page_title: Smallmouth bass
section_title: Angling
hierarchical_section_title: Smallmouth bass / Angling
caption_attribution_description: Čeština&#x202f;&#x3a;&#32; Okounek černý (Micropterus dolomieu)Deutsch&#x3a;&#32; Schwarzbarsch (Micropterus dolomieu)English&#x3a;&#32; Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)Français&#x202f;&#x3a;&#32; Achigan à petite bouche (Micropterus dolomieu)Italiano&#x202f;&#x3a;&#32; Micropterus dolomieuPolski&#x3a;&#32; Bass małogębowy (Micropterus dolomieu)Suomi&#x3a;&#32; Pikkubassi (Micropterus dolomieu)Русский&#x202f;&#x3a;&#32; Малоротый окунь (Micropterus dolomieu)Українська&#x3a;&#32; Окунь малоротий (Micropterus dolomieu)
context_page_description: The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus. One of the black basses, it is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stocking—as well as illegal introductions—to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so introduced in the United States. The maximum recorded size is approximately 27 inches and 12 pounds. The smallmouth bass is native to the upper and middle Mississippi River basin, the Saint Lawrence River–Great Lakes system, and up into the Hudson Bay basin.The world record size was over 11 pounds caught in the lake Dale Hollow, on the Kentucky—Tennessee border. Its common names include smallmouth, bronzeback, brown bass, brownie, smallie, bronze bass, and bareback bass.
context_section_description: In the United States, smallmouth bass were first introduced outside of their native range with the construction of the Erie Canal in 1825, extending the fish's range into central New York state.  During the mid-to-late 19th century, smallmouth were transplanted via the nation's rail system to lakes and rivers throughout the northern and western United States, as far as California.  Shippers found that smallmouth bass were a hardy species that could be transported in buckets or barrels by rail, sometimes using the spigots from the railroad water tanks to aerate the fingerlings.  They were introduced east of the Appalachians just before the Civil War, and afterwards transplanted to the states of New England.
  With increased industrialization and land use changes, many of the nation's eastern trout rivers were polluted or experienced elevated water temperatures, reducing the range of native brook trout. Smallmouth bass were often introduced to northern rivers with increased water temperatures and slowly became a popular gamefish with many anglers.  Equally adaptable to large, cool-water impoundments and reservoirs, the smallmouth also spread far beyond its original native range. Later, smallmouth populations also began to decline after years of damage caused by overdevelopment and pollution, as well as a loss of river habitat caused by damming many formerly wild rivers to form lakes or reservoirs. In recent years, a renewed emphasis on preserving water quality and riparian habitat in the nation's rivers and lakes, together with stricter management practices, eventually benefited smallmouth populations and has caused a resurgence in their popularity with anglers.
  Today, smallmouth bass are very popular game fish, frequently sought by anglers using conventional spinning and bait casting gear, as well as fly fishing tackle. The smallmouth bass is potentially the toughest fighting freshwater fish in North America, and is commonly the targeted species in many fresh water fishing tournaments. In addition to wild populations, the smallmouth bass is stocked in cool rivers and lakes throughout Canada and the United States.  In shallow streams, it is a wary fish, though usually not to the extent of most trout.  The smallmouth is highly regarded for its topwater fighting ability when hooked – old fishing journals referred to the smallmouth bass as "ounce for ounce and pound for pound the gamest fish that swims".  Smallmouth bass are not usually taken for the table, but rather are caught and released by most anglers. However, smaller specimens in cooler water often have higher quality filets of white, firm flesh when cooked.  
  The current all-tackle world record for a smallmouth bass is 11 lb 15 oz, caught by David Hayes in the Dale Hollow Reservoir, on the Kentucky/Tennessee border, in 1955.
caption: Illustration of a group of smallmouth bass
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