Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 42
ENDANGER
The
Reclusive,
Elusive
Warmouth
by Rob Criswell
photos by the author
The Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) has missed its chance to
be a gamefish. It can get big-for a sunfish-rarely up to
12 inches. And, it is willing to hit a lure and is a fighter if
hooked. So, why aren't we fishing for it?
First, it is, unfortunately, a rarity in Pennsylvania. It
reaches its maximum size only infrequently and usually
further south in its range. And, it just doesn't occur in
big enough numbers most places to make it popular. In
Pennsylvania, the Warmouth dwells in near-anonymity in
vegetated lakes, marshes and sluggish streams. Native to
the northwest corner of Pennsylvania, it still survives in the
weedy waters of Presque Isle Bay, a couple smaller glacial
lakes in Erie County, Crawford County's two most extensive
marshes and a few spots further down the Shenango River.
It prefers dense vegetation and a bottom of mud or muck
but is sometimes found over sand or gravel and amongst
patches of woody debris if live vegetation is lacking. Its
penchant for these various types of cover has earned it
other nicknames including stump-knocker, mud bass,
wood bass and weed bass.
The Warmouth superficially resembles a Rock Bass,
with the same sort of body shape, mottled pattern and
42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2015
coloration. And, it also has red eyes. They even share a local
nickname-goggle-eye. Closer inspection reveals a number of
differences. First, the Warmouth has dark streaks radiating from
the back of its eye, which the "Rockie" lacks. It also frequently
has a purplish sheen to its body, along with well-defined dark
vertical bars, rather than blotches. Adult Warmouths also have
a pink or red spot on the gill cover edge. More definitively, they
have only three spines on their anal fin, while Rock Bass have
six spines. And, the Warmouth possesses a patch of small teeth
on its tongue, the only sunfish so equipped.
Its rather large mouth allows the Warmouth to enjoy a varied
diet that is usually comprised of at least 50 percent fish and
crayfish. Dragonflies and damselflies are also eaten regularly,
and the menu is rounded out with various other aquatic insects
and smaller crustaceans.
Spawning usually begins in May and peaks in June. The
Warmouth, unlike the Bluegill and other sunfish species,
is not a colonial nester. The nests the males excavate with
violent sweeping tail motions are usually few and far between.
The male guards his nest jealously, immediately evicting
intruders, and remains stationed there until courtship and
spawning occur.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover4
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