Bass are a favorite catch for avid sportsmen, but not all bass are alike. The spotted bass and the largemouth bass, for example, can be easily confused. In states with different regulations for different bass species, it is important to know what you’re catching. Let’s compare spotted and largemouth bass.
Difference Between Largemouth and Spotted Bass
Appearance
Overall, largemouth bass and spotted bass have a very similar appearance. Both fish are long and slender, with a long dorsal fin and a wide tail. Both have large mouths and a similar greenish-grey body color. Often the two fish share the same waters and will go after the same lures, but the spotted bass and largemouth bass are two distinct species with many differences.
Distribution
Largemouth bass, spotted bass, and many other fish belonging to the bass family can be found in the primarily warm waters of the central and eastern United States. They occur in natural lakes and rivers in the lower half of the country, especially congregating in the gulf states. Florida largemouth anglers refer to largemouth as black bass, because the peacock bass is also a common game fish in the Sunshine state. Largemouth bass and spotted bass are also found in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee waterways. Some bass anglers actually refer to spotted bass as Kentucky Bass, because of the large populations of these fish in the Ohio River, which borders northern Kentucky and in Kentucky Lake, which lies in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Jaw Length
One of the easiest ways to solve the dilemma of spotted bass vs. largemouth is to examine the jaw length of the fish. The back jawline of the largemouth bass extends past the eye, while the spotted bass has a shorter jaw length that does not extend beyond the eye. Even though the spotted bass has a smaller mouth, don’t confuse this fish with smallmouth bass. The smallmouth’s jaw will end in front of the eye, while the jaw of the spotted bass may be directly under the eye but will not extend past the back of the eye like that of a largemouth bass.
Dorsal Fin
Another easy way to recognize spotted bass vs. largemouth bass is to examine the dorsal fins. On the largemouth bass, the dorsal fin is more angular and has a deep notch which gives the appearance of two separate dorsal fins. The spotted bass has a more rounded top dorsal fin with a shallow notch. This is visible as a clearly connected series of spines and scales, giving the appearance of one dorsal fin.
Tongue
If you examine the tongue of each fish, you will find another difference between the two species. The spotted bass has a small, rectangular rough patch on the tongue. The largemouth does not; he has a smooth tongue. Of course, when you catch one of these beautiful fish, you aren’t likely to examine its tongue, so it is important to know other key differences between the fish.
Cheek Scales
Cheek scales can give you a clue about the species. The largemouth bass has larger cheek scales, similar in size to the other scales covering its body. The spotted bass, however, has smaller scales along the cheeks, the same size or smaller than its body scales.
Stomach Markings
Perhaps the easiest way to discern spotted bass and largemouth bass is by looking at the markings on the fish. Both the spotted bass and largemouth bass have greenish-grey bodies with silver or black flecks of color along the back portion of the fish. Both fish will also have a lateral line that runs from the gill to the tail, but spotted bass generally have a more distinguishable lateral line that looks like a continuous stripe. Largemouth tend to have a less noticeable line.
Another distinguishing mark to determine the species of the two fish is stomach markers. Spotted bass tend to have rows of spotted stripes under the spotted lateral line that runs from gill to tail. These spots are not all the same size, but they clearly form lines along the stomach of the fish. Largemouth bass just have a plain white stomach.
Habitat
While the two species can coexist in the same water body, these fish live in different parts of that water.
Spotted Bass
Spotted bass prefer to stay active year round. They may move into the shallower waters in late spring to spawn, but generally spotted bass live in deeper, clear water. They prefer to hand out in schools around underwater structures.
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass aren’t as picky about water clarity. They like to hang around rocky areas, fallen trees, and bush cover in murky water. During the day they will lay in a shady spot in three or four feet of water. When nightfall approaches, they will come into the shallows to feed on topwater bugs.
Subspecies
Spotted Bass
The IGFA recognizes three named subspecies of spotted bass. The Alabama spotted bass that lives in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee; the Wichita spotted bass, which can only be found in Oklahoma, and the northern spotted bass or Kentucky bass.
Largemouth Bass
There are two recognized subspecies of largemouth bass – the northern largemouth and the Florida largemouth bass. The Florida largemouth grows larger and faster than the northern largemouth, because of the warmer ecosystem in the Sunshine state.
Behavior
Spotted Bass
Spotted bass are social creatures. They are rarely alone and sonar will often mark groups of more than two fish.
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass are territorial, and they are bullies. They will hide under cover and eat anything that comes into their area. They don’t like to be bothered and prefer to be alone.
Best Season to Fish
Spotted Bass
Spotted bass will stay more active through the winter than other fish species. When the water temperature in the top third of the water column gets too cold, they dive deeper into warm water. Spotted bass have been caught in the winter at depths up to 100 feet. Even though it is possible to catch spotted bass in cooler temperatures, you still will do better during spring and fall.
Largemouth Bass
Unlike spotted bass, largemouth bass get lazier in cooler temperatures. Once the water temperature reaches 50 degrees or lower, largemouth will move into deeper water and relax-eating only when they need to. The best time to catch largemouth bass is late spring or early summer when water temperatures in the shallows have warmed up.
Best Fishing Gear
There is really no major difference in the gear you need for smallmouth vs. largemouth bass fishing. A light action to mid action rod with a sensitive tip gives you good bite alerts and allows the fish to fight without tiring him out. Many anglers prefer a baitcaster spooled with braided line and a fluorocarbon leader. Personally, I like a four to six pound test monofilament on a spinning reel. Having lightweight, flexible line gives you the stretch you need when that largemouth explodes out of the water and starts thrashing his head from side to side to try to throw that hook. It is also strong enough to withstand the fast, deep dive of the spotted bass.
No matter what gear you choose, fishing for bass is fun even if you don’t catch any.
Best fishing rigs
Fishing is a little bit research, and a whole lot of luck. Try to know the insect patterns and shad hatching periods for the waterway you are fishing. Some anglers swear by topwater frogs and partially submerged rubber worms. Others prefer live bait like crickets or nightcrawlers.
A lot of it depends on the time of year and the water temperature. In the fall, largemouth come to the surface to fill up on waterbugs and mosquitoes. Throwing a topwater bait at them makes sense. In the spring, when they are in a nest, they are going to hit anything that gets too close.
Being able to catch a fish is the hardest part of fishing, and it is sometimes a guessing game.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the difference between spotted bass vs. largemouth bass will help you know how to fish, where to fish, and when to fish. It might also save you a big fine if you catch the wrong one at the wrong time. Use your fish finder to locate them in the shallows near shore or out in the deep part of the lake. Offer bait that is similar to what they are already eating. Once you catch that bass, take a good look at it to figure out what kind it is. Sometimes it is hard to tell, but the length of the jaw, the shape of the dorsal fin, and the stomach markings are all good indicators. Whether it is a spotted bass or a largemouth bass, you are going to have fun reeling it in, and it will taste delicious.
