The following is Mike Jolley's response to my question; "How do you as a TWRA officer detiremine whether a fish is a Spot or a Smallmouth"? Remember that Bill Reeve's memo addressed the deciding factor to determine whether a fish was a spot or a largemouth for creel limit purposes in those lakes where a fisherman was allowed to take 15 spots but only 5 LM.</p>
My gut feeling is that we are right back to the unknown Officer's comment that "if it's brown, it's a smallmouth and it better be 18" long if you have it in the livewell." The "tooth patch" argument will <u><font color="#ff6666">not</font></u> keep you in the clear!!!</p>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">What I have found to be the easiest in differentiating between spotted bass and smallmouth bass are:</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Of course, color is the first thing one usually notices. It is no revelation that smallmouth bass should be bronze, brown, or golden usually with 4 dark streaks going across from the eye across the cheek and operculum. The operculum sometimes will have a white tip on the end of it. Spotted bass are usually more olive colored to green and yes they have cheek marks also but often not as prominent as those on a smallmouth. One thing that has been true for me in observing spotted bass are the almost reflective green spots on their back, especially in the sunlight. I’ve never heard anyone point this out but it is a trait I have seen on the spotted bass consistently. Those who have fooled with them know what I’m talking about. Let’s not forget either the rows of dark dots below the midline often found on spotted bass but not smallmouth. I still am often amazed at the variation in color and designs presented within the same species of fish, especially the smallmouth bass. We have collected a few hundred in our targetted smallmouth bass surveys before and I can tell you, they don’t all look like twins swimming around in the livewell. You know it’s a smallmouth but not colored up like the one next to him. Some are gold with few or no blotches on the back; others are darker and colored up with fancy patterns. Go catch one out of a mountain stream and compare him to a lake smallmouth, usually they look quite a bit different. Some of the contributors to color variation are the color and clarity of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Next distinguishing feature: spotted bass have a dark solid to diamond-shaped blotches forming a line that appears horizontally on the body at the midline from head to tail, smallmouth bass should not have this distinct mid-line.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">And of course, let’s not forget the infamous tooth patch. A spotted bass should have a rectangular to oval shaped tooth patch on the tongue. <font color="#ff6666">Smallmouth bass will often have a small round, tooth patch (in about 70% of the specimens according to some literature). As a side note largemouth bass usually don’t possess a tooth patch on the tongue but can in rare circumstances.</font></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Another feature to help distinguish between the smallmouth and spotted bass is the number of soft rays on the dorsal fin. There are two sets on the top of the fish, spiny and soft. A quick slap of the hand on their back will reveal the difference (not advised). A smallmouth bass should have 13-15 soft rays while a spotted bass usually has 12 but can range from 11-13. I know, if you get 13 there could be an argument. It takes careful observation to count these. I have found dragging something pointed across them often works well for counting by “feeling” each one. Many will need their glasses for this one.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Sometimes the location of the maxilla (corner of mouth) can be used to end a dispute. On smallmouth bass, it usually does not extend beyond the eye, but on the spotted bass it often goes to or beyond the eye. </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Well, these characteristics mentioned above are the more obvious, however there are more tests and counts one can gather from anatomical features if the situation warrants. Such as numbers of lateral line scales, dorsal fin spines, anal soft rays, pectoral fin rays, gill rakers, vertebrate, and pyloric caeca branches. This covers most of the differences between the two.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">In conclusion, Mother Nature can throw curves from time to time. A lot of science and study has gone into the distinguishing features I have talked about. These hold true the majority of the time. I would point out than largemouth bass usually don’t get confused with spotted bass or smallmouth bass. Now drop ole bucket mouth out of the mix and you can often spark debate between smallmouth and spotted bass (mother nature smiles). They can be very similar on some occasions. And to make it more interesting they can hybridize if the correct situation presents itself. With that being said, when a potential record spotted bass presents itself, it will be genetically tested to find out the genetic integrity of the fish. This will ensure that a true species will represent the record.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Hope this sheds some light.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" />
<font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Mike<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jolley</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Region III Reservoir Fisheries Biologist</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font face="Times New Roman">One more thing...........I am not answering this from an officer's point of view
because I am a fisheries biologist not an officer. I stated what I and we as a
fish crew look for between the two. This in no way should reflect on the
discretion of the checking officer. Just wanted to clear that up before any
confusion gets started.
Thanks,
Mike Jolley
Reg. III Reservoir Fisheries Biologist</font></span></p>
My gut feeling is that we are right back to the unknown Officer's comment that "if it's brown, it's a smallmouth and it better be 18" long if you have it in the livewell." The "tooth patch" argument will <u><font color="#ff6666">not</font></u> keep you in the clear!!!</p>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">What I have found to be the easiest in differentiating between spotted bass and smallmouth bass are:</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Of course, color is the first thing one usually notices. It is no revelation that smallmouth bass should be bronze, brown, or golden usually with 4 dark streaks going across from the eye across the cheek and operculum. The operculum sometimes will have a white tip on the end of it. Spotted bass are usually more olive colored to green and yes they have cheek marks also but often not as prominent as those on a smallmouth. One thing that has been true for me in observing spotted bass are the almost reflective green spots on their back, especially in the sunlight. I’ve never heard anyone point this out but it is a trait I have seen on the spotted bass consistently. Those who have fooled with them know what I’m talking about. Let’s not forget either the rows of dark dots below the midline often found on spotted bass but not smallmouth. I still am often amazed at the variation in color and designs presented within the same species of fish, especially the smallmouth bass. We have collected a few hundred in our targetted smallmouth bass surveys before and I can tell you, they don’t all look like twins swimming around in the livewell. You know it’s a smallmouth but not colored up like the one next to him. Some are gold with few or no blotches on the back; others are darker and colored up with fancy patterns. Go catch one out of a mountain stream and compare him to a lake smallmouth, usually they look quite a bit different. Some of the contributors to color variation are the color and clarity of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Next distinguishing feature: spotted bass have a dark solid to diamond-shaped blotches forming a line that appears horizontally on the body at the midline from head to tail, smallmouth bass should not have this distinct mid-line.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">And of course, let’s not forget the infamous tooth patch. A spotted bass should have a rectangular to oval shaped tooth patch on the tongue. <font color="#ff6666">Smallmouth bass will often have a small round, tooth patch (in about 70% of the specimens according to some literature). As a side note largemouth bass usually don’t possess a tooth patch on the tongue but can in rare circumstances.</font></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Another feature to help distinguish between the smallmouth and spotted bass is the number of soft rays on the dorsal fin. There are two sets on the top of the fish, spiny and soft. A quick slap of the hand on their back will reveal the difference (not advised). A smallmouth bass should have 13-15 soft rays while a spotted bass usually has 12 but can range from 11-13. I know, if you get 13 there could be an argument. It takes careful observation to count these. I have found dragging something pointed across them often works well for counting by “feeling” each one. Many will need their glasses for this one.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Sometimes the location of the maxilla (corner of mouth) can be used to end a dispute. On smallmouth bass, it usually does not extend beyond the eye, but on the spotted bass it often goes to or beyond the eye. </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">Well, these characteristics mentioned above are the more obvious, however there are more tests and counts one can gather from anatomical features if the situation warrants. Such as numbers of lateral line scales, dorsal fin spines, anal soft rays, pectoral fin rays, gill rakers, vertebrate, and pyloric caeca branches. This covers most of the differences between the two.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><font face="Times New Roman">In conclusion, Mother Nature can throw curves from time to time. A lot of science and study has gone into the distinguishing features I have talked about. These hold true the majority of the time. I would point out than largemouth bass usually don’t get confused with spotted bass or smallmouth bass. Now drop ole bucket mouth out of the mix and you can often spark debate between smallmouth and spotted bass (mother nature smiles). They can be very similar on some occasions. And to make it more interesting they can hybridize if the correct situation presents itself. With that being said, when a potential record spotted bass presents itself, it will be genetically tested to find out the genetic integrity of the fish. This will ensure that a true species will represent the record.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Hope this sheds some light.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" />
<font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Mike<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jolley</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Region III Reservoir Fisheries Biologist</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font face="Times New Roman">One more thing...........I am not answering this from an officer's point of view
because I am a fisheries biologist not an officer. I stated what I and we as a
fish crew look for between the two. This in no way should reflect on the
discretion of the checking officer. Just wanted to clear that up before any
confusion gets started.
Thanks,
Mike Jolley
Reg. III Reservoir Fisheries Biologist</font></span></p>
