What is Smallmouth bass?
[[Image:Micropterus dolomieu2.jpg|thumb|300px|right|{{center|A group of smallmouth bass}}]] The '''smallmouth bass''' (''Micropterus dolomieu'') is a [[species]] of [[freshwater]] [[fish]]. They are in the sunfish [[family (biology)|family]] ([[Centrarchidae]]) of the [[order (biology)|order]] [[Perciformes]]. It is the [[type species]] of its genus. One of the [[black bass]]es, it is a popular [[game fish]] sought by [[Angling|anglers]] throughout the [[temperate zone]]s of [[North America]]. They have been spread by [[Fish stocking|stocking]] to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and the [[United States]]. The smallmouth bass is native to the upper and middle [[Mississippi River]] basin, the [[Saint Lawrence River]]&ndash;[[Great Lakes]] system, and up into the [[Hudson Bay]] basin. Its common names include '''smallmouth''', '''bronzeback''', '''brown bass''', '''brownie''', '''smallie''', '''bronze bass''', and '''bareback bass'''. ==Description== The smallmouth bass is generally brown (seldom yellow) with red [[eyes]], and dark brown vertical bands.{{efn|compared to the horizontal band along the side of it's close cousin the [[Largemouth bass]].}} There are 13–15 soft rays in the [[dorsal fin]]. The upper [[jaw]] of smallmouth bass extends to the middle of the eye. Males are generally smaller than females. The males tend to weigh around two pounds. Females can range from three to six pounds. Their average sizes can differ, depending on where they are found. Those found in American waters tend to be larger due to the longer [[summer]]s, which allow them to eat and grow for a longer period of time. Their [[habitat]] plays a significant role in their color, weight, and shape. Smallmouth that live in dark water (such as [[river]]s) tend to be rather torpedo-shaped and very dark brown. Smallmouth bass that live in sandy areas of lakes, tend to be a light yellow-brown and are more oval-shaped. == Habitat == The smallmouth bass is found in clearer water than the largemouth, especially streams,