Well?

Its not a Smallmouth but that is a Red-eyed Rock Bass.

Rock bass. There are so many of those in lake michigan.

Definitely a rocky! Rock bass are fine scrappers and some folks like to eat them.

fun to catch with an ultra light

Rock Bass and not bad eating neither.

That's a nice rocky

We call those red eye down south.  They dont get big but are great eating.

'Round here we call 'em "goggle eye".  But rock bass is probably the most common name.  They are fun to catch!

fun to catch with an ultra light

this is true!

Rock bass. There are so many of those in lake michigan.

lol your right. annoying at times

Rock bass.

The St. Joe River around here is full of them,  for their size they put up a good fight, and they almost never fail to bite, which is an advantage if you take kids fishing.    

Crappie...same thing different name???

Crappie...same thing different name???

Nope.  Entirely different species.

Crappie...same thing different name???

no way at all. definitely a rock bass (red eye bass) creeks are full of them. fight exceptionaly well on ultra gear

Wow, they do look similiar....

Wow, they do look similiar....

really?? send a pic of the crappie out your way. here and everywhere else i have been there is not one close resemblance to a rock bass in a crappie. the black crappie are black and greyish and a bit of white with spots. and then the white crappie are white obviously and a hue of green and blue mixed with spots. also the black nose crappie which is like a white crappie with a big blackish brown thick line running from the top of his lips to the dorsal fin. i am very interesting in see what you see

From Heritage dictionary:

sim·i·lar    (sm-lr) KEY  

ADJECTIVE:

Related in appearance or nature; alike though not identical.

Hey Ponch...is this OK???

If I catch a Crappie, it's by accident. I think they are the "Devil's Fish" with those google eyes and all.

But by all means, you have at 'em!!!

From Heritage dictionary:

sim·i·lar (sm-lr) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

Related in appearance or nature; alike though not identical.

Hey Ponch...is this OK???

If I catch a Crappie, it's by accident. I think they are the "Devil's Fish" with those google eyes and all.

But by all means, you have at 'em!!!

From myself college educated. no dictionary needed:

non-identical: adjective

synonym: unidentical

terms: unresembling, contrasting, counter, (easily) unalike.

i am adding: not alike in nature. only thing close in nature is both being in water and schooling and sometimes when crappie build crappy beds for eggs if not putting them on plants.

i was not trying to down you i was just curious as to how you saw the two were "similar" and wanted to see a picture, because i know in some states anglers call crappie all sorts of different things including "rock bass" and i was under the impression this is what you call them. and i will "have at'em"! i am an angler of all species. it is more knowledge and techniques to get involved in which is why i like to fish. the challenge. ;D

To avoid further confusion....

White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis)

Black Crappie (Pomoxis negromaculatus)

Rock Bass, Rockie, Goggle Eye, Google Eye, Googly, Rocky Balboa, etc. (Ambloplites rupestris)

I can see confusing the two crappie species with each other, but the rock bass is totally different, in appearance, habitat, and behavior.

Sorry for the huge image, but they were the best portrayals I found.

The rock bass are just like the Roanoke bass we have here. They're a good fighting fish for their size on light gear. The nicer ones will go for bass cranks and plastics.