Smallmouth bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Also known asBronzeback · Smallie · Brownie
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 400 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 40% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 1.20% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 0.60% of body weight
- Max density
- 30 g per litre
A 800 g adult eats about 9.6 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~96 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | permit required | verified 2026-05-13 |
| Texas | permit required | verified 2026-05-13 |
| European Union (bloc) | prohibited | EU Union List of Invasive Alien Species (Regulation 1143/2014) verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to the Great Lakes, upper Mississippi basin, and Ohio River system in central and eastern North America, with a range extending into southern Quebec and Ontario. The species (Micropterus dolomieu) inhabits clear, cool-water rivers and lakes with rocky substrate, preferring stronger current and cooler temperatures than largemouth bass. Adults reach 40–55 cm and 2–4 kg. Smallmouth bass are among the most popular freshwater sport fish in North America, prized for their aggressive strikes and strong fighting ability. The flesh is white, firm, and mild, comparable to largemouth bass but slightly more delicate. Smallmouth have been widely introduced outside their native range for sport fishing and are present in suitable waters across most of the US and parts of Europe.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- temperate (handles seasonal swings)
- USDA zones
- 4–9 (winter low around -34°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- no
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
A cool-water to warm-water predatory species with culture characteristics similar to largemouth bass but adapted to cooler, clearer water. Optimal temperature is 18–24°C (2–4°C cooler than largemouth), with tolerance from 5–30°C. Growth in culture: 300–600 g in 18-24 months on high-protein pellet (42-48% protein). FCR is approximately 1.5-2.0 for pellet-trained fish. Like largemouth bass, smallmouth must be trained to accept pellets as small fingerlings; older fish that have fed on live prey are extremely difficult to wean. Source pellet-trained fingerlings from hatcheries. Stocking density: 8-12 g/L (lower than largemouth because smallmouth are more active swimmers and more stressed by confinement). Cannibalism between size classes is a serious concern; maintain strict size grading. Dissolved oxygen above 5 mg/L; ammonia below 0.5 mg/L. Smallmouth bass require better water quality than largemouth bass, making them more suitable for well-managed aquaponics systems with good filtration. Fingerlings are available from bass hatcheries, though less widely than largemouth. Legal in most states with appropriate aquaculture permits. For cool-water aquaponics in the northern US, smallmouth bass is a premium option.