largemouth bass.

24. Do Largemouth Bass See Color?

Yes, bass can see in color. It is for that reason that many people feel that red is a good color to have on your fishing lure as it looks like the backside of the gills of a fleeing fish.

Do red hooks perform better than normal hooks? That is a hard one to answer, but knowing that LMBs can see in color does show us the importance of choosing the right color.

25. Can Largemouth Bass Smell?

Yes, largemouth bass can smell and at times they use this sense to hunt down their prey.

For us, as humans, when a scent enters the air it quickly dissipates. However, in the water, a smell can linger around for much longer.

Bass can then use their two nostrils located on either side of their head to detect odors even in small quantities.

Their sense of smell becomes especially important when the visibility of the water is low. In order to survive and find food they will have to rely on its sense of smell to track down prey.

Final Thoughts…

There you have it! 25 facts about these interesting fish.

Now it is your turn. What do you like most about these fish? Share your thoughte in the comments below.