Smallmouth bass identification

The smallmouth is easily distinguished from the largemouth by its clearly connected dorsal fins, the scales on the base portion of the soft-rayed second dorsal fin, and the upper jaw bone which extends only to about the middle of the eye. A smallmouth's eyes are red or orangish. ...

1. How do you tell the difference between a smallmouth and a largemouth bass?
2. What problems does the smallmouth bass cause?
3. How old is a 12 inch smallmouth bass?

How do you tell the difference between a smallmouth and a largemouth bass?

How to tell them apart?

• Stripes. A largemouth bass has broad stripe running horizontally whereas a smallmouth bass has lines running vertically .
• Mouth extension in relation to the eye. A smallmouth's goes to the medium point of the eye generally, while a largemouth's extends beyond it.
• Dorsal fins. ...
• Scales on the cheek.

What problems does the smallmouth bass cause?

Impacts. Smallmouth Bass is a top predator that can dramatically change the native food web after introduction to a new waterbody. When established in new areas Smallmouth Bass can: change the food web by reducing the amount of prey available to native fish.

How old is a 12 inch smallmouth bass?

Cool Facts. It normally takes three to five years of growth before smallmouth bass are legally harvestable in states that have a minimum recreational size limit of 12 inches. The oldest reported age for smallmouth bass is 26 years.