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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass are Mississippi's state fish and thrive throughout the state's extensive freshwater systems. Mississippi's warm climate provides an extended growing season, allowing bass to remain active longer than in northern states.

Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides salmoides (northern largemouth bass), Micropterus salmoides floridanus (Florida largemouth bass)

Physical Characteristics:
  • Typically green with dark blotches forming horizontal stripes, with undersides ranging from light green to white.
  • Their defining characteristic is an upper jaw extending well beyond the rear margin of the eye.
  • Females grow larger and faster than males, potentially reaching weights of 10-15 pounds and lengths over 26 inches.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Prefer slow-moving water with protective cover such as logs, vegetation, rocks, and man-made structures, thriving in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and streams throughout Mississippi.

Key Locations

  • Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, particularly Pelahatchie Bay, Pickwick Lake in the northeast, Sardis Lake, Grenada Lake, 130-acre Neshoba County Lake, 400-acre Lake Calling Panther, Natchez State Park Lake, Mississippi River pools, Pearl and Pascagoula river systems.

Specific Spots

  • Target specific structures like submerged timber, brush piles, drop-offs, creek channels, and grass edges.
  • Thick vegetation for topwater action, structure-rich water, grass flats with current, wing dams and tailwaters, transition zones where water color changes.

Largemouth Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Largemouth Bass in Mississippi?

Minnows, artificial baits, and frogs. Topwater frogs (especially white hollow-belly frogs for matted vegetation), spinnerbaits with willow blades, square-bill and deep-diving crankbaits in shad patterns, Texas-rigged soft plastics like 4-inch Yamamoto Kreatures in black/blue, swim jigs with grub trailers in green...

When is the best time to fish for Largemouth Bass in Mississippi?

Spring through fall offers the best largemouth bass fishing. Avoid fishing during spawning periods (60-75°F water temperatures) to protect reproductive fish.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass in Mississippi?

Target grass flats with current, fish wing dams and tailwaters, work transition zones where water color changes. Spring techniques focus on crankbaits bumped off cover, fall demands jerkbaits with long pauses.

What do Largemouth Bass eat?

Adults feed almost exclusively on other fish, insects, and large invertebrates like crayfish, exhibiting opportunistic predatory behavior - they'll consume anything from snakes and birds to small mammals. The state's abundant baitfish populations, including threadfin and gizzard shad, provide excellent forage.

Where do Largemouth Bass live in Mississippi?

Prefer slow-moving water with protective cover such as logs, vegetation, rocks, and man-made structures, thriving in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and streams throughout Mississippi.

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