Help with Fish Identification

[mess]

Congrats! Looks like you caught a nice creek smallie! Topwater action rules.

[Bobby Headrick]

It looks like a smallie to me also, and Panfishman all black basses are members of the sunfish family, if I am not mistaken, any bios on board chime in.

[RoadToad]

Comparing that picture to KDFWR's Fish ID Guide http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/kyfishid.pdf I think the ventral fins are too far apart for it to be any kind of bluegill, rock bass, warmouth, or anything along those lines. Probably a smallie like you thought it was.

[know1]

It looks like a smallie to me also, and Panfishman all black basses are members of the sunfish family, if I am not mistaken, any bios on board chime in.

I'm not a bio, but that's true.

Also a Warmouth is not the same thing as a Rock Bass, either.

[MagikSmallie]

thats a smallmouth!

[UYKY]

looks like smallmouth from markings on side of fish but dirt and leaves make it tough. seeing from side including head markings and jaw line always help. yes bass are members of the sunfish family. biology degree from WVU too long ago to want to remember now.....good fishing to all.

[BassMasterMikeD]

Smallmouth agreed here.

[NKY TRITON]

It looks like a Sniper Smallmouth with a Ghillie suit on

Yep it's a Smallie

[kyjake]

Photographer did a god job.
Jake

[DJD]

Creek Smallie for sure. Alot of them are chubby little things compared to their length.

[Rudypoo4444]

Smallmouth no doubt

[UYKY]

ghillie suit, i like that! to sneak up on the grasshoppers.