- Species Name: Micropterus salmoides
- Common Names: largemouth, black bass, green bass, largie, bucket mouth bass, big mouth bass
- State Record: 10 lbs. 4 oz.Caught in Lake Dunmore in 1988 by Tony Gale.
The largest member of the sunfish family in Vermont, they have a large, round mouth when open, and when their mouth is closed, their upper jaw extends well past their eye. Their flanks are light green to golden green, with a pronounced horizontal bar.
Where to Fish
Largemouth bass are found throughout Vermont and are abundant in the many lakes and ponds the state has to offer. A few of the more well-known largemouth bass fisheries include lakes Champlain, Memphremagog, Bomoseen, St. Catherine, Morey, Fairlee and Sadawga, as well as the Connecticut River.
Additionally, numerous unpressured, smaller ponds and reservoirs offer exceptional largemouth bass fishing opportunities and are slowly gaining popularity among anglers.
How to Fish
Largemouth bass are a cover-oriented fish and are most commonly caught by anglers fishing in or around aquatic habitat such as submerged vegetation, shoreline wood and rocks, boat docks, off-shore rock piles and man-made cover including bridge pilings, rock piers and cement walls.
When targeting largemouth bass, be sure to present your live bait or lure of choice adjacent to, or into, these various types of cover. Though seasonal fish movement can impact fish location throughout the year, it’s always a good bet to fish close to the aforementioned types of prime largemouth habitat.