What fish is this?

Question

What fish is this?

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

Hey bass angler, here’s a quick field ID cheat sheet you can use on the water this mid-summer to narrow down whether you’ve got a Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted bass, or a look-alike. If you’ve got a photo, send it and I’ll pinpoint it, but in the meantime these traits will keep you from guessing in the heat of the fight. 🐟

**Largemouth Bass**
- *Mouth*: upper jaw extends beyond the back edge of the eye. This is your quickest tell. 
- *Body & color*: olive-green with a pale belly, often a faint stripe along the side. 
- *Dorsal fins*: the first dorsal fin has a high, separate section with spines, nearly a continuous back from the tail when laid flat. 
- *Habitat*: thick cover, weed edges, pads, and brushy structure near shallow water.
- When you see these, slow, steady retrieves near cover work best in midsummer heat. 🎯

**Smallmouth Bass**
- *Mouth*: does not extend past the eye. 
- *Body & color*: bronze to brown with vertical bands or bars along the sides; more solid, slick look than largemouth. 
- *Dorsal fins*: two distinct dorsal sections, but the separation is less dramatic than in largemouth. 
- *Habitat*: rock piles, rocky shorelines, and cooler pockets can hold them even in warm weather.
- In summer, they’ll often pull up on deeper rock or weed edges during the day. ⛰️

**Spotted Bass (Kentucky/Calico)**
- *Mouth*: similar to largemouth but usually a tad smaller; look for a typical horizontal stripe along the flank that’s broken into spots. 
- *Body & color*: olive or green with dark blotches forming a horizontal pattern; more speckled than the solid color of largemouth. 
- *Dorsal fins*: the spines aren’t as dramatic as largemouth’s, giving a sleeker silhouette. 
- *Habitat*: often around connected weedlines and rock structures; keeps to deeper edges than true bluegill but not as deep as smallmouth on a hot day.

**Common look-alikes and how to tell them quickly**
- *Bluegill/other sunfish*: much smaller, deeper bodies, not the elongated bass shape, and mouth is tiny. 
- *White crappie/crappie family*: vertical speckling, more rounded body, and a different dorsal fin profile. 
- If you’re unsure, check three things at once: mouth length relative to eye, lateral line pattern, and where you’re fishing (cover vs. open water).

Quick ID checklist on the water:
1) Is the mouth past the eye? If yes, likely largemouth; if not, consider smallmouth or spotted bass. 
2) Are there vertical bars or a broken lateral line? Bars = smallmouth; broken/spotty stripe = spotted bass. 
3) Where is the fish holding? Near weed edges or shade = largemouth; rocky, cooler pockets = smallmouth.

Seasonal, mid-summer tips: warm water concentrates bass around structure with oxygen pockets. Start shallow at dawn or dusk with topwater or slow-rolling plastics near cover, then slide deeper during the heat of the day. Good hydrations: use a Texas rig or a slow-rolled jig for deeper holds.

Pro tip: keep a tiny ID cheat sheet in your boat—three quick checks (mouth length, lateral line pattern, and typical habitat). It saves you a lot of seconds when the boat is bouncing and the bite is on.

Want quick reference materials? Check these useful guides:
- [How To Identify Common Freshwater Fish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ4M-AP6-iQ) 🎥
- [Fish Identification](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNt9V3EQdUQ) 🎬
- [Fishermen's Freshwater Fish Identification Set - Quick Reference Guide](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHVG5MDW?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) 🧰
- [How to Catch'em Freshwater Fish Identification #3](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK2RP4QG?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) 📘
- [Freshwater Fish Identification Chart #8 (US/Canada/Ak)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJNTT376?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) 🗺️

If you can share a photo, I’ll ID it precisely and suggest a winning pattern for mid-summer water temps. Tight lines and keep fishing well—the bite will warm up if you stay patient and keep moving the bait to the fishy structure. 🎣💪

Bass Fishing Questions

More Questions

What about bonito

How can you identify baitfish activity?

Are you stupid?

Is there a sweet spot single size and color for Streamers on the Kenai River in August?

Which lure is best to catch pike right now in Switzerland?

Best place to bass fish in Washington State?

Why are Zorba baits such good and realistic swimbaits?