Distribution of Fishes in the Red River of the North Basin on Multivariate Environmental Gradients

Centrarchidae

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu Lacepède, the smallmouth bass, was not reported by early investigators in the Red River basin. Eddy and Underhill (1974) stated that because of the many unrecorded introductions of this species in Minnesota lakes, it is difficult to determine its original range. It is thought that the species was originally restricted to the Mississippi drainage, and it is doubtful that it occurred in the Red River drainage until introduced to some of the headwater lakes (Eddy and Underhill 1974). The NDGF has stocked smallmouth bass into the Sheyenne River; and recent collections indicate that the species is doing quite well in that stream, particularly in the reach extending from the Baldhill Dam downstream to near Kathryn (Figure A63). There are also records of this species being collected during surveys of the Buffalo, Red Lake, and Clearwater Rivers, and it has been stocked in lakes in the Otter Tail River drainage (MDNR FISH 1994).

Figure A63. Distribution of the smallmouth bass in streams of the Red River of the North basin.

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