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No black bass displays more
spunk than the smallmouth. This aggressive fish strikes many lures and
live baits and delivers a dogged, high-leaping battle when hooked. Since
Smallmouths fare well in natural lakes, impoundments, rivers and streams,
you need a variety of fishing methods to catch them consistently.
Range: Small number of Oklahoma lakes
Habitat: Prefers clear, nonflowing waters with aquatic
vegetation where food and cover are available. They occupy brackish to
freshwater habitats, including upper estuaries, rivers, lakes, reservoirs
and ponds. Also, they can tolerate a wide range of water clarities and
bottom types, prefer water temperatures from 65 to 85 degrees, and are
usually found at depths less than 20 feet.
Spawning Habits: Bass prefer to build nests in hard-bottom
areas along shallow shorelines or in protected areas such as canals and
coves. Depending on her size, the female can lay up to 100,000 eggs,
which are fertilized as they settle into the nest. After spawning is
completed, usually five to 10 days, the male guards the nest and eggs and
later the young (sometimes called fry) attacking anything that approaches
the nest. The female bass stays near the nest or may swim a short
distance and remain listless for up to a day. After hatching, the fry
swim in tight schools, disbanding when the small fish reach a length of
about one inch.
Feeding Habits: The diet of bass changes with its size. Young
fish feed on microscopic animals (zooplankton) and small crustaceans such
as grass shrimp and crayfish. Fingerling bass feed on insects, crayfish,
and small fishes. Adult bass will eat whatever is available, including
fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, salamanders, snakes, mice, turtles and even
birds.
Hot Lakes
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Texoma |
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Tenkiller |
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Skiatook |
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