Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides Family: Sunfish family (Centrarchidae) Other Names: black, bayou, green or slough bass, green trout Description: dark green back, greenish sides often with dark lateral band; belly white to gray; large, forward-facing mouth; lower jaw extends to rear margin of eye Habitat: shallow, fertile, weedy lakes and river backwaters; weedy bays of large lakes Range: southern Canada through the U.S. into Mexico; extensively introduced throughout the world; common throughout Indiana Food: small fish, frogs, crayfish, insects Reproduction: spawning takes place in May and June when water temperatures reach 60 degrees; male builds nest in a weedbed less than 6 feet deep; male fans and guards the nest until the "brood swarm" disperses Average Size: 12 to 20 inches, 1 to 5 pounds Records: State--14 pounds, 12 ounces, private lake, Lake Harrison County, 1991; North American--22 pounds, 4 ounces, Montgomery Lake, Georgia, 1932 Notes: The Largemouth Bass is the most sought after game fish in North America. This denizen of the weeds is a voracious carnivore, eating anything that is alive and will fit into its mouth. Largemouths are native to Indiana and were stocked in any waters that would sustain them. Largemouth Bass run one to two pounds, with six and seven pounders not uncommon in Indiana. They are quite tasty when taken from clean water, but tend to be sightly mud-flavored when taken from silty water. Similar Species: Smallmouth Bass (pg.

156), Spotted Bass (pg. 158) Largemouth Bass: mouth extends well beyond eye Smallmouth Bass: mouth doesn't extend past eye Spotted Bass: mouth doesn't extend past eye Largemouth Bass: deep notch between dorsal fins Smallmouth Bass: shallow notch between dorsal fins Spotted Bass: shallow notch between dorsal fins.