My first spotted bass

[10Key]

I was in Central Cali for a much needed vacation last week and I was able to land my first spotted bass, from the bank I might add. It was kind of a fluke considering I was fishing so shallow and targeting sunfish/bluegill. From what I read, the spots in this reservoir are typically located in depths up to 30 feet this time of year, I guess this one was straying. I left the pic this size to show more detail of the coloring...the tell-tail sign was the tooth patch on the tongue.

[rjn cajun]

Looks like a LMB to me. But then again I`ve never caught a spotted bass. Great pic.

[BentRod]

My first thought was the same as rjn's, but I've never heard of spotted bass, so had to look it up. I noticed that you caught this fish in CA after the fact , so it makes more sense now. Thanks for the pic.

Here is a link to some info on the spotted bass for the curious.
Spotted bass

[Amx]

Spotted bass have a smaller mouth like a smallmouth, but not quite as small.

The largemouth's mouth goes back to where a line could be drawn down from behind the eye down to the corner of the mouth.

That fish has a small/short mouth.

[10Key]

Yes, the coloring of a spot looks very similar to a largie...But, the tell-tail indication of a spot versus a largie is the small, "toothy" patch located on their tongue. The fish was very small, but when I hooked it I thought I had a 2 or 3 pounder. They fight like the dickens.

[FishTank]

Yes, the coloring of a spot looks very similar to a largie...But, the tell-tail indication of a spot versus a largie is the small, "toothy" patch located on their tongue. The fish was very small, but when I hooked it I thought I had a 2 or 3 pounder. They fight like the dickens.

Yep. On a bigger spotted bass, it's not nearly so easy to tell the difference until you have it in the boat. I've only seen a couple of spotted bass in my life, and that toothy spot on the tongue is the only definite give away.

I kind of wish we had them up here. They don't quite occupy the same niche/space that largemouth do.

[cory_fish10]

Plus the dorsal fins are different.

[kzoo]

Yes, the coloring of a spot looks very similar to a largie...But, the tell-tail indication of a spot versus a largie is the small, "toothy" patch located on their tongue. The fish was very small, but when I hooked it I thought I had a 2 or 3 pounder. They fight like the dickens.

The coloring is the indication for me, typically very white belly. The profile is too. I've caught a couple similar size ones at Kentucky lake.