Occurrence of this species is limited in Iowa to the clearer, rocky habitats of the interior streams, particularly streams in the northeast part of the state. They are quite common in these reaches. Rock bass are rarely found in the upper parts of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers. Occasionally it is found in the large, natural lakes.

The rock bass is a stout, heavy-bodied sunfish with a large mouth, which extends beyond mid-eye when the mouth is closed. The spiny dorsal fin and soft dorsal fin are broadly connected but without a notch. The dorsal fin is much longer and more pronounced than the anal fin. Six anal fin spines and 12 dorsal fin spines distinguish this fish from all other sunfishes. Body color is olive with brassy reflections and dark mottlings along the sides. The breast and belly are whitish, and the lower side has spots that form prominent horizontal lines. There is brown mottling and faint banding on the anal, dorsal and tail fins. The pectoral fins are rounded, set low and are amber in color.

This fish cohabits the same environment with smallmouth bass, and their food habits are quite similar, except smallmouth are far more piscivorous. Young rock bass consume zooplankton as their primary forage, but as they grow larger in size there is a selection of more aquatic insects in the diet which is supplemented with minnows and other small fish.

The rock bass is mainly a sedentary and secretive fish spending much of its activity passively hiding in the shadows of underwater structures.

Spawning coincides with that of smallmouth bass. Nest building by the male starts when the water temperature is 65 to 75 degrees F, usually in May and June. Nests are constructed by males over gravel and sand bottoms where the females lay several thousand eggs. Females contain an average of 5,000 eggs, but one or several fish may deposit part or all of their eggs in a single nest. After hatching, the young fish are found only in quiet water areas protected from waves and strong current. Rock bass grow 1 1/2 to 2 inches the first year and reach 5 to 7 inches in length after three years. Rock bass have lived 13 years in nature and weighed 1 1/2 pounds, but most rock bass in Iowa seldom exceed 10 inches. The Iowa record for rock bass is 1 pound, 8 ounces, and was caught in 1973.

*Mayhew, J. (editor). 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.