4+ Pound Spotted Bass In Creek (with Pics)

[smallmouthjoe]

I've caught some largemouth with the rough patch on their tongue as well. It looks a lot like a largemouth to me. Compare it to the largemouth in Randy's avatar. Nice fish no matter what sub-species it belongs to.

[creek wader]

I also, thought large mouth. But, I'm not one to argue about it. I caught a 4 lb. 3 oz., 20 1/2 in. large mouth Fri. while fishing a pond. The 1st pic is of it. The 2nd is of one a little smaller, from a stream, about 2 weeks ago. Here they are for comparison to your fish. .. Any how, nice fish. ...wader

[Guest csfishinfool]

I also, thought large mouth. But, I'm not one to argue about it. I caught a 4 lb. 3 oz., 20 1/2 in. large mouth Fri. while fishing a pond. The 1st pic is of it. The 2nd is of one a little smaller, from a stream, about 2 weeks ago. Here they are for comparison to your fish. .. Any how, nice fish. ...wader

good old sinko...it will get em every time.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, definitely largemouth. I have an 8 pound largemouth mounted on my wall from many years ago, which has a tooth patch on the tongue. About 15% of largemouths in MO have the tooth patch. And I suspect you weren't measuring the upper jaw correctly. You should close the fish's mouth tightly before looking at the upper jaw. On a largemouth it will be definitely behind the eye with mouth tightly closed, but if you have the mouth partially open, it will look like it only goes to about the rear of the eye. Just looking at the mouth of the fish in the picture, though, even with it wide open, you can tell it's a MUCH bigger mouth than spotted bass have. And the coloration is pure largemouth.

I've got many close-up photos of both species that I've taken over the years for reference for my artwork. When I get a chance, I'll post some that show the various ways to tell spots from largemouths. I've caught so many, and studied them so closely, that I can tell them apart at a glance with 100% accuracy. In fact, I can actually tell them apart by FEEL. Put one of each side by side, blindfold me, and I'd be willing to bet that I can tell them apart by touch. Spotted bass scales have slightly rough edges, while largemouth scales are smooth-edged. When you feel them, the largemouth feel slimier, the spotted bass feel less slimy with scales more discernable.