Smallmouth Bass Nesting Behavior and Nest Site Selection in a Small Ohio Stream

Abstract

Individual smallmouth bass, Mkropterus dolomieui, were observed in a 500-m stretch of Indian Creek, Ohio, during May and June of 1980 and 1981. Nineteen nests were found in 1980; 8 of which received eggs. Spawned nests were more often guarded by larger males than unspawned nests and were located at sites which were protected from increases in water current velocity during moderate flood stages. Unspawned nests were abandoned within 2 days of the peak spawning activity at Indian Creek, and prior to damage by moderate flooding on 11 and 12 May. Extensive flooding on 17, 18 and 19 May terminated smallmouth bass nesting behavior and appeared to destroy all nests under study in 1980.