age of smallmouth

[12hondamagna]

hi guys im new to the bass forums i think my question is appropriate for here. im a pretty seasoned fisher but was wondering if there is a way to tell the age of a smallmouth bass without hurting/killing it since i basically catch and release thanks

[J Francho]

Not really, but a local biologist can probably give you estimate age based on location and size.  I'm wondering how this information would be useful, though?

[roadwarrior]

We have this section just for our little bronze friends.

Welcome aboard!

I don't have an answer, but here are some

thoughts on estimating the age of a smallmouth:

In the South, smallmouth bass will grow to 4 or 5 lbs

by the time they are 4 years old. Reaching 5 lbs in the

northern states may take 10-12 years. Northern

smallmouth are the same species as those found in

the South, but southern bass are active all year and

as a result, only live to be 9 or 10 years old. Fish in

northern waters can live to be 19 or so.

8-)

[The Yankee Fist]

Also, we notice here in the NE that the smallies living in Hydroelectric plant wash waters, due to the warmer nature, grow about a year to 2 years faster. Meaning a 14" regular river fish is around 16-18 in the plant waters.

That being said, big spawning smallies here run around 4-5 lbs. The biggest I have ever caught in CT (river fishing from shore)was 4lbs 4oz but in Canada, above the Great Lakes, 6lbs+ is a once a day fish if you hit them right.