| Searching and then finally catching the big small | | | | Small mouth bass are a very hearty fish that can be |
| mouth bass is a real achievement for the true blue | | | | found in a variety of different settings. These fish |
| American sport fisherman. It is considered to be the | | | | can be found in all kinds of lakes and ponds as well |
| Americas number one fresh water sport. | | | | as rivers and streams of all kinds. Small mouth bass |
| Small mouth bass must be 15 inches long to keep. | | | | are extremely aggressive fish that will hit on virtually |
| There is a 5-inch minimum length limit on. Smallies now | | | | anything. I tested this theory the other day by |
| rank among the top 15 most preferred species. | | | | tossing a night crawler in front of a passing small |
| Known maximum size in Canada exceeds 7.5 pounds. | | | | mouth. Small mouth bass feed heavily upon forage |
| These bass commonly live 5 to 7 years, with a few | | | | like gizzard and thread fin shad. In addition, crayfish, |
| individuals reaching ages from 10 to 20 years. Most | | | | minnows and juvenile pan fish are also abundant |
| bass waters grow some adults to weights of 2 to 3 | | | | throughout the lake. |
| pounds. | | | | Many bass will do well in ponds if they are the only |
| Canadian bass spawn in late spring and early summer | | | | predator. They do not compete well with largemouth |
| at water temperatures ranging from 12.8-20.0 | | | | bass. These fish can even be caught using many of |
| [degrees] . The male builds a saucer-shaped nest, | | | | the same techniques. |
| usually in gravel or rocky substrate, by fanning out an | | | | Finding rocky contours that have perpendicular highs |
| area with his fins until he has cleared an area | | | | and lows in relation to the shoreline are very |
| [approximately equal to]0.5 m in diameter. | | | | productive Small mouth spots. Determine the depth |
| Many bass are also found in cool, clear streams that | | | | the majority of the aggressive fish are being caught |
| are greater than 10.5 m wide with a moderate | | | | and try to maintain the same depth around the entire |
| current. A stream gradient between 0.75 m/km and | | | | edge of structure being fished. Find information on |
| 4.7 m/km is preferred. Small mouth bass are uniquely | | | | basic trends and seasonal patterns of bass here in |
| suited for feeding upon crayfish, which provide an | | | | Canada. |
| energy source not generally available to other fish | | | | Jigs will also catch big fish! Pay close attention to |
| predators.Canada Smallies are usually found along lake | | | | everything you feel as you hop or drag your jig. Jigs |
| shorelines, even during summer when they can | | | | can be tipped with plastic or small pork trailers for |
| tolerate warm near shore water temperatures that | | | | more profile. |
| cause trout predators to seek deep water refuges. | | | | |