 SPOTTED BASS
Scientific
Name: Micropterus punctulatus
Other
Common Names: spot, Kentucky bass
Identification
The
spotted bass gets its name from the numerous dark spots that
cover the lower side of its greenish, slender body,
below a dark lateral line. Often confused with the largemouth
bass,
spotted bass have a sandpaper-like tooth patch on the tongue that
largemouths lack and the rear of the jaw does not extend behind
the eye as it does in largemouths.
Habitats and
Habits
Spotted bass
are native to southern Illinois, Missouri and Ohio, southward to
eastern Texas and the Gulf, covering
major drainages of the Mississippi River. Crayfish and immature insects make up the bulk of their diet. They
also eat small fish such as bluegill.
Fishing Techniques
Strong
fighters, spotted bass can be caught on a wide variety of natural
and artificial baits using casting,
spinning and fly-fishing gear. Look for spotted bass around aquatic
vegetation, submerged logs and rock or riprap walls in small-to
medium-flowing streams and rivers. While they may be found in reservoirs,
they are
seldom found in natural lakes. Spotted bass are usually caught
much deeper than largemouth and are more inclined to school.
Good Places to
Fish
In North Carolina,
spotted bass are found in several mountain reservoirs, with Lake
Chatuge offering some of the
best fishing. W. Kerr Scott and Hiwasee reservoirs also contain
good populations of spotted bass. Spotted bass can also be caught
in Lake
Norman and in the upper Cape Fear River, where they co-exist with
largemouth bass. As their populations expand within a water body,
spotted bass will often out-compete and replace smallmouth
bass or largemouth bass. For this reason, introductions of spotted bass
can
often have negative impacts on existing sport fisheries.
NCARP Minimum
Requirements: 2
pounds or 15 inches
State
Record:
6 lbs., .5 pounds from Lake Norman, Dec. 26, 2003
World
Record: 10 lbs., 4 oz., from Pine Flat Lake,
Ca., April 21, 2001*
* Anglers
provide information on their potential world-record catches directly
to the International
Game Fish Association, which maintains the world records
for sport fishing.
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