Thousand Islands. Smallmouth

The term, "black bass," is generic, including both smallmouth and largemouth bass, but excluding some other species known as "bass," such as rock bass. The black bass is a member of the perch family. Distinctions between smallmouth and largemouth bass may seem slight, but anglers appreciate differences in behavior and habitat. Smallmouth bass tend to jump more and fight aggressively on the surface when hooked, in order to throw the hook. Generally, the smallmouth bass is more prized--at least here--and is more characteristic of Thousand Islands. Smallmouth bass prefer cool, deeper, swift water and rocky shorelines, where it cruises in the shadows. Smallmouth are most often found in runs and pools, and a frequent succession of riffles, runs, and pools is an indicator of a good smallmouth site. On the river, bass congregate where narrow channels with fairly fast currents open into broader reaches of slower water--just as they do at the inlet from a faster stream to a lake, or where there is an under-water "waterfall," where faster moving surface water drops into a deeper pool. The "hot spots" of course provide more abundant food supply, concentrated in a small area. Bass will especially favor such a a hot spot if it provides fairly deep water near to broken, rocky contours that offer cover, where the flow is steady and cool.