Smallmouth Bass in Saskatchewan
Smallmouth Bass might just be the rarest game fish in Saskatchewan.
They are a member of the sunfish family and in Canada were originally restricted to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River System. They have since been introduced to other areas of Canada both intentionally and unintentionally.
They are a popular game fish and have an average size of 1.35kg (2.98 lbs).
Where to find Smallmouth Bass in Saskatchewan
There have been a number of attempts to stock them in the province going back to the 1920s, with another recent attempt in the 1990s. Of the lakes stocked in the 90s, only Konotu Lake was able to sustain a population of Smallmouth Bass.
Very excitingly for anglers, another attempt to stock Smallmouth Bass in Saskatchewan is currently underway. In 2023 Lovering Lake was stocked with a small number of Smallmouth Bass. If you manage to catch one, please report it to the Ministry of Environment at [email protected]!
Identifying Smallmouth Bass
Because Smallmouth Bass are so rare in Saskatchewan and have a limit of 0, it's important to be able to identify them. Here are some key characteristics to look for:
- Upper jaw does not extend beyond the eye.
- The eye is sometimes red.
- The body is more laterally compressed then a Largemouth Bass.
- The dorsal fins are connected and appear as one fin.
- Colouring can range from dark brown to dark olive green to bronze depending on the environment.
- Sides have vertical bars and golden flecks on most scales.
- Markings will be more distinct in clear/light water and blurrier in murky water.
Environment
Smallmouth Bass prefer clear, cool water with rocky or sandy bottoms and near submerged rocks, logs, and vegetation. You'll rarely find them in aquatic vegetation which is more common for Largemouth Bass.
Behaviour
Smallmouth Bass are an aggressive predator and will eat a variety of prey including crayfish, insects, and small fish. They are most active in the early morning and late evening. Unusually for a fish, they are attracted to surface noise.
Although very rare here in Saskatchewan, in other provinces/country they may be considered invasive with the following characteristics contributing to their success:
- They produce large numbers of offspring.
- Their habitat overlap with other predator species is low.
- They begin eating other fish at a young age.
Life Cycle
Smallmouth Bass can live up to 15-18 years and reach maturity between 2-4 years old. They spawn in late spring to early summer depending on water temperature. They prefer sandy or gravelly bottoms for spawning and shallow water typically under 10 feet.
Details
| Scientific name: | Micropterus dolomieu |
| Avg. weight: | 1.35 kg (2.98 lbs) |
| Conservation status: | Least Concern |
| Also known as: | smallmouth, brown bass, smallie |
| Distribution: | Found in 2 waters in Saskatchewan |
Distribution
See where Smallmouth Bass can be found in Saskatchewan.
All lakes with Smallmouth Bass
Lakes with Smallmouth Bass
Learn more about fish species found in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Freshwater Fishes - Waterproof Guide Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes