Guadalupe Bass Fish Identification, its habitats, characteristics, Spawning, description, fishing
methods.
Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculi) is a fish species in the Sunfish family. Its native range includes the north and east Edwards Plateau including parts of the San Antonio River, the Guadalupe River above Gonzales, the Colorado River north of Austin, also some lower parts, parts of the Brazos River and Nueces River. It inhabits smaller streams on the coastal plain; usually found in spring-fed streams with clear water and moderately consistent temperatures of 50-86 F (10-30 C) and absent in upper spring-runs with relatively constant water temperatures. Its diet includes warms, smaller fish, crayfish and insect larvae. Adults can reach 1 lb.
Guadalupe Bass at a glance
Scientific name
Micropterus treculi
Family
Sunfish
Also known as
a Black bass, the Guadalupe spotted bass or the Texas Trout
Native range
the north and east Edwards Plateau including parts of the San Antonio River, the Guadalupe River above Gonzales, the Colorado River north of Austin, also some lower parts, parts of the Brazos River and Nueces River
Habitat
smaller streams on the coastal plain; usually found in spring-fed streams with clear water and moderately consistent temperatures of 50-86 F (10-30 C) and absent in upper spring-runs with relatively constant water temperatures
Diet
warms, smaller fish, crayfish and insect larvae
Maximum weight
1 lb
There are several different species of bass that can be found in rivers across the country. Largemouth,
Smallmouth, Spotted bass, Shoal bass, Suwannee bass, Guadalupe bass, and more run throughout the river
systems allover in North America. Some habits and patterns different between the species and knowing the
bass would definitely help to catch more spaces. The Guadalupe bass provides great fun for people who
enjoy fishing.
The Guadalupe Bass feed on warms, smaller fish, crayfish and insect larvae. It can be caught on all types
of artificial baits, from under water spinners and spoons to top water lures. Bass loves rocks and wooded
areas and heavy covers. More knowledge about the Guadalupe Bass can surely help you to increase your
catch. Better knowing and understanding the bass feeding and spawning habits will make you a more
successful angler and will help to catch them considerably.
The Guadalupe bass - Micropterus treculi, is part of the
Black bass family and
a member of the
Sunfish family
Centrarchidae, also known as a Black bass, the Guadalupe spotted bass or the Texas Trout. It is not
a true bass and is found only in Texas. They are native to the north and east Edwards Plateau
including parts of the San Antonio River, the Guadalupe River above Gonzales, the Colorado River
north of Austin, also some lower parts, parts of the Brazos River and Nueces River.
Description
The Guadalupe bass are small but powerful fish mostly green in color. They have moderately
compressed, elongate body and large mouth with teeth presented on tongue. Their body usually 3 to 5 times
depth in standard length. Maximum depth of bars on body contained 1.5 to 2 times in maximum body depth.
Shortest dorsal fin spine is up to 2.5 times in longest dorsal spine. Their bases of soft dorsal and anal
fins scaled. Small spots on scales extend to near dorsal. They have 10-12 dark bars on side (darkest in
young) and don't have vertical bars like smallmouth bass. The Guadalupe bass have 12 dorsal fin soft rays,
6-13 dorsal fin spines, 22-28 scales around caudle peduncle, 7-10 scales above and 14-19 scales below
lateral line, more than 55 lateral line scales, 3 anal spines (seldom 2 or 4). The posterior rays of the
soft dorsal fin formed a small separate fin. Their jaw doesn't extend beyond the eyes as in largemouth
bass, and coloration extends much lower on the body than in spotted bass. They live to about 7 years; grow
to about 12 inches and weighs up to 1 lb.
Habitat and Habits
The Guadalupe bass are mainly found in moving water. They are a river and stream fish and
prefer a current, streams and reservoirs. They prefer small environments, absent from large headwaters.
The Guadalupe commonly taken in flowing water, some smaller fish occur in fast-moving water, many times
near eddies; large fish found mostly in riffle end races. They inhabit smaller streams on the coastal
plain; usually found in spring-fed streams with clear water and moderately consistent temperatures of
50-86°F (10-30°C) and absent in upper spring-runs with relatively constant water temperatures. Species
is fairly tolerant of high turbidity and variable temperatures. The Guadalupe bass prefer flowing waters
of streams within native variety, and use covers like large rocks, cypress knees or stumps for refugee. In
streams occupied by both largemouth bass and Guadalupe bass, largemouth will be found in the quieter
areas, as Guadalupe prefer running water. In the Texas where both Guadalupe bass and Spotted bass are
found, Guadalupe prefer smaller streams while Spotted bass prefer larger streams.
Like other black basses, the Guadalupe bass eats fish, crayfish and insect larvae.
Spawning
The Guadalupe bass become mature and begin spawning at about one year old. They usually
spawn from March to June depending on the water conditions. A secondary spawn is possible in late summer
or early fall. They prefer spawning in gravel areas in shallow water and build their nests in faster
moving water then any other bass. The male Guadalupe bass builds a gravel spawning nest on small rocks or
gravel areas like other black basses. The female lay from 400 eggs to up to 10000 eggs depending on her
size. The male will then chase the female from the area and guards the nest with eggs throughout the
incubation period.
After hatching period, the fry usually feed on small aquatic insects until they mature, when
they begin to include smaller fish in their diet. Then when a fish becomes aged right before the end of
their lifecycle, they will go back to their old ways, feed on small aquatic insects. Very young fish and
older adults tend to include more invertebrates in their diet than do largemouth bass. Juveniles and
younger adults tend to include more fish in their diets than do largemouth bass.
Fishing Methods are spin-casting, still fishing, Bait-casting and pole fishing. A tendency of Guadalupe bass for
fast flowing water, and their ability to use fast water to their advantage when hooked, makes them a
attractive sport fish species. Their preference for small streams increases their attraction to anglers
because of the natural setting where small streams are usually found. Although the Guadalupe is mainly
found in several rivers on Edwards Plateau it is a highly sought after game fish. It has been become known
as the Texas Trout by light tackle users and fly fishermen due to its fighting ability when hooked.
Guadalupe bass use structure, natural curves and breaks to provide cover for themselves
against the current. The current cuts deep into the bank, building outside curves, and gravel, dirt and
fragments are dropped to form inside curves. In outside curves, bass use cover in fallen trees, big rocks,
and under roots, covering them in deep water from unsuspected prey. The inside curves have sandbars and
shallow water flats. Any kind of grass or bush growing here makes a great spawning location; fishing is
great here in early spring.
The jig fishing, using jig lures, top-water or spinner-bait fishing lures, is one of the
best methods using for bass, which are known as strong fighters. It is a popular sport fish for anglers
who enjoy following an active fish in attractive, natural settings, who emphasize quality of the
experience over quantity of the catch. Clear, cool, spring-fed water bubbling over a mineral stream bed,
long, deep pools are one of the best places to catch a Guadalupe bass. Better to use ultra-light spinning
tackle or a light fly rod for a Guadalupe bass.
