Identification

[Flysmallie]

They all look like fish that I would enjoy catching and that's all that matters to me.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think one needs to remember when it comes to hybrids that beyond the initial hybridization there are generations. These generatins leave small, almost indiscernible, tracks. I suspect that is the case in the fish pictured. It's probably a 1st or 2nd generation fish from a Kentucky/smallie to smallie

[MOsmallies]

Definitely 100% a Hybrid Chief.... And a very nice one at that

[Al Agnew]

Guys, since I paint them all the time, I might see details that some others overlook. The rest of them look to be pure smallmouth. Now look closely at the original fish, the top one when Chief put them all together. Look at the hand holding it on the tail end. Look to the left of that middle finger. What you'll see is a pattern that looks like thin, horizontal lines. Look a bit more closely, and you'll see that those lines are made up of a dark spot in the middle of each scale. The scales go in more or less horizontal rows, so the spots form those more or less horizontal lines. Note also that in no part of the lower sides do the scales have light centers and darker edges.

Now look at the others. You won't find those horizontal rows of spots anywhere on any of them. You will also see that on most, it's pretty easy to see that the scales on the lower sides have lighter centers and darker outlines. The rows of spots are one of the main identifying features of spotted bass...the scales on the lower sides of spotted bass always have dark spots in the centers, and no dark outlines. The darker outlines and lighter centers are characteristic of the lower side scales on smallmouth.

Now it's obviously not a pure spotted bass, which are always more grayish green on the back and sides, and have a very distinct dark band running horizontally down the middle of the sides. In this fish the band is there but pretty obscured.

I also think Gavin is right about the very light colored pelvic fin. Smallies nearly always have some darker color in the base area of the pelvic fin, and usually the color extends all the way out to the edges, with only the tip being white or nearly so.

I'll try to post some pics of spots, smallies, and hybrids I've taken over the years this evening.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

What river ?

[Mitch f]

Here's an 18" hybrid I caught a few years ago on the lower Meramec

[Old plug]

You and the injun have convinced me Mitch. With all your talk and pictures. I. Am going to check around in St Louis and see what is what and maybe if your out there and you come upon a old guy who does not respond to any questions, who is fishing with tackle from yeaseryear. It might be me. Of course if you keep going on about the lower Meramec on this public forum it may be to full of boats to fish.

[Al Agnew]

Here are some photos of spotted bass, hybrids, and smallmouth.

This first one is about as pure and typical spotted bass coloration as you can get...

This one is a big spotted bass from somewhat murky water...colors are a bit washed out as they usually are in murkier water...

Here's a hybrid that's probably at least 3/4 spotted bass...note the rows of spots on lower sides are very prominent but the dark band down the side is washed out...

This one is probably a half and half hybrid...coloration more brassy, dark band somewhat obscure, and since it's a small one, the rows of spots are broken...

This one is looking like more smallmouth than spotted bass, very brassy-bronze coloration and markings are all obscured, except for the rows of spots...

This little fish may be the prettiest hybrid I've ever caught...very small spotted bass don't have the rows of spots on the lower sides. This one has almost unique markings, definitely not smallmouth, not really too much like small spotted bass, either...

Here's very light, grayish smallmouth, typical of smaller smallies from the mine waste stretches of Big River; the mine waste is light gray and covers parts of the bottom, the fish actually change colors to blend in...

A very light, brassy smallmouth with all markings almost invisible...

A richly colored, well-marked smallie...

A big one that shows why they're called bronzebacks...

A big, dark frog eater...

[Greasy B]

Cool thread, a picture book of appearance variation. Are we looking at mostly Elk and Meramec River Basin fish?

[Al Agnew]

The two spotted bass in my pics are both Big River fish, as is the top hybrid. The other hybrids came from a small Mississippi River tributary, along with the light, brassy smallmouth with no markings. I'd like to mention that fish has very dark outsides to the dorsal, anal, and tail fins. In the water, those dark fins show up prominently while the fish's body blends into the bottom. The well-marked, richly colored smallie, and the very dark one on the bottom, I believe may have come from the Jacks Fork. The big bronze one was a Meramec fish.