Hi guys,

I was out trying out a new reservoir near work and ended up getting to do a bit of sight fishing.  Cast my line out about 30 feet with a weedless senko rigged and saw 2 cruisers come by the shore about 10 feet out.  burned my line back in to cross their path and BAM! the one closest to the worm nailed it! I reeled him in and his buddy took off.  Definitely fought like a what I expect a smallie to and I sent him back on his way.  Tore my senko in half and instead of running back to the truck (I was pretty much on lunch break) I re-rigged half of the senko and sent it back out...wouldn't ya know?  His buddy came back around and pummeled my little makeshift grub!!  So 2 for the price of 1 inside of 10 minutes.  these guys both ran around 15-16 inches maybe a bit bigger and I was convinced on the shoreline that they were smallies. But now looking at the pic, (albeit a lousy phonecam pic) I am questioning my ability to id smallies!!

So 2 questions...

1.  Is this a smallie?  

2.  what is the absolute 1 characteristic besides the eye/jaw lateral line that IDs a smallie from a LMB?  

I feel like an idiot, but I have just recently been introduced to SMB, having caught LMB and Spotted almost exclusively.

Check this out: http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/sport/bass/bassid/

aaaaaaa...

Smallmouth aren't green, don't have a black stripe running horizontally along both sides of their bodies, have "smaller mouths" relative to their body and the tail is disproportionally bigger from top to bottom.

8-)

Thanks guys...seems like I am questioning myself with no good reason...but I have always had trouble with the whole "color" thing...

I feel dumb now....

THATS A FUNNY LOOKING MOUTH ON THAT THING. LOL LOOKS LIKE A SMALLMOUTH HOOKED UP WITH A SNOOK ONE LIGHT NIGHT AND HAD SOME SMOOKIES.  LOL SMOOKIES

Kid...where in Wva you at? I still have quite a bit of kin out Wardensville way....Orndorffs been in Hardy county since back before we kicked out the British...

aaaaaaa...

Smallmouth aren't green, don't have a black stripe running horizontally along both sides of their bodies, have "smaller mouths" relative to their body and the tail is disproportionally bigger from top to bottom.

8-)

bingo