The coloration and hues may vary depending on the habitat with which they live in, as well as the forage and diet the feed on in a given body of water. Smallmouth bass spawn in spring when the water temperature is between 60 and 65 degrees. The shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae) is a sportfish endemic to the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin of the southeastern United States. shoal lake bass fishing Fishin Line Magazine last year said "Shoal Lake has the best fishing on the Northwest Region with schools of smallmouth bass that have never seen a lure". It was originally a spotted bass subspecies. Coho Salmon. Smallmouth Bass are omnivorous in the food they consume. There are specific times when Elite Series pros turn to fast-action worming — here’s how they decide between the two most popular tail options. But the rapid growth of Atlanta and its suburbs in the 1990s dramatically increased the temperature of the summertime storm water flowing into the Chattahoochee, and shoal bass slowly returned. Included in this group are the largemouth, spotted, redeye, smallmouth, Suwannee, Guadeloupe, and shoal bass. Smallmouth are sensitive to water temperature, preferring the 60-68 degree thermal layers. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources purchased 2,000 shoal bass fingerlings from a Georgia state hatchery in 2007, then fattened them in Alabama hatchery ponds and released them into the four streams. Unlike its largemouth and smallmouth cousins, the shoal bass is quite particular about its habitat and forage. The "shoalie," as it is affectionately known, is found in only a handful of cool, rocky Southern rivers and streams. originalDevice: deviceType:desktop, (Photo: Steven M. Sammons, Ph.D / Auburn University), American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee's Facebook page, Upper jaw length and position compared to the eye, Number, size and location of lateral stripes and/or blotches, Number of rays and spines on dorsal and anal fins, Region of the country where the fish was captured. Master Bass Angler is an arcade Bass fishing game that was created BY Bass Fishermen, FOR Bass Fishermen. It is also occasionally found in rivers and streams of East Alabamawhere it has been declared an endangered species and cannot legally be kept if caught by fishermen. Spotted Vs Smallmouth: Differences In Behavior. Special thanks to Steven M. Sammons, Ph.D of Auburn University's School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences for his help on the photographs. The largemouth bass is the state fish of Georgia, Mississippi, and Indiana, the state freshwater fish of Florida and Alabama, and the state sport fish of Tennessee. Clever Fishing Boat Names . Usually 71 or greater. Spiny and soft-rayed dorsal fins joined with a deep notch between them, Dorsal fin with 9 spines and anal fin with 3 spines, Genetic analysis strongly needed to confirm identification, Upper jaw does not reach past middle of the eye, Spiny and soft-rayed dorsal fins joined with shallow notch between them, Bases of soft dorsal and anal fins are scaled, Dark midlateral stripe or blotches from tip of snout to caudal fin (depends greatly on water turbidity), First described in 1940, with 5 subspecies currently, Spiny and soft dorsal fins are connected with very shallow notch, Small, dark spots below lateral line that form horizontal rows, Dark, vertical blotches on sides that disappear as they age and do not form horizontal bands, Second dorsal, caudal and anal fins will appear red with a white margin, Dorsal fin with 9 to 11 spines and anal fin with 3 spines, The upper jaw does not extend beyond the eye, Dark, vertical blotches that fade as the fish ages, Dark spots below lateral line that form horizontal rows, The spiny and soft dorsal fin are connected and have a shallow notch, Similar to redeye bass without any red coloration or white margins on fins, Large, dark spot at the base of the caudal peduncle, Currently two classified subspecies (northern and neosho), A third non-taxonomically classified subspecies in Quachita Mountains, Spiny and soft-rayed dorsal fins joined with shallow notches between them, Bases of dorsal and anal fins have small scales, Dorsal fin with 9 to 10 spines and anal fin with 3 spines, Currently two subspecies (Northern and invalidated Witchita), Upper jaw does not reach past middle of the pupil, Base of dorsal and anal fins have small scales, Lateral body has multiple dark blotches that touch dorsal fin, Lower lateral scales form dark, horizontal rows or stripes, Upper jaw to central part of the eye, but not past it, Typically short in length, rarely exceeding 16 inches, Turquoise blue coloration on cheeks, breast and vent during breeding. 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