Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 409 



51. SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK BASS 



MICROPTERUS DOLOMIEU Lacepede 



(Plates 27 and 28) 



The Black Bass is found in most suitable waters from Lake 

 Champlain westward to Manitoba and southward on both sides 

 of the mountains from James River, Virginia, to South Carolina, 

 and from the Great Lakes to northern Mississippi and Arkansas. 

 It has been planted in many places where it was not native, both 

 in this country, and in England, France and Germany, and has 

 usually thriven wherever planted. It is a fish of clear running 

 streams and of the clearer, colder lakes. In the southern part of 

 its range it is confined to cool flowing streams, but in the north 

 it is equally abundant in streams and in the larger, cooler lakes. It 

 is absent, however, from many of the smaller, shallower lakes, 

 such as Bass, Fletcher, Cicott, Manitou, and others in northern 

 Indiana. 



In Lake Maxinkuckee it is a very abundant fish. In the sein- 

 ing operations of 1899-1900, 1,127 specimens were taken, the maxi- 

 mum number secured in one haul being 62. In the summer of 

 1906, the young of this and the straw bass were phenomenally 

 abundant ; and people seining for minnows along shore were usually 

 troubled by getting large numbers of young black bass and noth- 

 ing else. While seining for minnows near Murray's over a hun- 

 dred examples of this species were taken in two hauls. 



Some idea of the rate of growth can be obtained from the fol- 

 lowing data: Numerous young of this species measured July 18 

 and 19, ranged in total length from 1.3 to 2.8 inches, the usual size 

 being 2 to 2.25 inches. Others examined August 1, measured 1.7 

 to 2.7 inches, the usual size being about 2.3 inches. All these were 

 probably hatched toward the first of June, as we have a number 

 of fry, just hatched, taken from a nest June 1, 1901. They are 

 each about one-third of an inch in length. 



This is the fish most sought after by anglers who visit the lake. 

 It can be caught almost the whole year round, and minnows are 

 the best year-round bait. The best fishing, however, is early in 

 August, and again in October and November. During the sum- 

 mer they are usually caught in rather shallow water. The best 

 way to fish for them in August and early September is to use grass- 

 hoppers for bait, casting or trolling with a light oil line. In Oc- 

 tober and November, the best method is to troll with a live minnow, 

 fishing deep by means of a heavy sinker. It is about the only 



