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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass in Idaho are not native but have established thriving populations since their introduction, with the first fish sampled in 1991 and becoming well-established by 1994 in many waters.

These bronze-backed fighters are distinguished by their brownish coloration with red eyes and dark vertical bands.

Physical Characteristics:
  • Brownish coloration with red eyes and dark vertical bands, with males averaging around 2 pounds and females ranging 3-6 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • They prefer clearer, cooler water than largemouth bass and are found in rocky areas, stumps, sandy bottoms of lakes and reservoirs, as well as streams and rivers.

Key Locations

  • Hayden Lake in the Panhandle Region, Dworshak Reservoir in the Clearwater Region, Oxbow, Brownlee, and C.J.
  • Strike reservoirs in the Southwest Region, Milner and Minidoka reservoirs in the Magic Valley Region, and American Falls Reservoir in the Southeast Region.

Specific Spots

  • Spring: around fallen debris, boat docks, and rocky shorelines in 2-10 foot shallows.
  • Summer: rocky-island waters 15-30 feet deep to shallow flats, rocky points in 30+ feet of water.
  • Fall: 20-40 feet deep.
  • Winter: depths of 30-40 feet.
  • For rivers: areas below dams and power stations, turns with deep underwater ledges, areas around protruding rocks, among schooling minnows, fast runs through rock layers.

Smallmouth Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Smallmouth Bass in Idaho?

Small floating-diving crankbaits, spinners, 1/8-ounce yellow jigs tipped with nightcrawlers, artificial worms, small split-tail plastic grubs, live crawfish and shiners, long slender floater-divers, green or gray 1/4-ounce jigs with artificial grubs, small topwater spoons or crankbaits, small spoons.

What flies work for Smallmouth Bass in Idaho?

Floating deer-hair bugs, Game Changers, Clousers, poppers, and hellgrammite imitations.

When is the best time to fish for Smallmouth Bass in Idaho?

Spring: fish move into 2-10 foot shallows. Summer: target rocky-island waters 15-30 feet deep to shallow flats. Fall: requires deeper tactics (20-40 feet). Winter: when temperatures drop below 50°F, they move to depths of 30-40 feet and become less active.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass in Idaho?

Cast long distances and retrieve quietly to avoid spooking fish. Summer: use little hops along bottom with plastic grubs. Try topwater fishing at dawn/dusk over rocky points in 30+ feet of water. Fall: back-trolling, moving baits slowly as fish become less active in cold water.

What do Smallmouth Bass eat?

Opportunistic predators with a diet consisting primarily of crayfish (60-90% of consumption when available), along with various fish species, insects, hellgrammites, and seasonal terrestrials like cicadas and grasshoppers.

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