Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Growing fish

Went fishing a couple of times the past two days. Weather has been very hot, air temps in the 90s and water temps (surface) in the 80s. managed to catch two pond records, a 9 inch HBG and two 13 inch LMB. Bass gave a good fight and jumped repeatedly. Notice the mouth size of the LMB, I feel like they have relatively small mouths. Has anyone else seen this? Is it due to their fast growth rate?

Also, I've seen large amounts of LMB fry that were more than willing to chase my lure even though they are barely half an inch. Despite the large amount of bass fry I haven't seen any BG or SF fry. I will wait to be worried until later in the year, just an observation. Maybe the bass simply spawn earlier?

Both good looking specimens. You're right about the LMB. It's mouth does look considerably smaller. I thought at first it may be a spotted bass, but it's hard to tell without seeing the dorsle fins. Next time you catch one like that, 1st check to see if the spiney rays and soft rays have a gap between them. There will a bit of fin connecting the two on a LMB, where as on a spot there is a slight gap.2nd, run your finger over it's tongue and see if there's a very pronounced patch of teeth on it, and 3rd, with the mouth closed the LMB upper jaw will extend past it's eye. A spot's upper jaw will fall just about the middle of the eye. If you find these traits, I'd put my money on it being a spot. The way you described it's going airborne , it sounds more like a spot than a LMB. They are almost as acrobatic as SMB and every bit as tenacious. Just dont get as big. Color wise tho it sure looks like a LMB.

I understand the resemblance to spotted bass but I can rule them out because of the Wisconsin climate. Wouldn't have been the first time a fish hatchery sold me the wrong fish.