Streams with alternating riffles flowing over large rocks, and large pools with cover, make up ideal habitat. They are usually found near cover which they use for ambushing their prey and to hide from predators. Cover usually consists of overhanging banks, submerged boulders, submerged tree roots, and piles of woody debris. The larger fish take up residence in the pools but also use shallower water to find food. DIET Smallmouth bass are predators, surviving primarily on crayfish, minnows, and insects, though small mammals are eaten occasionally.
Food preferences vary between waters, and depends somewhat on the time of day.
Since smallmouth bass rely on sight to locate prey, the amount of light affects their ability to locate food. There's little doubt that crayfish are their favorite food. But since crayfish are nocturnal, they're not always readily available. They might feed on crayfish the most at dusk and dawn, two periods when both animals are active. In midday, smallmouths in flowing water may take up a station alongside of rocks to ambush food that drifts past.