EARLY LIFE HISTORY of SMALLMOUTH BLACKBASS:
Spawning Season of Adult SMALLMOUTH BLACKBASS: Late spring to early summer, late May to early July.
Where SMALLMOUTH BLACKBASS Eggs are Found: Male SMALLMOUTH BASS build nests 30 cm to 180 cm in diameter, in water 60 cm to 600 cm deep on sandy, gravelly or rocky bottoms of lakes and rivers. The eggs are laid by females and fertilized by males and are subsequently found attached to clean stones near the center of nests.
Characteristics of Eggs: Demersal, adhesive, grayish white to light amber or pale yellow, oil globule large and single, diameter 0.9 mm - 1.7 mm, numerous small oil droplets present, diameter eggs 1.2 mm - 2.8 mm.
Size of Babies at Hatching: 4 mm to 5 mm at 4 days to 10 days of incubation.
Movements of SMALLMOUTH BLACKBASS Babies after hatching: Baby SMALLMOUTH BASS hatch with large yolk materials and remain in the nest until the yolk is almost completely metabolized. They leave the nest and swim around with the male for a short time, then they spread out in shallow water mainly following shorelines singly or in small numbers, not in schools.