Growth and Habits of the Redeye Bass

Abstract
A study of the redeye bass, Micropterus coosae Hubbs and Bailey, was conducted on Sheedˈs Creek in southeastern Tennessee during the years 1950 through 1953. This fish is common in Georgia and Alabama and also occurs in several small streams in Tennessee. The redeye bass is primarily a fish of small upland streams and is seldom found in lakes or ponds. In comparison with other black basses, the redeye bass has an average life span, grows slowly, and is relatively slender. Of the 6,363, redeye bass scales examined 82 percent were regenerated. This occurrence of scale regeneration was higher than in 13 other species of fish in eastern Tennessee streams. This report on the redeye bass includes information on the standard length‐total length relationship, length‐weight relationship, growth rate, parasites, food habits, spawning habits, fecundity, maturity, distribution, migration, and angling importance. The redeye bass has been propogated successfully in Tennessee hatchery ponds and has been introduced experimentally into 10 small streams of middle Tennessee that have proven to be unsuitable for either warm‐water game fish or trout.

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