Distribution of Fishes in the Red River of the North Basin on Multivariate Environmental Gradients
Centrarchidae
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède), the largemouth bass, is considered to
be native to some of the lakes of the Red River drainage (Eddy et al. 1972).
Hankinson (1928) collected young specimens from the Sheyenne River at Lisbon,
listing them as Aplites salmoides; and Bailey and Allum (1962) reported the
species from the southern end of Lake Traverse, where it was found in 1949
(Figure A64). The largemouth bass has been taken primarily from the Otter Tail
and Pelican Rivers. The largemouth bass has been found at 7% of stream sites
sampled in the Red River basin since 1962; but it has been most common in
reaches of the NCH ecoregion, where it has been found at 31% of the sites (Table
4). Typical collections have contained 5-6 individuals, but as many as 28
specimens were taken at a site on the Pelican River. The species is abundant in
the lakes of the eastern Red River basin.
Figure A64. Distribution of the largemouth bass in streams of the Red River of the North basin.