Is this a Largemouth or Smallmouuth?

[Pkfish49]

 

Thanks

[RoLo]

Largemouth bass

And a nice one at that!

[Pkfish49]

Just now, RoLo said:

Largemouth bass

 

Thanks,

 

What is the clear indicator?

[RoLo]

 

When the mouth is closed, the maxillary passes the rear-line of the eye (Maxillary = jaw hinge)

The greenish upperside is another clincher, which is generally brownish on smallmouth bass.

 

Roger

[XpressJeff]

Not nearly as well educated as most here I would say the identifier is the hinge of the jaw when closed would rest behind the eye.l.p.

 

Thanks RoLo, more appropriate verbiage!

[Falkus]

To tell small mouth and large mouth bass apart, look at the closed mouth. If it extends back beyond the back of the eye, the fish is a largemouth. If it goes only to the middle of the eye, it's a smallmouth (Smallie).

The Smallie's color looks like its ready for war

 

[Pkfish49]

This one I just landed is browner, but is it a Largemouth, because the mouth extends past the back of the eye?

 

[Scott F]

The mouth on this fish doesn't extend beyond the eye. It's a smallmouth. 

[earthworm77]

Top photo is a greenie

5 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

This one I just landed is browner, but is it a Largemouth, because the mouth extends past the back of the eye?

 

No, that is a smallie. Here is a fail proof way to tell if the fish is a smallmouth......lick one of the gill plates, if it has a faint taste of chocolate, it is a smallmouth. Largemouth taste slightly more like citrus or lime.

[Quarry Man]

its a catfish

[NCbassraider]

7 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

 

Thanks

LMB but please don't lay it on paper towels if you are releasing.  That's a death sentence for the fish.  Don't lay it on anything is a pretty good rule of thumb.

[IndianaFinesse]

9 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

 

Thanks

This is a largemouth.

 

7 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

This one I just landed is browner, but is it a Largemouth, because the mouth extends past the back of the eye?

 

This one's a smallmouth. 

[TnRiver46]

Largemouth have a black stripe running the length of their body. Smallmouth don't 

[RoLo]

On 6/17/2017 at 5:02 PM, Pkfish49 said:

 

There's a 3rd field mark that can help distinguish a largemouth bass from a smallmouth bass.

I intentionally omitted the 3rd identifier because it's not as dependable as the others,

but the image above offers an irresistible example of the 3rd field mark.

 

In addition to their smaller mouth and brownish upperside, the flanks of smallmouth bass

usually (but not always) consist of vague "vertical" bands (as pictured above).  In contrast,

the median line of largemouth bass is typically formed by a series of dark "horizontal" blotches,

and indeed sometimes it's a distinct black horizontal band (especially in clear water).

 

Roger

[ClackerBuzz]

17 hours ago, NCbassraider said:

LMB but please don't lay it on paper towels if you are releasing.  That's a death sentence for the fish.  Don't lay it on anything is a pretty good rule of thumb.

I'm all for being a good steward of the land but these tall tales keep getting taller

[d-camarena]

Lol "death sentence" ???

[NCbassraider]

5 hours ago, ClackerBuzz said:

I'm all for being a good steward of the land but these tall tales keep getting taller

It is horrible for the fish and often is a death sentence.  Experts agree with me, you must be the other people.

[Kenny22802]

On 6/17/2017 at 5:02 PM, Pkfish49 said:

This one I just landed is browner, but is it a Largemouth, because the mouth extends past the back of the eye?

 

Smallmouth bass

On 6/17/2017 at 10:25 PM, NCbassraider said:

LMB but please don't lay it on paper towels if you are releasing.  That's a death sentence for the fish.  Don't lay it on anything is a pretty good rule of thumb.

I know for sure it's not a smallmouth bass! I'd almost say it a spotted bass aka Kentucky bass.

[soflabasser]

Largemouth bass