Finally the my first bass of 2013

[Loop_Dad]

Two dorsal fins looks disconnected(?) -> LMB(?)

[bassman408]

I agree, looks like a largemouth. Definitely not a small mouth.

Nice bass regardless!! Congrats on your first bass of the year.

[Nick79]

I compared the bass that I think is spotted with other largemouths I have caught. I can see a better difference once side by side. Can you? The one I think is Spotted is in the top right picture. I think this is good for the forum to be able to tell the difference between the two, especially if you are in a tournament. I'll let this go for now until I catch another and take better pics if it is!

[Banker916]

Totally a largemouth.

Look at where the jaws are, always a give away.


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[Nor*Cal]

I would have guessed Largemouth.

[49erbassman]

Not a small mouth bass for sure IMO


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[Catfish Tony]

I catch bass like that all the time in our local rivers and sloughs. They have bodies and patterns like largemouth bass but their mouths are small and they have spikey tounges. Spots are usually darker colored and prefer clearer water. I think you have either a smallmouth or a smallmouth/largemouth hybrid. I just call them river bass because I usually catch them in murky rivers, no where else.

[Nick79]

In case anyone was still interested in this ID, I got an email back from a fish biologist at UC Davis who said she would say it was a Spotted Bass based on mouth size and the dotted line lower pattern. Just got another email from a retired DFG agent who said it also looked like a spot to him. So I am going to hit that spot hard and try to get some more with better pics. Also of the tooth patch on the tongue I hope!
Nick

[Nick79]

The last pic you've posted is a largemouth if I'm not mistaken and yes, large/small/black/striped are all different types of bass.

From the first pic you've posted while it was in the water.. it looked like a black bass or spotted bass. Small mouth bass have the vertical diamond shaped coloring going down the width of the fish kinda like a tiger.

Either ways.. a bass is a bass and it's cool that you've caught it when it's super cold outside.

Btw.. which creek was this if you don't mind sharing. I'm dying to catch just about anything in this weather! LOL

What I was saying is that largemouth, spotted, smallmouth, etc are types of black basses. Striper is not a type of black bass, they are a different genus more of a true bass where black basses are more of the sunfish type.
When you say Black Bass or spotted bass to me they are the same thing, just black bass is way more vague.
Try any creek that you know has bass in it, I think its easier to fish for them now because they can't go in that deep water that you can't reach bank fishing. I was in a creek off the Guadalupe River
Black bass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[49erbassman]

I just love catching em so never took the time to look at each one. For me spots and largemouth are the same thing lol. I always knew the difference but never cared ;-)


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