Largemouth Bass Virus

By: Andrew Everett

Largemouth Bass

• Micropterus salmoides

What Fish are Affected?

• The virus has been found in other Centrarchids besides Largemouth Bass.

• However it doesn’t appear to affect other species.

• Virus may have changed to affect smallmouth bass.

• Smallmouth bass, pickerel, and sunfish have tested positive for the virus.

Where is LMBV Found?

• first found in Florida in 1991

• has been found in 18 states east of the Mississippi River

• recently been found in the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania

What does LMBV affect?

• found in fish.

• affects the swim bladder of affected fish.

• This causes the fish to swim upside down.

Are Some fish affected more than Others?

• Adult fish over two pounds have proven to be more susceptible than smaller fish.

• Stressed fish have high mortality rates.

• Pollution

• Temperature

• Angler caught

How is it Spread

• Contaminated fishing equipment

• Through Water

• By eating prey

Happy Camper

Thanks for Listening