hi guys im new to the bass forums i think my question is appropriate for here. im a pretty seasoned fisher but was wondering if there is a way to tell the age of a smallmouth bass without hurting/killing it since i basically catch and release thanks

Not really, but a local biologist can probably give you estimate age based on location and size.  I'm wondering how this information would be useful, though?

We have this section just for our little bronze friends.

Welcome aboard!

I don't have an answer, but here are some

thoughts on estimating the age of a smallmouth:

In the South, smallmouth bass will grow to 4 or 5 lbs

by the time they are 4 years old. Reaching 5 lbs in the

northern states may take 10-12 years. Northern

smallmouth are the same species as those found in

the South, but southern bass are active all year and

as a result, only live to be 9 or 10 years old. Fish in

northern waters can live to be 19 or so.

8-)

Also, we notice here in the NE that the smallies living in Hydroelectric plant wash waters, due to the warmer nature, grow about a year to 2 years faster. Meaning a 14" regular river fish is around 16-18 in the plant waters.

That being said, big spawning smallies here run around 4-5 lbs. The biggest I have ever caught in CT (river fishing from shore)was 4lbs 4oz but in Canada, above the Great Lakes, 6lbs+ is a once a day fish if you hit them right.