What did I catch?!?

[DoubleB]

Yesterday, while crappie fishing with Dad, My float disappeared, I set the hook and had a good fight. 1.5 lbs bass of some sort. It had no markings. It's jaw was not past the eye, it was brown, with a white belly. Just brown, no markings. I thought it was a "Mean Mouth" but after looking at pics on TWRA's site, it did not appear to be one. Help me out here, I am confused.

 

[Bprice]

Hey man, it was probably a smallmouth that just came out of deep or dingy water.  A lot of times I have had the same thing happen in a tournament.  I'll put the fish in the livewell and when i remove it, it has its beautiful tiger markings.  That might of been the same circumstance as you had.

 

[rsimms]

We need pictures. That description could potentially apply to numerous species... but based on what you've written, I'd simply say it was a smallmouth bass. There are wide color and marking variations among every fish species, depending upon water color, habitat, temperature, spawning conditions, even a fishes "mood" will alter his color and markings. I'm not sure which TWRA web site you looked at but this page has a HUGE selection of fish pictures, including multiple photos of same species in some cases. Maybe it will help if you haven't seen it.
http://www.tnfish.org/PhotoGalleryFish_TWRA/FishPhotoGallery_TWRA/TWRAFishPhotoGallery.htm

 

[fishinvol]

Probably a smallmouth. Just may not have had good definite markings. Was is it in stained water?

 

[DoubleB]

The water was indeed stained. It was in a slough right off of the main river channel.

 

[fishinvol]

Probably a smallmouth. The stained water can make fish a different color.

 

[keithcatfish]

Smallie. Growing up in NJ/PA I used to fish for smallies on the Delaware river. They were almost always olive green with no markings whatsoever.

 

[sprestwood]

There are enough ppl saying it was a smallie, so guess it is unaminous. Ive noticed that extra cold water will pale-out a fish's color, I did catch a white bass that did kinda fit your description but it wasnt that brown just white.