What's the diffrance

[CLTodd]

As being from the ST.Louis area I was wandering what the differance between the LG.mouth and the KY.bass. I don't belive I've ever seen a KY.bass or a spotted bass.Have an 8lber on my living room wall(wife gets mad every time I change the water) BUt no ky or spot.

thanks,

Chuck

[Don House]

Chuck, First they are alittle smaller than the Black Bass, with a much smaller mouth, you can also see a more defined line of darker spots on there lat line, but the best way tell what the difference is to look at there jaw lines. Black Bass when you close there mouths there jaw lines goes back past there eyes. Spots the end of jaw lines is even with there eyes. Also on the spots there is a little brown patch of teeth on the end of there tongue.

Good Fishing

[CLTodd]

Thanks Don,

I have another question.Are the lengh limits the same for the bass?

[Don House]

In Missouri Yes, they must be 15 inches".

Good Fishing

[shadman]

i have noticed alot have orange or red eyes but not all

[Wayne SW/MO]

i have noticed alot have orange or red eyes but not all

That may be the Meanmouths. Not to confuse the issue CL, but there are also some crosses in the lake. Kentuckies and Smallmouths cross, although I'm not sure why this has seemingly started. I only say this because there don't seem to be many and they seem to be a recent phenomenon, in spite of the fact the fish have been together for decades in the watershed. the ones I have caught show a little coloration of both parents.

[Sam]

I've found the easiest way to tell a Kentucky (spotted) bass from a Largemouth, even in the dark, is to feel the tongue when you're unhooking it. The top of a Largemouth's tongue is perfectly smooth, a Kentucky bass has a "sandpaper" patch on its' tongue.

That's important on lakes like Bull Shoals, where you can keep Kentuckies over 12" but a Largemouth has to be 15".

[CLTodd]

Thanks everone for all the input it'll go a long way...

Chuck