When I caught this fish my brain said LMB. After checking on it in the livewells, I thought, where did this smallie come from? I've asked a few guys I know and so.e say LMB with cool color and pattern. Others say mean mouth... I'll post some other pics in the comments. It has camo on it's back like a smallie, a lateral line like a LMB, and it's almost hard to tell how far back the jaw extends. Any one have a guaranteed I.D.??

Last pic is the fish in question next to a definite LMB I caught a few hours later

I'd say Spotted Bass too - they've been introduced into CA, didn't know they'd made it to WA

I don't believe I've ever heard of a spot here in WA either. And I live and fish here, daily. Haha... Trust me I'm very confused.

It's a largemouth, the jawline clearly extends past it's eye in the closed mouth picture. It only goes about halfway on a spot or smallmouth. Spotted bass have very rough scales too. You can easily tell the difference just by feel. 

Just such an odd fish for around here, it's had me scratching my head all day. Most everything had me saying LMB, but the color pattern and stripes on the face really had me thinking maybe a small mouth/largemouth cross

Our smallies and largies are very distinct fish here in Washington state and it's incredibly easy to tell the difference. This one hurt my brain.

Yes, it looks like a Largemouth with unusual markings....almost appears hybrid with the mottled looking lateral line. But it's definitely not a spotted bass, a smallmouth or a shoal.

One of them dang Northwest hippie fish wearing tie dye!

To me it looks like a colorful largemouth. 

 

We had the same problem here a couple of years ago.  The conservation dept. stocked spots in some small lakes as an experiment to see how they would adapt. 

Largemouth with unusual coloration 

 

Here's another unusual one 

 

 

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

It's a largemouth, the jawline clearly extends past it's eye in the closed mouth picture. It only goes about halfway on a spot or smallmouth.

 

+1  

 

The jaw made it plain to me....

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Largemouth. I've had some with some really strange patterns like that before up in MA. 

That top photo is cool looking .. I wouldnt be surprised if its a hybrid .   I   dont recall catching one mottled like that 

The spots I’ve caught around here all have red eyes like a smallmouth. 

Looks like a SM/LM hybrid to me. Very possible it occurred naturally.

LMB with cool markings

Angler looks like Skeet Reese ?

4 hours ago, slonezp said:

Looks like a SM/LM hybrid to me. Very possible it occurred naturally.

i agree. the markings around the eye area and overall coloration pattern really stand out to me.

3 hours ago, lo n slo said:

i agree. the markings around the eye area and overall coloration pattern really stand out to me.

Take a look at the upper and lower fins in front of the tail and the head. Shaped just like a smallie

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

Take a look at the upper and lower fins in front of the tail and the head. Shaped just like a smallie

Okay so you guys don't think I'm crazy? Something is weird about this fish! I've had guys I fish with basically call mean idiot for thinking it's anything but just your run of the mill largemouth