Here Are Some More Interesting Facts About the Largemouth Bass

Bass

Here are some more interesting facts about the largemouth bass:

They were originally found only East of the Mississippi River and South of the Great Lakes in the continental United States. But as their popularity grew, so did stocking programs in many states. Largemouth bass are now caught in waters throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, in addition to southern Canada and most of Mexico. The Largemouth has also been introduced in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

It is the largest member of a group of closely-related fishes called black bass. Others include the smallmouth, spotted, redeye, Suwannee and Guadalupe. It is distinguished from all the others by a jaw that extends beyond the eye. All black bass, belong to the sunfish family, but differ from sunfish because of their longer bodies.

Biologists have identified two subspecies of largemouth bass: the Florida largemouth and the Northern largemouth. Originally, Florida bass lived only in the waters of Florida, but through excessive stocking efforts, they have expanded their range to include most of the Southern United States, particularly Texas and California. The two species look alike, but the Florida largemouth grows alot larger than the northern subspecies. A trophy Florida bass can weigh from 10 to 12 pounds, and its Northern counterpart will usually range between 6 to 8 pounds.

The world record Largemouth is believed to be a cross between the two subspecies. It weighed inat a monsterous 22 pounds, 4 ounces!! It was caught in June, 1932 at MontgomeryLake inGeorgia.

They vary in color, depending upon the type of water they are in. Bass from murky waters are pale,while those from clear waters are darker. They range from a deep green to pale olive across the back, with bellies that are a shade of white or yellow. All bass have a black lateral band that runs from the head to tail. The band becomes more distinct when a fish is exposed to sunlight, but may disappear when a largemouth is in deep or murky water.

They actually have 6 senses:Along with the normal, hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch theyalso have the lateral line, which is a series of sensitive nerve endings that extends from just behind the gill to the tail on each side of the fish. The lateral line picks up underwater vibrations as subtleas a swimming baitfish. Experiments have proven that by the use of these lateral lines that the bass can still find food and survive even in the murkiest of waters and also if they are blinded by an eyeinjury. They hear with internal ears located within the skull. They can see in all directions except directly below or directly behind them. In clear water they can see 30 feet or more, but in most bass waters the visibility is usually between 5 and 10 feet. They can also see objects that are above the water, including you standing in your boat with that brightly colored shirt on!! So remember that in clear water you should always try to wear clothing that will match your background.

In shallow water they can detect color, especially RED. In one study red and white lures caught 3times as many largemouths as any other color. But in deeper water most colors appear as shades of gray so color selection is of less importance. Their eyes absorb more light than the human eye, enabling the fish to see its food in dim light or total darkness. They will feed at any time of the day or night, but are less inclined to leave cover and search for food under bright conditions. So like most fish they prefer to hang out in the shade. They find better ambush camouflage in shady areasor under low light conditions.

They smell through nostrils, or nares, on their snout. The nares are short passageways throughwhich water is drawn and expelled without entering the throat. They can detect minute amounts of scent in the water, but rely on scent less than catfish, salmon or trout.

They use their sense of touch to determine whether to reject or swallow an object. They will usuallyhold on to a soft-bodied, artificial worm longer than a metal lure.

Their sense of taste is not as important to the bass as it is to other species, because the bass hasvery few taste cells in their mouths.

Understanding the largemouth bass feeding and spawning habits will increase your chances of catching them considerably...

Catfish

Clarias batrachus, otherwise known as the walking catfish, is capable of breathing air, allowing it to move over land to find a new body of water.�Their gills are stiffened to prevent their collapse when out of water, and in part of the gill chamber are spongy arborecent organs.�This area plus the skin is well supplied with blood vessels, which keeps the fish comfortable for a good length of time out of the water.
For more information on Clarias batrachus, visit Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History.��

The Mekong Giant Catfish Pangasianodon gigas

In 2005, the largest freshwater fish ever recorded was captured in the Chiang Khong district of Northern Thailand in the MekongRiver. This catfish weighed in at 646 pounds and measured almost 9 ft long.

The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds—more than any other animal.

Key Distinguishing Markings:

Channel and white catfish are members of the bullhead catfish family, Ictaluridae, and are a freshwater species that are commonly found in estuarine waters.
Catfish are long slender fish with barbels on the chin that look like long black whiskers. There are four pairs of barbels ("whiskers") around the mouth, two on the chin, one at the angle of the mouth, and one behind the nostril.
Unlike other fish, catfish do not have scales.
Bullhead catfishes all lack scales and possess an adipose fin, as well as a single, often serrated spine in the dorsal and pectoral fins.
The channel catfish is generally gray to greenish-gray on the upper part of its slender body, silver to white on its lower half and belly and has a deeply forked tail. It has dark specks scattered over its body.
Small adults and juveniles have black or dusky spots on their body.
White catfish are bluish-gray on their back and sides and white underneath. Their tail is moderately forked and they have a noticeably broad head and stout body and are smaller in size than channel catfish.

Size:

Channel catfish size and age at maturity varies between sexes. Males in the Susquehanna River range between 0.2 and 0.9 inches larger than females. Females mature as early as age 3 at 8-10 inches. The oldest channel catfish was captured in Canada and was estimated to be 24 years old.
White catfish mature at ages 3-4 at approximately 7-9 inches. Longevity of white catfish has been estimated to be 14 years.

Distribution:

The native range of channel catfish extends from southern Canada, through the Great Lakes and central United States drainage system, to Mexico including all the Gulf states and some of the Atlantic coast.
However, due to extensive introductions, their current range includes all of the Pacific and Atlantic drainage systems in the 48 continental states.
As an introduced species, channel catfish have become very successful in the Chesapeake Bay.
White catfish inhabit fresh and brackish water bodies along the Atlantic and Gulf coast states from New York to Florida, and are native to the Chesapeake Bay system.

Habitat:

Channel catfish live mainly in fresh water and can be found in the upper Chesapeake Bay and upper parts of most all rivers. Channel catfish are not native to the Chesapeake. They were stocked into ponds in Maryland and Pennsylvania and washed into the Bay rivers by floods.
Native to the Chesapeake Bay system, White catfish inhabit fresh and brackish water bodies including sluggish, mud-bottomed pools, open channels, and backwaters of small to large rivers.

Food Preference:

Catfish are bottom feeders that feed at night.
Catfish and bullheads are opportunistic feeders with highly varied diets.
Common food items include aquatic plants and seeds, fish, mollusks, insects and their larvae, and crustaceans.
Although catfish and bullheads have poor eyesight, their barbels (whiskers) are well-equipped with taste buds which help them find food at night and in muddy waters.

Spawning:

Channel catfish spawn in late spring when water temperatures reach 75oF and lay approximately 2,000 to 21,000 eggs in turbid tributaries, sometimes in areas of fairly swift current.
It is not uncommon for these fish to spawn twice in one season.
These fish select nest sites in dark depressions, cavities, or undercut stream banks, or inside crevices, hollow logs, or man-made containers.
Spawning success is dependent on available cover.
Upon hatching, catfish fry sometimes aggregate in tight schools after leaving the nest until suitable cover is found.
Fingerlings school together during daylight hours and disperse and feed at night.
White catfish spawn in early summer when water temperatures reach 68-72oF in still or flowing waters near sand or gravel banks.
Large, saucer-shaped nests of White catfish are formed by both the male and female fanning their sides and fins on the bottom. Approximately 1,000 to 4,000 adhesive eggs are laid. Males guard the nest and aerate the eggs to keep sediments from depositing on them. Males may remain close to the nest after hatching until the fry stop schooling and disperse.

Fishing Tips

Channel catfish are very good to eat.
Fresh baits such as peeler or soft crab, shrimp, squid, and cut fish are best for catching channel catfish.
Popular methods for fishing include bait casting, bottom fishing, and use of traps.
It is not known to what extent catfish are taken for subsistence in the Bay region, however, the large percentage of small fish taken by anglers surveyed is evidence that catfish are targeted by more than just pure sport anglers. Catfish are resident species that may experience high levels of fishing pressure during their spawning seasons. Click here to see the recreational regulations for catfish.

Fun Facts:

The largest channel catfish caught in Maryland's portion of Chesapeake Bay weighed 28.3 pounds and was caught in Piscataway Creek.
The sportfishing record is a specimen from Georgia that weighed 32 pounds.
Catfish have numerous external taste buds, many of which are located on the barbels. Consequently, they can taste something by simply touching it with their barbels.

Channel Catfish
Family: / Ictaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)
Order: / Siluriformes (catfish)
Class: / Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
White Catfish
Family: / Ictaluridae (North American freshwater catfishes)
Order: / Siluriformes (catfish)
Class: / Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Crawling Water Bug

English: Saucer water bug, water bee; German: Schwimmwanze.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Rounded, oval, and beetle-like, reaching 0.59 in (15 mm) in length. Dull green, with somewhat darker forewings. Beak is short and conical. Forelegs very robust, adapted for grasping prey; middle and hind legs have long swimming hairs. Venter is covered by air-retaining hairs. Sexes are alike. Larvae resemble adults but are much smaller and wingless.

DISTRIBUTION

Southern Palearctic region, from southern Britain and the northern Iberian Peninsula eastward through China.

HABITAT

Freshwater ponds among submerged plants.

BEHAVIOR

They swim swiftly around. Males chirp to attract females. They lie in ambush, awaiting and quickly attacking prey.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Adults and larvae prey on insects and snails. Prey is killed with a poison injected with the beak and is sucked empty.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Mating occurs on the bottom or on supports in the water. The male mounts the back of the female, grasps her with the forelegs and middle legs with his axis at a slight angle to hers, and copulates at the left side of her abdomen. Eggs are embedded in rows into stems or leaves.

Creeping Water Bugs are also known as toe biters, as their bite is very painful to humans. They have two strong front appendages that look like pincers, but are really legs adapted to catch and hold their prey. Their painful sting comes however from their proboscis, or mouth parts. Creeping Water Bugs are air breathers and carry air beneath their wings and on the tips of hairs on their abdomen. If you look at their abdomen when they’re under water, you will see the silvery sheen of their air supply. They can stay under the water for up to 6 hours. The air they carry is not enough to last that time span, but as the air bubble is depleted of oxygen, the oxygen in the water starts to move into the air bubble to make up the difference.This is true for most insects that breathe using this method.

If you take them out of the water, you can see that the abdomen is dry. Do not pick these up with your hands as their bite is like a bee sting. They mostly stay around the bottom of the pond because they have to hold onto something or they will float to the surface. They have large pincers that you can see that are adapted for catching prey. Their legs are not much adapted for swimming, they mostly walk on the bottom. They can stay under the water or up to 6 hours because of the air bubble they carry. The air they carry is not enough to last that time span, but as the air bubble is depleted of oxygen, the oxygen in the water starts to move into the air bubble to make up the difference.

Giant Water Bug

The giant water bug belongs to the family Belostomatidae. They belong to a large group of insects called heteroptera, or “true” bugs.
Giant water bugs live in lakes and ponds and are very fast swimmers. They grab hold of plants near the surface of the water. Some species of giant water bugs are up two inches long. Giant water bugs push their two short breathing tubes out of the water to breathe air.

The wings of the giant water bug overlap at the back end of the abdomen. Giant water bugs are good fliers. This enables them to fly from pond to pond to look for better habitats.

The giant water bug hunts small fish, tadpoles, snails, insects and other invertebrates and catch their prey with their strong front legs. They have a beak adapted for piercing and sucking, which they use to inject a toxin into their prey to kill it. The soft internal organs of the prey are then digested and sucked up by the giant water bug with its beak. Giant water bugs are also called toe biters because they can cause painful stings or stabs with their “beak.”
Some types of giant water bugs lay their eggs on water plants. In other species the males carry batches of eggs cemented to their backs until they hatch. This kind of back-brooding helps to ensure hatching success by reducing the risk of desiccation, increasing aeration, and providing protection from predators. However, carrying the eggs can make it more difficult for the male to swim.

The nymphs hatch in about 6 days. Giant water bugs go through several nymph stages for a month to six weeks. They have an incomplete metamorphosis.

The Giant Water Bug is an apt name for this enormous pond creature. It dwarfs its pond mates measuring in at up to 2 inches long. It is purely carnivorous and hunts for fish, tad poles, snails, insects and anything else unlucky enough to come within range. Its strong front legs make it a fast swimmer and it has a beak, or proboscis, adapted for piercing and sucking. Once it grabs and pins its prey, it uses its proboscis to inject a toxin that kills the prey and turns its soft internal organs into a soft mush which the Giant Water Bug sucks up through its beak.

Mayfly Nymph

My Home:I will spend most of my life as a larva in the water. I am found throughout North America and in most parts of the world.

What I eat:As a larva, I eat algae. As an adult, I cannot eat because I do not have a functional mouth.

What I look like: I am usually green, 1/2 to 1 inch in length and have two or three long tails that extend from the end of my body. I have two sets of wings that are held up over my body when I am not flying.