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Joined: Oct 2013
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Mean Mouth Bass??
This is the second SMB?? that I have caught in my main pond that looks like this one. Is it a mean mouth bass??? A hybrid between LMB and SMB?
The lateral lines around the eye and mouth size says SMB. The back of the mouth is about even with the eye, not behind it like on a LMB.
But look at the lateral line along the fish. None of my SMB have it that I have seen. None of the SMB that come out of my RES/SMB pond have it and there are no LMB in that pond. But this main 3 acre pond has both LMB and SMB so the potential for a hybrid is there. The main pond was initially stocked with LMB then within the last couple years I have been raising SMB in another pond, catching them and transferring them to the main pond. So the main pond might have 50 or so SMB in it now of various sizes. I catch them regularly.
So what say you? Is this a SMB with a faint lateral line? Or a cross between a SMB and LMB? I'm pretty sure it is not a LMB because the mouth does not extend behind the eye.
Last edited by snrub; 05/02/20 11:58 PM.
John
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Moderator Lunker
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Looks like a hybrid to my uneducated eyes.
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Last edited by snrub; 05/03/20 07:57 AM.
John
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I wished I could tell if it was a meanmouth. If they are there in the pond I would think that is a plus for the pond.
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Shooting as straight as I can, that looks pure LMB to me. The lateral line is too distinct. That's one of the biggest missing parts on a cross. I suppose they probably vary some but I still think pure LMB.
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That is what I thought the first one I saw. But I threw it back in before I thought about looking for other features. This one I took the time to close the mouth and see where the rear hinge landed in relation to the eye. It was definitely in front of the eye, not behind it. I think the mouth is too small for a LMB. I tried to get the mouth closed in one of the pictures to illustrate that feature but it was hard to get the fish to cooperate without getting my hand in the way of the picture. The middle picture.
I have higher resolution pictures but I resized them so they would not take up so much space on the server.
Last edited by snrub; 05/03/20 12:07 PM.
John
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Pointed tips on tail are a sign as well, if they're more rounded it's more likely pure LMB.
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Could it possibly be a lightly colored SPB? They are native to streams in eastern Kansas, maybe a couple found their way into your pond.
2011 five acre pond. LMB, SMB, HSB, SPB, BG, CNBG, HBG, RES, WM, CC, BCP, GC, FHM, GSH
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Lunker
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Possible it's a mean mouth, to me it looks like a LMB. The jaw does seem a little short, but the markings look LMB. Even the lateral lines on the cheek area are not uncommon in LMB. Most meanmouth pictures I've seen had more SMB markings/coloration to them. I'm far from an expert though.
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It is most likely a LMB. Just made me wonder. I will pay more attention to the tail if I catch another one. Caught some small LMB tonight but they were sure LMB.
John
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Could it possibly be a lightly colored SPB? They are native to streams in eastern Kansas, maybe a couple found their way into your pond. I don't think so. Not saying it is impossible but the age of the pond and the overflow I don't think so. At one point I would have liked to add some spotted bass. But since I now have SMB my desire for spots kind of dwindled.
John
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I have to wonder if you added a single female LMB to your SMB bow whether there would be some meanmouths simply because she'd have no one but the SMB gents to court her.
It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so - Will Rogers
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Good question but not sure I am curious enough yet to find out. That would have to be done in my RES/SMB pond. This fish came out of my main pond where there are both LMB and SMB.
John
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