Description
Non-native. Introduced in 1897. Very large mouth with upper jaw of adults
extending beyond rear margin of eye. Dark olive-green on the back with
green sides shading to white belly. Dark horizontal band on each side.
Deep notch in dorsal fin. Soft dorsal fin usually has 12 to 13 rays.
Length: 10 to 28 inches. Weight: 8 ounces to over 15 pounds.
Location and
Habitat
Found in the Colorado, Gila, lower Salt and lower Verde Rivers and their
associated reservoirs. A warm water fish that prefers clear water with
structure and cover. Generally, bass move to deep water during the day
and return to the shallows to feed at night. Bass spawn from March through
June.
Food
Bass are carnivorous, eating anything that moves. Their main diet is fish,
such as, sunfish and shad. They will also take crayfish and aquatic insects
when other foods are hard to find.
Angling
Largemouth bass are caught on a variety of baits, both natural and artificial.
Depending on the time of the year, bass can be caught in shallow water
with a surface lure or deep with jigs or plastic worms. An angler should
think structure when bass fishing. Bass concentrate around submerged trees,
aquatic vegetation and underwater drop-offs.
Table
Quality
The meat is mild tasting, white, flaky, firm and low in oil content.
