The largemouth bass is a notable warm water sports fish providing excellent eating. Bass will reproduce in their second or third year and can potentially reach 8-10″ by the second year. In the northeast, bass grow to an average 2-4 pounds. They are voracious predators and this should be taken into consideration when added to a pond’s ecosystem. Spawning begins about mid-May when pond temperatures reach 62-65°F. The male prepares the 1-2 foot circular cleared nest area in about 2 feet of water. One or more females will deposit several thousand eggs and hatching occurs in 8-10 days. The male will guard the fry for about 2 weeks and then will feed on them. About 1 in 1000 will reach adult size in natural conditions.
Stocking recommendation: up to 100 per acre
Diet: insects, invertebrates, other fish, food pellets
