|
True Bass of Arkansas are aggressive game fish, popular with many
anglers.
From bank fishing at the Arkansas river Dams to the open water of the large reservoirs, True Bass provide anglers with a diversity of fishing opportunity. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are actually members of the sunfish family. True bass and black bass not only differ in appearance, but also in habitat requirements and spawning behavior. True Bass of Arkansas
True bass are distinct in appearance. They are generally silvery white in color and most have dark horizontal lines along their sides. True bass are spiny-rayed fish with strong spines in their dorsal (back), anal (bottom rear), and pelvic (bottom front) fins. They have two separate, or only slightly connected, dorsal fins and numerous small teeth. Spawning True bass spawn or reproduce in the spring. Adult bass migrate into rivers or shallow water areas of lakes to disperse their eggs. They are broadcast spawners, simply releasing the eggs into the water. Eggs hatch quickly, within two to four days. Unlike other fish, such as black bass, true bass do not build nests and do not provide parental care for the young. True bass release a tremendous number of eggs during spawning. A single female striped bass has been known to release as many as four million eggs! This huge number of eggs makes up for the lack of parental care and helps make sure enough young fish survive. Feeding Bass feed on a wide range of organisms. Young bass eat insects and crustaceans. Older bass primarily eat small fish. True bass are schooling fish and can act together in an organized method of feeding. White bass are especially known to herd schools of baitfish to the surface. The bass then attack in a "feeding frenzy," often forcing the baitfish to jump out of the water. Fishing True bass are among some of the most exciting freshwater fish species in Arkansas. Ranging in size from six to 55 inches, these bass can provide fishing opportunity for all kinds of anglers. As a group, true bass are aggressive game fish and put up a good fight when hooked. During feeding, they will often strike just about anything you put in the water. If anglers locate one of these feeding concentrations, fishing action can be fast and furious. At one time, several species of true bass were important commercial fish species. However, for some, declines in catch and market value reduced their commercial value. The one exception is for striped bass which remains one of the more sought after species on the east coast. Two species of true or temperate bass and one hybrid are found in Arkansas waters: striped bass, white bass, and hybrid bass. A brief description of each is provided in the chart. Striped Bass Morone saxatilis
White Bass White bass occur in the open water habitat of large lakes and
reservoirs, as well as some large streams and rivers. They prefer clear
water over firm bottom and usually travel in large schools. Sometimes
confused with striped bass, white bass can be distinguished by their
deeper body shape and single tooth patch on the tongue. In addition,
white bass have only one of their dark stripes run the entire body
length from head to tail. Hybrid Bass Hybrid bass are a cross between female striped bass and male white bass.
They were originally developed to provide large sport fish that have the
fighting quality of striped bass and feed on open water prey fish.
Hybrid bass are stocked in waters with large populations of forage
fishes and do not compete with sunfishes or black bass.
Privacy Notice I Striper Links I
Glossary of Fish
Terms I Arkansas Striper Site Map Copyright © 2000-2007 All Rights Reserved |
|||||
 ArkansasStripers.com
Arkansas River Striper Fishing |
