Smallmouth bass will forage on a variety of creatures, depending on availablity and season. Crayfish tend to be the favored prey, but they will go after minnows in the spring, insects during hatches (especially Mayflies), hellgramites and other fish species.

Smallmouth are mainly ambush predators. They will dart out from behind boulders to grab their prey. They can also be followers, especially when young. Smallmooth can be skittish and easily spooked at times.

Smallmouth bass feed very little during cold-water periods. They usually begin feeding in spring when the water temperature reaches about 47º. Food consumption peaks at water temperatures around 78º. When the water temperature drops below 40º in fall, they will feed very little. However, in some high-competition waters, smallmouth continue to feed through the ice-cover season.