To my knowledge I haven't ever caught a Spotted Bass. But I generally check them over. I caught this one and it had a small patch of teeth on the tongue. I think it's a Largemouth, what do yall think?

 

 

You can see that dot in the center of the tongue, that was teeth.

 

I take it that Largemouth with teeth are uncommon?

10-20% of LMB can have that tongue patch, so I wouldn't use that as a full indicator.  

 

Imho, that's a LMB.     I haven't witnessed any LMB with the rough patch, but it could be geographical.  

 

Outside of the patch, that fish looks 100% like a LMB.  

Largemouth 👍

Thanks yall. That's what I thought too.

The tooth patch is what people talk about a bunch, but there's other easy to see differences.   (most not readily seen is that picture)  To me the mouth in that picture looks like a Largemouth, as well as the coloring.  There can be a BUNCH of overlap in the coloring.  When looking at open mouth size a fat Largemouth can appear to have a Spot mouth.  A skinny Spot can appear to have a Largemouth mouth.  For a true mouth size indicator close the mouth.  The jaw of a Largemouth will come behind it's eye.  A Spot won't. 

 

I've read of differences in dorsal fin separation, but I've found some overlap between the Spots and LM's I've caught.   I've also read about differences in the size of scales on the cheeks, but have found overlap.   

 

Beyond mouth size, and color the best, easy to see indicator I've found is where the scales and the anal fin meet.  On a Spot (first picture) the scales will extend onto the anal fin a small amount.  On a Largemouth (2nd picture) they won't.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've never caught a single spot, but I've seen hundreds of photos of spots and it sure likes like an lmb to me.

LMB for sure.

 

Here is a spot.

 

Every time I go fishing I catch 80% Alabama/spotted bass and 20% LM and that looks like a LM to me