Rock bass are small to medium sized sunfish, reaching six to ten inches in length. They are brownish in color with several dark bars or blotches mottling their sides. Rock bass have similar feeding habits to other sunfish, eating mostly aquatic insects, crayfish, and small fishes. Nests are built in a variety of bottom types, including gravel, mud, and in vegetation. Like the black basses, rock bass also keep their nests well separated.
Rock bass are popular with many New York State anglers.
They generally occur in groups and readily bite live bait, small spinners, plugs, and poppers. Since rock bass are often found with smallmouth bass, bass anglers sometimes consider them a nuisance. With the exception of the Adirondacks, the black crappie is common in waters across New York State. It is usually found in clear, quiet waters of lakes, ponds, and larger rivers where there is abundant vegetation. Black crappies average eight to twelve inches in length and are easily recognized by their highly compressed, diamond shaped bodies.