Into + What Type Of Fish Is This?

[Riverwhy]

I also have many decades under my belt fishing our Ozark creeks. Al and Tim are right on target about the shiners and the chubs. I actually have a harder time figuring out for sure if I have a spotted bass rather than a largemouth. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes I am just not quite sure.

[XP 590]

What kind of fish is this?

An annoying one! Everytime I switch to soft hackles or small stuff on the Niangua, these and their cousins outnumber the trout.

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

The esiest way to tell the difference from a spot vs. largemouth for me is to feel the tongue, largemouth have a smooth tongue, where spots have a rough patch

[Al Agnew]

The esiest way to tell the difference from a spot vs. largemouth for me is to feel the tongue, largemouth have a smooth tongue, where spots have a rough patch

That's true, but unfortunately about 10% of largemouth have the tooth patch as well. It isn't as rough as the spotted bass tooth patch, but it's there. I have a mounted 8 pound largemouth hanging on the wall that has a tooth patch.

In my opinion, on any bass over 10 inches or so, looking at the size of the upper jaw (the maxillary) is the easiest way to tell them apart. Press the mouth closed tightly. Hold the fish so it's horizontal. Draw an imaginary line from the BACK EDGE of the eyeball, straight down. If the back edge of the upper jaw goes past that imaginary line it's a largemouth. If it only goes to about that imaginary line it's a spotted bass (or a smallmouth, but it's easy to tell smallies from spots and largemouth).

There are other ways to tell them apart. Look at the spiny and soft dorsal fins (the fins on their back). Lift the spines on the spiny dorsal if they aren't already lifted. Look at the membrane between the last spine and the first spine of the soft dorsal (this first one is a spine, the rest of them are softer rays). If the membrane connects to that first spine well above the base of it, it's a spot. If it barely connects at the base, it's a largemouth.

If still not sure, look at the scales on the cheeks (the area behind the eyes). If the scales down at the bottom area of the cheek are very small, far smaller than the scales on the upper part of the cheek, it's a spot. If they are bigger, almost the same size as the scales on the upper cheek, it's a largemouth.

So if you're not sure, feel for the tooth patch first. If it ain't there it's a largemouth for sure. If it is there, check the upper jaw. Still not sure, check the dorsal fin connection. Still not sure, look at the cheek scales.

It really helps to have both species lying side by side. Once you catch a bunch, you'll be able to tell at a glance, and won't have to do all that checking.