Food Habits Of Young Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides) In Hatchery Ponds

The stomachs of 525 largemouth bass fry and fingerlings were examined and the food organisms identified to genus when possible. Length and width measurements were made on the food organisms to determine area and then the area was used as an index to volume. The most important food organisms were copepods, cladocerans, and midges. There was a size relationship between fish and food item with the larger fish taking a larger food item. Fish smaller than 15 millimeters in length ate copepods and cladocerans primarily while larger fish ate mostly midges. No cannibalism was detected in the fish examined.