5
David Moore
Rick Slinker
Habitat
The smallmouth buffalo is a hardy fish that frequent
clear, moderate to fast-moving streams but has occa-
sionally been found in some lakes and ponds. It pre-
fers waters with dense aquatic vegetation and a silty
bottom. It has a high tolerance for hard water and can
survive in waters with ph ranges of 6.5–8.5.
Diet
The smallmouth buffalo’s diet is primarily that of a
detritivore, using its ventral sucker mouth to pick up
vegetation and other organic matter from the bottom of
its habitat, often scraping algae off of rocks. It is also
quite the invertivore,consuming zooplankton, insect
larvae, mollusk larvae and small crustaceans.
Commercial Use
Although considered by many to be a rough (trash) fish like the
common carp it is misrepresented. Smallmouth buffalo is the
most common commercially sold freshwater fish in the United
States sold in most food stores. The species is highly valued
by some as a human food source, and the fish meal is common
in animal feed. They are relatively quick and easy to
raise in commercial farm ponds. Anglers seeking
to hook a smallmouth buffalo have found suc-
cess with most all methods used to catch the
common carp.
My favorite way to go buffalo hunting is pref-
erably in wild waters (rivers and lakes). Al-
though fishing for these can be more tedious
and time-consuming, it is most rewarding when
you latch on to that once in a lifetime fish. They
are a lump of pure muscle and smarter than the av-
erage bear. When you go after one of these, make
sure your gear is in tip-top condition because this
species will try its best to give you and your
gear a significant workout. Search your neck
of the woods to find out if these fish reside
there and if they do, lace up your boots,
pack your gear and get ready to have the
time of your life! I will see you on the
banks. Until then Tight lines and a
wet net yall!
Jeff Skleton