This fish put up a heck of a fight for the size.  What exactly is it?

 

Largemouth bass?

Smallmouth bass?

 

Or something else?

 

If it is essential for identification to know where I caught it, I'll post the location, but was hoping this could be identified by the fins or some other distinct marking by itself.

 

Thanks

 

 

Largemouth

Just a regular ole largemouth 

thats a largy alright.

 

what is you setup ? i normally ski fish like that in on top of the water

Largemouth and that is why we love to catch them--because they put up "a heck of a fight"

What everyone else said. LMB!  

53 minutes ago, hunterPRO1 said:

thats a largy alright.

 

what is you setup ? i normally ski fish like that in on top of the water

 

Lol right

32 minutes ago, hunterPRO1 said:

thats a largy alright.

 

what is you setup ? i normally ski fish like that in on top of the water

Thanks for all of the replies!

 

Regarding my setup:

 

A cheap ($29.99) pole/spinning reel combo, spooled with 10 LB green mono.  The Senko worm lure that you see in the first picture was hooked up "wacky rig" style, without a sinker, so it top floated.

 

This is my first bass and it was a ton of fun!  When the line dropped like a brick, I thought that I got the hook caught on the bottom of the lake and it took me a little while to realize that I indeed had a fish!  

 

Regarding the Largemouth identification:

 

What features determined this?

 

 

The first dead give away is the green color... Smallmouth are typically brown or "bronze". There is alot to read on fish identification but  a look at Google images should give you a relatively quick understanding. 

 

Also..  I suggest trying braid on your spinning reel. Best thing I ever did. Your casting distance and sensitivity will be noticeably different the first time out. But learn a Palomar knot. 

 

If need be you can use a floro or mono leader if you think it's necessary. 

 

25 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

The first dead give away is the green color... Smallmouth are typically brown or "bronze". There is alot to read on fish identification but  a look at Google images should give you a relatively quick understanding. 

 

Also..  I suggest trying braid on your spinning reel. Best thing I ever did. Your casting distance and sensitivity will be noticeably different the first time out. But learn a Palomar knot. 

 

If need be you can use a floro or mono leader if you think it's necessary. 

 

Thanks for the color ID tip.

 

Regarding braid, a few years ago, I saltwater surf fished with 20 LB braid and it ripped a deep painful cut on my casting finger that took months to heal.  I've been using mono since and haven't had any issues.

 

I need to learn more knots.  Right now, the only knot that I know is the improved clinch.  I use it to tie on leaders, swivels, and to directly tie on hooks.

1 hour ago, Pkfish49 said:

Thanks for all of the replies!

 

Regarding my setup:

 

A cheap ($29.99) pole/spinning reel combo, spooled with 10 LB green mono.  The Senko worm lure that you see in the first picture was hooked up "wacky rig" style, without a sinker, so it top floated.

 

This is my first bass and it was a ton of fun!  When the line dropped like a brick, I thought that I got the hook caught on the bottom of the lake and it took me a little while to realize that I indeed had a fish!  

 

Regarding the Largemouth identification:

 

What features determined this?

 

 

Try looking it up on the Internet "Largemouth Black bass".

Tom

I've been using braid for ever a decade and never had that issue.. maybe some minor slices but not very often .. I can't even remember the last time braid cut me..And I use it every time I'm out. You definitely want another knot for joining your leader to your main line...

8 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

I've been using braid for ever a decade and never had that issue.. maybe some minor slices but not very often .. I can't even remember the last time braid cut me..And I use it every time I'm out. You definitely want another knot for joining your leader to your main line...

 

You using 55lb or 80lb braid for those hawgs in the 3 pics?

 

 

1 hour ago, Pkfish49 said:

Thanks for the color ID tip.

 

Regarding braid, a few years ago, I saltwater surf fished with 20 LB braid and it ripped a deep painful cut on my casting finger that took months to heal.  I've been using mono since and haven't had any issues.

 

I need to learn more knots.  Right now, the only knot that I know is the improved clinch.  I use it to tie on leaders, swivels, and to directly tie on hooks.

Palomar knot is easy to tie and very strong. As far as using braid, there is a time and a place for it. I use braid, mono, and fluoro depending on the application

Haha . @slonezp ... Not my fish.. I typically use 15-20 braid on my spinning and 30-50 on casting .. ur right.. there is a time and place for it... All the time . 

Catfish clearly a catfish 

That's would be a juvenile largemouth bass ~

btw - Got to give the Op some props for his very optimistic (25ft) measuring tape choice.

A-Jay

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

btw - Got to give the Op some props for his very optimistic (25ft) measuring tape choice.

A-Jay

 

You never know................

11 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

 

 

Regarding braid, a few years ago, I saltwater surf fished with 20 LB braid and it ripped a deep painful cut on my casting finger that took months to heal.  I've been using mono since and haven't had any issues.

 

 

 

Me too pkfish . I sliced my finger like a knife using braid . i'll never use it again either .

14 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

Thanks for all of the replies!

 

Regarding my setup:

 

A cheap ($29.99) pole/spinning reel combo, spooled with 10 LB green mono.  The Senko worm lure that you see in the first picture was hooked up "wacky rig" style, without a sinker, so it top floated.

 

This is my first bass and it was a ton of fun!  When the line dropped like a brick, I thought that I got the hook caught on the bottom of the lake and it took me a little while to realize that I indeed had a fish!  

 

Regarding the Largemouth identification:

 

What features determined this?

 

 

 

smallmouth will be a more bronze-like color, 

 

spotted bass (which per lb fight harder than largemouth imo) will have those lines of spots beneath the lateral line, also note that the dorsal (top) fin on a largemouth gets much shorter in the middle than the spotted bass.

 

 

 

Wait... people quit using braid just because they got cut by it?  You guys are missing out.  I can't imagine you quit using hooks just because you got stuck with one as well.

32 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

   I can't imagine you quit using hooks just because you got stuck with one 

 

Yeah , that would be hard to imagine , thats why nobody does it .

it could be a spot,  the jaw isn't past the eye,  spots fight twice their size, and their coloration varies from lake to lake.   The good thing is you enjoyed catching him, which is the name of the game.

I don't want you to give up your secret spot, but what state are you in?

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

I don't want you to give up your secret spot, but what state are you in?

Florida  - Palm Beach County.

On 2/20/2017 at 9:03 PM, Pkfish49 said:

Thanks for all of the replies!

 

Regarding my setup:

 

A cheap ($29.99) pole/spinning reel combo, spooled with 10 LB green mono.  The Senko worm lure that you see in the first picture was hooked up "wacky rig" style, without a sinker, so it top floated.

 

This is my first bass and it was a ton of fun!  When the line dropped like a brick, I thought that I got the hook caught on the bottom of the lake and it took me a little while to realize that I indeed had a fish!  

 

Regarding the Largemouth identification:

 

What features determined this?

 

 

Congrats on your first bass.  Remember not to lay him on the ground or a towel...or anything else if you can help it.