Smallmouth Bass
A hard-fighting bass known for its acrobatic jumps, stocked in cooler, rockier waters than its largemouth cousin.
- Scientific name
- Micropterus dolomieu
- Family
- Centrarchidae
- Adult size
- Commonly 10–16 inches in stocked waters.
Identification
Bronze to brown body with faint vertical bars (rather than a single horizontal stripe) and a red eye; the upper jaw does not extend past the eye.
Habitat
Rocky lakes, reservoirs, and clear, moderate-current rivers — generally cooler, clearer water than largemouth bass prefer.
Diet
Crayfish, insects, and small fish.
Angling
Prized for its aerial fight; often targeted with crayfish-imitating jigs and tubes along rocky structure.
Where Smallmouth Bass is stocked
When Smallmouth Bass is stocked
Top Smallmouth Bass waters
Weber River
WEBER County · 7 species · 2119 records
Last stocked July 2026
Fort Peck Lake
16 species · 1842 records
Last stocked July 2025
Yellowstone River
16 species · 1781 records
Last stocked October 2010
Deer Creek Reservoir
WASATCH County · 5 species · 1756 records
Last stocked June 2026
Otter Creek Reservoir
PIUTE County · 8 species · 1545 records
Last stocked April 2026
Missouri River
19 species · 1417 records
Last stocked October 2010
Rockport Reservoir
SUMMIT County · 5 species · 751 records
Last stocked May 2026
Piute Reservoir
PIUTE County · 15 species · 741 records
Last stocked May 2026
Jordanelle Reservoir
WASATCH County · 8 species · 710 records
Last stocked July 2026
Beaver Creek
13 species · 697 records
Last stocked June 2014
Warm Spring Creek
6 species · 662 records
Last stocked July 2013
Rock Creek
6 species · 595 records
Last stocked May 2013
Minersville Reservoir
BEAVER County · 8 species · 576 records
Last stocked September 2025
Musselshell River
7 species · 573 records
Last stocked July 1982
American Lake
Pierce County · 5 species · 369 records
Last stocked June 2026
Beaver Creek Reservoir
9 species · 342 records
Last stocked April 2026
Milk River
13 species · 325 records
Last stocked May 2014
Wolf Creek
5 species · 302 records
Last stocked July 1989
Palmer Lake
Okanogan County · 5 species · 294 records
Last stocked June 2026
Starvation Reservoir
SAN JUAN County · 12 species · 291 records
Last stocked July 2026
Lake Elmo
15 species · 263 records
Last stocked June 2026
Columbia Park Pond
Benton County · 11 species · 261 records
Last stocked May 2026
Marias River
8 species · 247 records
Last stocked September 2023
Tongue River
13 species · 247 records
Last stocked April 2020
Frequently asked
Where is Smallmouth Bass stocked?
Smallmouth Bass is stocked in 117 waters across 3 states: Montana, Utah, Washington.
When is Smallmouth Bass stocked?
Smallmouth Bass is typically stocked in summer, most often in July, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Smallmouth Bass are stocked?
About 34,363,420,117,244,710,000 Smallmouth Bass have been stocked on record since 1930, across Montana, Utah, Washington.
What size Smallmouth Bass are stocked?
Stocked Smallmouth Bass average about 2.8 inches, based on sizes reported by Montana, Utah — not every state reports sizes.
What does a Smallmouth Bass look like?
Bronze to brown body with faint vertical bars (rather than a single horizontal stripe) and a red eye; the upper jaw does not extend past the eye.