The right temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stock to many cool-water tributaries such as the Muskegon River / Manistee River and lakes throughout Michigan and the United States and Canada. The smallmouth bass is native to the upper and middle Mississippi River basin, the Saint Lawrence River–Great Lakes system, and up into the Hudson Bay basin. Its common names include Smallmouth, Bronzeback, Brown Bass, Brownie, Smallie, Bronze Bass, and Bare back Bass, and red eye lightning here on the Muskegon River.

The Muskegon River smallmouth bass is generally brown with red eyes, and dark brown vertical bands, rather than a horizontal band along the side. There are 10-15 soft rays in the dorsal fin.

Males are generally smaller than females. The males tend to range around two pounds while females can range from 2 1/2 to six pounds. depending on where they are located; those found in US waters tend to be larger because of the longer summers.

Their habitat plays a significant role in their color, weight, and shape. Muskegon River smallmouth that live among dark water and the rocky banks that drop off very quick tend to be dark brown in order to be more efficient for feeding. Muskegon River smallmouth bass however, can be in sandy/clay chunk areas and can tend to be a light yellow / or even gold with red fins to adapt to the environment in a defensive state. Michigan smallmouth bass are found in clearer water more than the largemouth, especially streams, Michigan rivers, such as the Muskegon River and the rocky areas and stumps and also sandy bottoms of Michigan lakes.

The smallmouth prefers the Muskegon River and Manistee Rivers cooler more swifter water
and temperatures than its cousin the largemouth bass, and may be found in both still and moving water pockets or the eddy's in both the Muskegon River and Manistee river. Because it is intolerant of pollution, the smallmouth bass is a good indicator of a healthy water systems, because it can better adjust to changes in water temperatures and conditions way better than most trout species. Carnivorous, its diet is made mostly of crayfish, insects, and smaller fish, the young also feeding on tiny crustaceans and water bugs. The female can lay up to 20,000 eggs, which are guarded by the male he builds and maintains the nest.