Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Spotted bass ID

Thought this might be a good place to add a good photo for ID purposes of the Spotted bass as this pic shows many of the elements that help ID a spot vs LMB.

I believe that’s a LM. We bought some from Jones fish hatchery in Cincinnati and they look just like that. I did question myself about our fish as well though.

All right, I'm game... What elements am I looking for? Looks like a LMB to me. Got a picture of a LMB for comparison?

I favor a spottie thinking the mouth size is a bit smaller than LMB. It would be easier if it were not hanging and the mouth close. Also if the anterior dorsal fin wasn't laying flat.

Anyways, I am prepared to be wrong. Enlighten us Snipe.

No... It's not a LMB.
This is a spot. I thought I would post the pic to show the differences in the lateral and the obvious horizontal baring (ventrolateral) below lateral and the alternating molt pattern above lateral.
Jim you have no horizontal definitive baring and your caudal tips are not pointed-THAT is a LMB.
We collected Spots for fin-clip samples for age structure analysis Wednesday. This wasn't an ID question, this was an educational picture.

I've posted this before but couldn't find it so here it is again..

QA, here's a LMB..

When catching spotted bass on Lake Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend here in deep east Texas, one of the most obvious things we notice is the spotted bass is normally a LOT lighter in color than a largemouth. They tend to have a lot more "white" on them. And most of the time they are usually always under 15 inch in length here. Just my opinion.

Great post. Thanks Kenny. You’re probably the forum expert on spots so keep us updated.

A small percentage of LMB, maybe 10% or less, do have a tongue tooth patch. Interesting note, approximately 50% of the LMB in my dad's old pond had a tooth patch on the tongue. I assume it's a recessive trait.

We've been bass fishing at Truman lake this week and been catching mostly LMB but have also caught a few spot, the three biggest ones were right around 15".

Absolutely agree, they tend to show more to a point you can tell before you get them in the boat.
shorty, I have never used the tooth patch as ID personally but the tail is the better indicator to me, the pointed lobes are nearly identical to SMB.
15" is getting close to top end, 17"-18" is a true giant. I am not a record chaser but the largest I've seen was about 18.25" and about 4lbs.
If craws are present they will utilize that forage source to the extent they are available. Spots do not prosper at all where no craws exist and I have no data to back it up but I believe spots are better equipped to find craws than SMB are. That's my opinion and belief.

I remember YEARS AGO Roland Martin talking about "Coosa River spotted bass". He may have misspoken but said they get to about NINE POUNDS. What do you think he was talking about??

Flame, the Coosa strain has now been identified as a separate species of black bass.

Under the right conditions they do get large. There may be other regional strains that also achieve large sizes. Our member Nathan&Kelly has some very remarkable examples in his pond that exceed 7 lbs. They could be Alabama bass but given the age of his pond in Missouri, I would place my money on them being sourced from Missouri and for these particular specimens, I would say that their growth reflects favorable conditions for growth through out their life.

Snipe, the ventro-lateral stripes are rather conspicuous and such a good indicator while taking in the sight of whole fish. I learn something new here most everyday and that juicy tidbit makes today particularly rewarding.

Spots seem to hang out more often in open water where there is some structure like underwater islands topping off at 15 to 20' depths. I have caught them @ 45' depths. I have caught two 4lb'ers in my life of bass fishing one at Broken Bow lake in SE Okla and another at Lake O the Pines in E. Texas. I think they are the best looking lmb when it comes to markings and I always ck for teeth on the tonge for conformation. Lake o the Pines is loaded with them and pretty easy to locate and fish for them in that 14 to 15" range. But there are some nice two to 3lb'er out there.