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Did you know?

*High Grade Smallmouth Bass fisheries teeter on the ability of the population to maintain as many large
fish as possible. Fortunately, catch and release of large bass is successful.

*Northern smallmouth bass don't mature to spawn for the fist time until they are between 5 and 9 years of
age.

*Big bass are critical for spawning success. They nest earlier and recuperate faster and their offspring are
more likely to survive the winter starvation period.

*Force a smallmouth bass to spawn and its remaining life span becomes less than two years. Such is the
cost of reproduction.

*Young-of-the-year smallmouth must grow to about the size of your little finger to survive winter.

*If cold weather arrives early and winter drags on for an eternity, the previous spring's hatch can be lost.

*Excellent year classes are the exception not the rule, and winter determines everything. If fall freeze-up is
late and spring ice-out arrives early, the winter starvation period is short and survival of yearling bass should be high.

*Targeting Nesting males, even when catch and release allows it, affects recruitment.