Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

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Common name: Yellow Bass

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Pflieger (1975); Becker (1983); Page and Burr (1991); Etnier and Starnes (1993).

Size: 46 cm.

Native Range: Lake Michigan and Mississippi River basins from Wisconsin and Minnesota south to Gulf; east to western Indiana and eastern Tennessee, and west to western Iowa and eastern Oklahoma. On Gulf Slope in lower Mobile Bay drainage, Alabama, and from Pearl River drainage, Louisiana, to Galveston Bay drainage, Texas (Page and Burr 1991).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Native range data for this species provided in part by NatureServe

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Means of Introduction: Yellow Bass are intentionally stocked for sportfishing. They have gained access to the upper Tombigbee River through the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (Boschung 1992). A recent collection from Browning Oxbow, Kansas, may be a result of migration from stocked Lake Icaria, Iowa (Mosher, personal communication). Dallmier (2005) suggested that presence in Queen City Lake was the result of an illegal stocking by anglers.

Status: Reported as established in Arizona (Rinne 1995) and Wisconsin (Helm 1958). Stockings in Kansas in the late 1800s failed to produce sustaining populations (Cross 1967). However, Yellow Bass have more recently been collected from Browning Oxbow in Kansas (Mosher, personal communication). The status of the other introductions is unknown.  This species was only reported in Michigan and is not likely established (Cudmore-Vokey and Crossman 2000).

Impact of Introduction: When stocked in the native range of the white bass M. chrysops these two species hybridize (Fries and Harvey 1989).

Remarks: None.

References: (click for full references)

Anonymous.  1992.1991 Angler Recognition Entries - Freshwater. Texas Parks & Wildlife News (January 24, 1992). 5 pp.

Burr, B. M., and M. L. Warren, Jr. 1986. A distributional atlas of Kentucky fishes. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission Scientific and Technical Series 4. 398 pp.

Cross, F. B. 1967. Handbook of Fishes of Kansas. State Biological Survey and University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Miscellaneous Publication 45, Topeka, KS.

Cudmore-Vokey, B. and E.J. Crossman. 2000. Checklists of the fish fauna of the Laurentian Great Lakes and their connecting channels. Can. MS Rpt. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2500: v + 39p.

Dallmier, K. 2005. Queen City Lake fisheries management plan. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division, Social Circle, GA.

Fries, L.T., and W.D. Harvey. 1989. Natural hybridization of white bass with yellow bass in Texas. Transactions American Fisheries Soceity 118(1):87-89.

Helm, W. T. 1958. A "new" fish in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Conservation Bulletin 23(7):1-3.

Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980 et seq. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC.

Miller, R.R. and C.H. Lowe. 1967. Part 2. Fishes of Arizona, p 133-151, In: C.H. Lowe, ed. The Vertebrates of Arizona. University of Arizona Press. Tucson.

Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series, volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.

Rasmussen, J.L. 1998. Aquatic nuisance species of the Mississippi River basin. 60th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Aquatic Nuisance Species Symposium, Dec. 7, 1998, Cincinnati, OH.

Rinne, J. N. 1994. The effects of introduced fishes on native fishes: Arizona, southwestern United States. World fisheries congress, May 1992, Athens, Greece.

Other Resources:
Distribution in Illinois - ILNHS

Author: Pam Fuller, and Matt Neilson

Peer Review Date: 6/4/2013

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.