-
‘Daddy’s fish’ inspires granddaughter’s bass fever
22 pounds, 4 ounces. A largemouth bass only gets that big when there is an alignment of factors, a convergence of genetics, water level, food supply, temperature and fishing pressure. And it requires a fisherman with the skill, the time and the luck to be at the right place at the right time. On June…
-
Camping on the Lake
It starts at the water line, the sun a smear on the horizon. In a small cove with a light rain on the roof, on a lake at the top of Minnesota, the silence at the edge of the wilderness seeps into our consciousness. Our shelter we take with us, with miles of shoreline to…
Field Guide
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass prefer warm, flowing water and can be found in great numbers around weed beds, grassy banks, along the seams of riffles, deep along rock walls and in gravel flats. On clear summer days when the sun is high, the biggest “smallies” will be found in deeper water. On overcast days or when the sun is low on the horizon, smallmouth can be caught on or closer to the surface. They run to an average of about two pounds, but the biggest fish can tip the scales at 5 pounds and more.
Smallmouth bass are one of Gary Lewis’ favorite fish. They’ve earned his respect for the waters they inhabit, the foods they chase and their habit of fighting harder than almost any other fish.