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; 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 worldwide; common throughout Ohio 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--13 pounds, 2 ounces, private pond, 1976; 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 most of Ohio and by the early 1900s were stocked in any water that would sustain them. Largemouth Bass run 1 to 2 pounds, with 6- and 7-pounders not uncommon in Ohio. They are very tasty when small and taken from clean water, but tend to be sightly muddy flavored when taken from silty water. Similar Species: Smallmouth Bass (pg.

144), Spotted Bass (pg. 146) Largemouth Bass: mouth extends well beyond non-red eye Smallmouth Bass: mouth does not extend beyond red eye Spotted Bass: mouth does not extend well beyond eye.