smallmouth bass

American  

[smawl-mouth bas] / ˈsmɔlˌmaʊθ ˈbæs /

noun

1. a North American freshwater game fish, Micropterus dolomieu, yellowish-green above and lighter below, having the lower jaw extending to the eye.

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smallmouth bass British  

/ ˈsmɔːlˌmaʊθ ˈbæs /

noun

1. a North American freshwater black bass, Micropterus dolomieu, that is a popular game fish

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Etymology

Origin of smallmouth bass

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Compare meaning

How does smallmouth-bass compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• smallmouth bass vs. largemouth bass

Example Sentences

Fishing: At Trinity Lake, you can rent a deck boat, pontoon boat or houseboat and try your hand at catching large and smallmouth bass, rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

He compared the size of this region in Dunkleosteus to the head proportions of nearly 1,000 other species of fossil and modern fish, ranging in size from smallmouth bass to large sharks.

From New York Times • Mar. 4, 2023

Just a few miles north of Lees Ferry and its trout fishery there’s another threat - nonnative predatory smallmouth bass.

From Washington Times • Sep. 17, 2022

But an emerging threat becomes evident in early June as Friesen hauls up minnow traps and gillnets packed with carp, gizzard shad, green sunfish and, ominously, three smallmouth bass.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 14, 2022

They threaten native mollusk populations, but have also benefited some species, such as smallmouth bass.

From Textbooks • Sep. 6, 2018