Smallmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus bubalus
The smallmouth buffalo is a large native sucker fish found in North American river systems. It has a deep, compressed body with a small, downward-facing mouth adapted for bottom feeding.
Smallmouth Buffalo at a glance
- Scientific name
- Ictiobus bubalus
- Typical size
- 15-25 inches, 5-15 lbs
- Water
- Freshwater
- Habitat
- Freshwater
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Uncommon
Habitat
Smallmouth buffalo inhabit large rivers, reservoirs, and lakes throughout the Mississippi River basin and Great Lakes region. They prefer areas with moderate current and feed on bottom organisms like mollusks, crustaceans, and plant matter. Anglers typically target them using bottom fishing techniques with cut bait, worms, or corn.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a smallmouth buffalo through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksSmallmouth Buffalo questions people ask
Smallmouth Buffalo is Ictiobus bubalus.
A typical smallmouth buffalo runs 15-25 inches, 5-15 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every smallmouth buffalo you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Smallmouth buffalo inhabit large rivers, reservoirs, and lakes throughout the Mississippi River basin and Great Lakes region. They prefer areas with moderate current and feed on bottom organisms like mollusks, crustaceans, and plant matter. Anglers typically target them using bottom fishing techniques with cut bait, worms, or corn. It is a fresh water species, filed under freshwater in the Fishdex.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.