difference between ky bass and largemouth

[Katie]

alright listen guys i been fishin for bout 3 years now and im 14 my dad helps me a lot but i still cant tell apart a ky bass from a largemouth for nothin! anybody got any pointers that would help me out? any little differences would help greatly!!!

[elnutsmalljaws]

A Ky Bass or Spotted Bass, as some call it, will have a noticeable rough patch on its tounge plus the hinge in its jaw does not extend back past the eye.

[TackleBox221]

Ky bass have patches or spots. Thats the easiest way for me.

Plus the dorsal fin on the Ky bass is more of a one piece whereas the largemouth has a distinct sepeartion.

Look at 2 side by side pics. Its easier to see the differnce that way.

[CreekChub]

close the fishes mouth. If rear jaw line extends past back of the eyeball its a LM, if not its a spot.

[Katie]

thanks so much guys!!!

[restornator]

spotted bass have very distinct rows of spots below the lateral line, almost like stripes. They also have deeper sensory pits on the outside of the lower jaw, they look like inverted zits. At least that's how i learned in class.

[crappiepappy]

Ms Katie ... it's also important for you to know that some Largemouth Bass have a rough patch on their tongue, and that the KDFWR recommends that you not use the tooth patch as the ONLY way to identify a Spotted Bass, or differentiate it from a Largemouth.

Request a Fish ID booklet from KDFWR .... or save this link : http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/kyfishid.pdf and it will help you to identify most of the fishes that swim in KY waters.

... pappy

[Duayne]

X2 for crappiepappy's post. It can be hard to tell from the lateral patter sometimes. Caught a LM two weeks ago that I would have swore it was a huge Ky by the pattern until I looked at the dorsal fins and the eyes. Those are the things a conservation officer will check.

[Katie]

thanks 2 all who replied!

[bplgocards]

Sounds like you all hit the nail on the head with your descriptions.

[stripernut]

katie another way to tell them apart is the spotted bass taste better than the largemouth but i guess thats a little after the fact eh? like mentioned above take your fish id booklet and look closely for the identifying features.....the more you catch the better you will become at telling them apart. most of all.....keep fishing