Largemouth Bass
One of the most popular sport fish in North America, stocked in ponds, reservoirs, and lakes for its size and aggressive strikes.
- Scientific name
- Micropterus salmoides
- Family
- Centrarchidae
- Adult size
- Commonly 12–18 inches in stocked waters; can exceed 20 inches in productive fisheries.
Identification
Deep green to olive body with a dark, jagged horizontal stripe along the flank; the upper jaw extends past the eye — the key trait separating it from smallmouth bass.
Habitat
Weedy, warm, still or slow-moving water — ponds, coves, and reservoir shallows.
Diet
An ambush predator that eats fish, crayfish, frogs, and large insects.
Angling
The centerpiece of American bass fishing culture, taken on everything from topwater lures to soft plastics and live bait.
Where Largemouth Bass is stocked
When Largemouth Bass is stocked
Top Largemouth Bass waters
Fort Peck Lake
16 species · 1842 records
Last stocked July 2025
Yellowstone River
16 species · 1781 records
Last stocked October 2010
Missouri River
19 species · 1417 records
Last stocked October 2010
Flathead Lake
14 species · 1161 records
Last stocked October 1997
Hauser Reservoir
10 species · 897 records
Last stocked April 2026
Salem Pond
UTAH County · 10 species · 789 records
Last stocked June 2026
Willow Park Pond
SALT LAKE County · 10 species · 769 records
Last stocked June 2026
Beaver Creek
13 species · 697 records
Last stocked June 2014
Lake Mary Ronan
8 species · 685 records
Last stocked June 2026
Hyrum Reservoir
CACHE County · 12 species · 682 records
Last stocked May 2026
Cooney Reservoir
7 species · 638 records
Last stocked May 2026
Farmington City Reservoir
DAVIS County · 9 species · 628 records
Last stocked June 2026
Spring Creek
6 species · 624 records
Last stocked July 2011
Bountiful Pond
DAVIS County · 8 species · 617 records
Last stocked May 2026
Meadow Creek P
WEBER County · 12 species · 601 records
Last stocked June 2026
Minersville Reservoir
BEAVER County · 8 species · 576 records
Last stocked September 2025
Musselshell River
7 species · 573 records
Last stocked July 1982
Spring Lake
UTAH County · 8 species · 540 records
Last stocked June 2026
Seeley Lake
7 species · 536 records
Last stocked May 2024
Highland Glen Park P
UTAH County · 8 species · 466 records
Last stocked June 2026
Kaysville Stake Pond
DAVIS County · 9 species · 451 records
Last stocked May 2026
Jensen Nature Park Pond
DAVIS County · 12 species · 445 records
Last stocked June 2026
Midas Pond
SALT LAKE County · 8 species · 437 records
Last stocked June 2026
Stillwater River
8 species · 434 records
Last stocked August 1982
Frequently asked
Where is Largemouth Bass stocked?
Largemouth Bass is stocked in 958 waters across 3 states: Montana, Utah, Washington.
When is Largemouth Bass stocked?
Largemouth Bass is typically stocked in summer, most often in July, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Largemouth Bass are stocked?
About 945,882,708,352,730,100,000 Largemouth Bass have been stocked on record since 1928, across Montana, Utah, Washington.
What size Largemouth Bass are stocked?
Stocked Largemouth Bass average about 2.7 inches, based on sizes reported by Montana, Utah — not every state reports sizes.
What does a Largemouth Bass look like?
Deep green to olive body with a dark, jagged horizontal stripe along the flank; the upper jaw extends past the eye — the key trait separating it from smallmouth bass.