(Micropterus dolomieu)
The black bass is not a native of the coast, but both species are now
so well established in our waters that they must now be classed as
permanent residents, for whether it is the crystal lake, the flowing
stream, the little pond, the artesian-fed reservoir or the brackish
slough, they thrive equally well and take any lure from the artificial
fly to the plebeian angleworm.
Black bass are prolific breeders and rapid growers. A case is on
record where eight males and seven females were planted in a pond in
May and during the November following over 37,000 young fish were
taken from the same pond, each from three to four inches long.
The black bass is a short, deep fish with a double dorsal fin; the
front half being stiff and spiney and the latter half soft and rayed.
The color is variable, but always dark and from a dirty green to a
blackish brown on the back, shading to a dirty white on the belly. The
gill covers are pointed at the back, with a darker spot on the point.
In the small-mouthed variety the end of the upper bone of the mouth
does not quite reach to the back edge of the eye, this with the scales
on the cheek numbering from 16 to 18, can always be relied upon as a
distinguishing diagnosis from the large-mouthed variety.