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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass are Missouri's most popular freshwater game fish, found statewide in lakes, reservoirs, permanent stream pools, and quiet backwaters.

Physical Characteristics:
  • These large, slender sunfish have distinctive characteristics including a very large mouth with an upper jaw extending far beyond the rear margin of the eye, greenish upper parts, white belly, and a broad dark continuous stripe along the midside.
  • In Missouri, they typically reach 10-20 inches and weigh ½ to 4½ pounds, with maximum sizes around 24 inches and 15 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found statewide in lakes, reservoirs, permanent stream pools, and quiet backwaters.

Key Locations

  • Missouri's premier fishing destinations including Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Reservoir, Bull Shoals Lake, Stockton Lake, and Lake Taneycomo.
  • Lake of the Ozarks offers excellent fishing in the Niangua and Glaize arms; Table Rock Lake is best fished around bluffs, points, and the State Route 86 bridge area; Truman Reservoir excels around submerged brush piles and rocky structures.

Specific Spots

  • Most abundant around cover like logs, rocks, docks, and vegetation where they can ambush prey.
  • Target south-facing shorelines, protected coves, and areas near spawning habitat.
  • Summer focus on deeper water (6-20 feet), weed edges, and structure.

Largemouth Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Spring: crankbaits (especially square-bill crankbaits in natural bream or river minnow), lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs. Summer: topwater lures like poppers at dawn and dusk. Fall: Jerkbaits reign supreme, along with medium-diving crankbaits and lipless crankbaits.

What flies work for Largemouth Bass in Missouri?

Effective patterns include Woolly Buggers, Clouser Minnows, Bass Poppers, Frog Patterns, and Crawfish patterns.

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

Spring and fall offer the best largemouth bass fishing in Missouri, with spring being optimal as bass move to shallow waters to feed heavily before spawning when water reaches 55-62°F. Summer fishing requires early morning, late evening, or overcast conditions.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass in Missouri?

Key techniques include flipping and pitching to heavy cover, using live minnows or nightcrawlers in spring. Use topwater lures like poppers at dawn and dusk, with subsurface presentations during midday heat.

What do Largemouth Bass eat?

Largemouth bass are strictly predaceous, feeding on fish, crayfish, large insects, and occasionally frogs, mice, snakes, and other small animals that fall into the water. Young bass initially feed on plankton and tiny crustaceans before switching to larger insects and small fish.

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