Invasive Alabama Bass Alarm Sounds

The Territory for Alabama Bass Continues to Expand in 2025

“They are being illegally spread across the state by misguided anglers who think that they will make the fishing better,” states Kin Hodges. “The only tools we have to minimize the damage being caused by Alabama bass are to encourage anglers not to spread them to new waters, and to harvest as many as possible in waters where they have already been introduced to minimize their damage.”

One of the biggest challenges we face as Smallie Chasers for the first time isnt an environmental or chemical challenge like we have experienced so often in our river systems but a natural order in the animal kingdom following Darwins laws. The challenge of predation and survival of the fittest. This is what we are seeing play out to parts south in the Mid Atlantic Region with the entire regions Smallmouth fisheries being held in the balance.

This is one of the primary reasons we are forming the Smallie Chaser River Alliance to raise greater awareness concerning the migration of invasive species in our region that are threatening our native strains of smallmouth and largemouth populations. Not only are we seeking to raise awareness but ALSO elevating criminal penalties to felonies for those that violate stated law that are intentionally threatening our fisheries via introduction of invasive species.

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Major League Fishing supplied the following map at one of the conservation seminars concerning the threat.

https://majorleaguefishing.com/conservation/podcast-how-alabama-bass-threaten-smallmouth-and-largemouth-and-why-you-shouldnt-move-them/

Less and less professional events seemingly are being scheduled in North Carolina in some of its famed largemouth lakes like Lake Norman as a direct result of the invasive take over. B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing have both moved events east to the coastal areas of North Carolina scheduling Chowan and just last week the Pasquotank River. This would have never happened a decade ago. Pro Bass Angler Kyle Welcher went start to finish over four days to win the Bassmaster event with a whopping 118 pounds, 12 ounces!! of largemouth.

Invasive Alabama Bass now showing up more frequently in places like the Dan River than previous years as well as being caught in the upper New River flowing north into Virginia from North Carolina. Population densities of these invasive species have a direct impact on the mortality rates overall or survival of fish population for both established largemouth and smallmouth bass populations in these river systems and while lake and reservoir invasive specie can be contained somewhat river systems provide a thoroughfare for species to expand their ranges.

Thus far those North Carolina river systems are not on the watch list for Alabama Bass but to their north the Roanoke River as display below right has expereinced significant density.

The Alabama Bass once simply called the lower Mobile Bay drainage home but has expanded its reach over the last thirty years thanks in no small part to uninformed anglers transporting the specie to their lakes and reservoirs in hopes of increasing bass populations. These decisions made by individuals are now proving to have the opposite effect as these invasive species are negatively impacting fisheries native specie populations. It is rather easy to confuse with the Bama Bass with the Kentucky Spotted Bass in many instances and often only tests conducted by state agencies can confirm the actual genetics of fish being caught but reports are increasing each season by anglers catching invasive specie.

Sightings have been happening over time even in parts west in West Virginia now.

“They breed out the smallmouth. They hybridize and eventually take over that way. Their genetics eventually take over and you lose your smallmouth. Lord forbid we ever lose our smallmouth in the New River, that’s one of the top smallmouth bass fisheries around, so that’s scary,” (Mark Scott, Assistant Chief of Fish Management for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources)

The New River is one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the entire country let alone in the Mid Atlantic region and the threat to this fishery is as real as it has ever been when it relates to invasive species. Many anglers once believed that Claytor Lake may act like a stop gap in any migration north from North Carolina but recent developments and mother nature has proven that we cannot control everything. Massive flooding in late 2024 as a direct result of Hurricane Helene sent Claytor to historic levels.

Sightings in 2025 very well may see an increase as a direct result of the flooding and the high water levels throughout winter 2024-254 in Virginia rivers like the New River and Dan River. Virginia’s DGIF believes that any further spread of Bama Bass may jeopardize bass fisheries like Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Moomaw, South Holston Reservoir, the Upper James River, and the Shenandoah River. Both the Upper James and Shenandoah are incredible smallmouth fisheries that are certainly on watch. We know that Bama Bass have been routinely caught in Claytor and now Lake Gaston and in reality the clock is ticking unless we as a community along with state agencies do all we can to prevent the migration northward from NC and hold the Bama Bass where they are today as best we can.

Virginia has confirmed Bama Bass already in places like Buggs Island (Kerr) on the border with North Carolina as well.

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/fish/alabama-bass/

Are you a Smallie Chaser?

Have fun and enter events Chasing Smallies across the nation in the new NATIONAL ONLINE Smallie Chaser American Chase Division (Spring Fling and Summer Chase next) on TourneyX. Fish any river for smallies across the country from the bank, wade fishing or kayak and show off your rivers smallies!! There is also a Charity Series as well.

https://tourneyx.com/app/category/va---smallie-chaser-river-bassin

Resources:

You Tube:

Smallie Chaser River Bassin:

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallieChaserChannel

J.L. Scott Fishing

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@J.L.ScottFishing

TourneyX: Clubs Tab (Virginia) Tournament Fishing App

https://tourneyx.com/app/category/va---smallie-chaser-river-bassin

Community DISCORD: Free To Join (Smallmouth)

https://discord.gg/KtpkAJchUP