Editing Spotted bass (section)

==Reproduction and life cycle==
The spotted bass can live approximately six years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/spotted-bass|title=Spotted Bass {{!}} MDC Discover Nature|website=Nature.mdc.mo.gov|access-date=2016-05-04}}</ref> [[Spawning]] occurs from April to May in habitat similar to that used by smallmouth. The males build their nest in gravel or other substrate, then entices a female to deposit her [[ichthyoplankton|egg]]s. The males guard the eggs until they disperse. Several spotted and smallmouth bass hybrids have been collected recently in area reservoirs suggesting there is occasionally competition between the two species for spawning habitat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnfish.org/SpeciesFishInformation_TWRA/SpottedBassTennessee_MicropterusPunctulatus_TWRA.htm|title=TWRA - Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Spotted Bass|website=Tnfish.org|access-date=2016-05-04}}</ref>