Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

White Bass Morone chrysops

Family
Moronidae (Temperate Basses)
Tolerance
Intermediate
Trophic Class
Top Carnivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 51 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 20 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 71 distinct sites, or 4.7% of the 1512 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 61st most commonly collected species.

The White Bass was collected in 63 bioassessment sampling sessions and 23 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 426 individual White Bass specimens, ranking it the #74 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

A slab-sided, blue-gray to silvery, spiny-rayed fish with slate gray dorsal, caudal and anal fins, white belly and pectoral fins. It has 5 to 7 longitudinal dark colored body stripes. Stripes on the body are usually interrupted, but not as sharply broken or offset above the anal fin as other fish in this family. The dorsal fin is separated into two complete lobes; the first has 9 spines and the second has a single spine with 13 to 15 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines graduating in length followed by 11 to 13 soft rays. The mouth is slightly oblique with the lower jaw projecting slightly beyond the upper jaw.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found