Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images. So you can tell your Bass apart, but what’s the use if you can’t find them? Read all about it here! Smallmouth Vs Largemouth Bass. Largemouth vs Smallmouth Bass – Physical Differences. Smallmouth Bass also like cover. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Piscifun III Aluminum Fishing Pliers. Heavy cover is the best place to look for Largemouth. What are your top tips for catching them? So you can tell your Bass apart, but what’s the use if you can’t find them? Countless tournaments and tackle brands specialize in catching lunker Largemouth and super-sized Smallmouth. The smallmouth bass is found in clearer water than the largemouth, especially streams, rivers, and the rocky areas and stumps and also sandy bottoms of lakes and reservoirs. 1.Largemouth have their upper jaw extending beyond the eye but the smallmouth doesn’t. Check out my newest hands-on review. 3 Killer SENKO WORM Rigs And How To Fish Them, The Best Bass Fishing Rod For Frog Fishing, The Best FISHING LINE For BASS Baitcaster Reels, How To Hold A Fish: Catch And Release Fish Unharmed, (NEW REVIEW!) Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass are among America’s favorite freshwater fish. If the fish is on her bed, she can often ignore your lures entirely unless they’re right under her nose. (Imagine drawing a vertical line tangent the back of the eye). This often means hiding in the depths of a root wad or undercut, lurking under the shadow of a boat dock or bridge piling, hiding in a dead submerged tree, or even tucking back in the grass and reeds in a little pocket. A Smallmouth Bass has one continuous fin consisting of two “humps”. Once you’ve caught a few of each species, you’ll be able to tell which Bass you’ve hooked before you even land it. 2.The largemouth is typically bigger in size at 12 pounds versus the 7 pounds of the smallmouth. Largemouth bass will use their exceptional camouflage to hide in dense weeds. These Bass are generally found hiding in and amongst cover. Nothing brings a smile to your face like a good day of Bass fishing! Their upper jaw extends past the eye, while Smallies’ jaws are usually in line with it. Largies prefer warmer spots and thrive in southern lakes like Okeechobee. They don’t call them a Largemouth and Smallmouth for nothing. Texas Fishing: All You Need to Know Before Yo... © 2019 FishingBooker.com. Another key difference between the two species is that Brown Bass love to hunt in hard currents. Smallmouth (bottom) are generally characterized by lots of vertical dark barring down their side. Both one of America’s favorite freshwater game fish, it seems strange that for many anglers confusion between identifying the smallmouth bass and largemouth bass still exists. Can Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass live together? Largemouth Bass love cover. Because it is intolerant of pollution, the smallmouth bass is a good natural indicator of a healthy environment, though it can better adjust to changes in water condition than most trout species. One of the things that makes them great is they are so incredibly lazy and that makes them predictable. The smallmouth prefers cooler water temperatures than its cousin the largemouth bass, and may be found in both still and running water. They make it much easier to spot Smallies in the clear, open waters they prefer. Best of luck to you in the battle against the Cichlids. In fact, you can pick pretty much any lure and you’ll find someone fishing with it. Jan 24, 2020. The difference is that they don’t enter it. Bright days and calm waters are the best conditions for Smallmouth Bass. Fishing in San Antonio – Your Complete Guide. Even a one pound smally thinks its a 10 lb fat head! Others say the important thing is the wind. Largemouth bass, for that matter, have been caught at over double the size of the biggest smallmouth for hundreds of years. They jump more as they try to throw the hook. The truth is that both species have their selling points. The smallmouth is the GREATEST. One thing Smallies won’t go for is heavy line. Often, you can have a pretty good idea of what kind of fish it is based on a quick flash of the fish on your line. Though more apparent with fully closed mouths, the Smallmouth (top) will have a jaw that does not extend past the rear point of the eyeball. To a seasoned angler, identifying fish is often a matter of a quick glance. Paul Hagans: Smallmouth bass can pull a largemouth backwards. Christian Chestney: Smallmouth by far. Largemouth Bass are the epitome of a sit-and-wait ambush predator. This makes them much harder to track down. While “lipping” bass is generally an acceptable way to handle them. Finally, even if both fish are a similar color, “Green” Bass have dark, horizontal lines while “Brown” Bass have vertical stripes. Largmouth bass are more normally associated with ambush predation. Spotted Bass vs. Largemouth Bass: All You Nee... Types of Bass in North America: A Simple Guide. Largemouth Bass generally prefer slower and undisturbed areas of water. From sportfishing pros to enthusiastic amateurs, everyone loves to catch Bass. Which do you prefer, Largemouth or Smallmouth? Smallmouth however have a shorter jaw that starts forward of the eyes, no notch between dorsal fins and they have vertical stripes and a somewhat browner coloration on their body. You won’t find them anywhere near strong current. People have spent their lives describing the different ways to catch Bass. While their behavior can have some overlaps, there are some behavioral differences. Once an unsuspecting baitfish, comes by, Large… A Largemouth Bass has two separate “humps” of dorsal fin with a deep notch separating them. They like to find a spot with good cover and access to structure. You need plenty of light to sight Smallmouth in open water. While also an ambush predator, Smallmouth Bass are also very much a pursuit predator. Notice how the dorsal fin on the Smallmouth dips down, but continues as one single and continuous fin. This makes finding them in murky water easier – you don’t have to spot the fish, just the cover they’re hiding in. Smallmouth Bass, on the other hand, are generally characterized by an irregular striping consisting of short sections of dark vertical bars on the body. Smallmouth Bass will go after pretty much any lure you send their way. You can also tell the species apart by their color. While generally true, these characteristics can sometimes be attributed to unique differences in individual fish. In general, Smallies prefer colder waters, and are more common in northern waters like Lake Erie. Here’s a quick guide to reliably identifying Largemouth vs. Smallmouth Bass and more importantly, information to better understand them so you can become a more effective angler. These are indicators that should not be relied on as the sole means of identification, even though they sometimes are. You can find Smallmouth Bass moving around rock-piles and drop-offs along with foraging in submerged timber. Don’t worry, there are three surefire ways to distinguish Smallmouth versus Largemouth Bass. Then, they wait in ambush for prey to come too close. Habitats of Smallmouth vs. Largemouth Bass Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, vibrating jigs – they’ll even come up to take topwater plugs on occasion. Smallmouth Bass are usually more acrobatic than their big-mouthed cousins. But what’s the difference between them? In rivers, Largemouth tend to avoid strong currents. Have fun out there and hopefully you can have some fishing days catching multiple species of Bass in the same water. Largies prefer warmer spots and thrive in southern lakes like. When you close the mouth of a bass, the length of the jaw will differ between a Largemouth and a Smallmouth bass. While their behavior can have some overlaps, there are some behavioral differences. Of course. But these are two very different species. Whichever species you prefer, one thing’s for sure: Black Bass are on every freshwater angler’s fishing list. Smallmouth Bass Vs. Largemouth Bass By Naomi Millburn. They’re the same shape. They’re often the same size. Armed with a larger mouth to swallow and catch food, it’s no real surprise that they’d have a physiological reason to grow larger. Replied on January 24, 2020 Largemouth Bass have, well, larger mouths. 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