Identification

[Mitch f]

Not arguing Chief, just going by his first statement that it looked like a spotted bass. No one on this forum said it looked like a spotted bass except your biologist. Everyone either said smallmouth or hybrid.

[Greasy B]

I'll miss the fun of species speculation when genetic testing of the fish we catch is cheap and readily available.

[Mitch f]

I'll miss the fun of species speculation when genetic testing of the fish we catch is cheap and readily available.

LOL.....but it's fun!

[Chief Grey Bear]

Not arguing Chief, just going by his first statement that it looked like a spotted bass. No one on this forum said it looked like a spotted bass except your biologist. Everyone either said smallmouth or hybrid.

Well there you go. He is an idiot.

Even though it must look somewhat like a spotted bass or no one would have called it a hybrid. But you know what they say about first impressions...

[Chief Grey Bear]

I'll miss the fun of species speculation when genetic testing of the fish we catch is cheap and readily available.

Yeah I can't wait until we all are packing a Jr. Biologist kit in our tackle boxes.

I just hope they are as full proof and as easy to use as those crack kits the cops pack around!

Drop a scale on the pouch, this color is this, that color is that!

[Guest]

deleted

[Mitch f]

1. Hybrid

2. Hybrid

3. Full or high percentage Spot

4. Spot

5. Hybrid

6. Very nice full Spot

7. High percentage Spot

8. Big Smallie

9. Big Smalie

[Chief Grey Bear]

Master's degree in fisheries here. NO doubt the first one is a hybrid. It certainly gets harder to ID the hybrids after several generations removed from a straight cross, but I can usually tell almost instantly after I land one. It is surprisingly hard to get a straight answer from a biologist sometimes, especially if they have little experience with a certain species of fish. I have caught ~50 hybrid smallie/spots and some are incredibly easy to tell while others are much more difficult.

If obvious there are no degrees in English. It has been stated many times now he did not ID the fish as a Spot. But you boys are sure on hung up on that.

I think you are right about the experience. The newest one has only done it for 22 years now. Probably not near long enough. And it's not hard to get a straight answer from any of them. They just are a little reluctant to make fact from a picture. I really don't have the problem with that that you guys seem to. I certainly wouldn't be questioning the knowledge and credentials of a person or persons that do this for a living instead of on weekends and the internet.

Since you have a masters and do ID minnows, can you tell me which on of these fish is a Northern and which is a Neosho?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Sorry for the extra post. I tried redoing the pics in the oat but couldn't. Hopefully these are better for you.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Arrrrrrrgh!