Let's all pick our favorite bass. One of the three major species, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted. I have a favorite and I'll tell you why. Johnnie

Look at the picture of me below... should give you some insight into my favorite.

All I have caught are largemouth! Nothing else, except a few different species in saltwater but not freshwater.

Of course all the basses are great fish. I enjoy the pursuit of and catching the Kentucky Spotted Bass./ They are very limited in Iowa, but abundant in Missouri and Arkansas where I often fish. I like the way they can be so finicky all day then all at once go on a feeding spree. These little bass become very mean trying to compete with the other bass for foarge. They bite down really hard due to eating mostly crawfish which they kill when they bite. The little guys jump, dig for the bottom and fight all the way. Though small compared to other bass, they can make you think you've hung a hawg! My largest weighed four pounds, one in Missouri and one in Iowa. I usually catch on average-1 spot for every 15 largemouth and or 20 smallmouth. I fish for spots like I would for smallmouth, tubes, jigs, generally smaller baits.Great fun on light line. Johnnie

Fireball, I know that California has some giant spotted bass in the lakes. I think the record spot came from Cali? Go get 'em. Johnnie

Johnnie, I used to lean your way, I loved the challenge of catching spotted bass. They are all you say they are and then some. I like to think they have a smallmouth father and largemouth mother. But they have gotten so scarce around here, they are few and far between for some reason. Now, I have to agree with Brendan, we have FLW sponsored Tuesday night tournaments on Kentucky Lake and the smallmouth really shine after the sun goes down. There is nothing like hooking a 4 or 5 pound smally on a black spinnerbait at night. All you feel is the pulling of a Mack truck and the sound of a beaver tail splashing and you cant see a thing. Its Awesome!!!!

I mainly fish Castaic Lake (known for trophy largemouth) and there are any spotted bass in that lake. There is a very small population of smallies, but they are really rare to find. Do spotted bass look like largemouth, only with big spots on the lateral line?

Man I wish we had more smallies in our area, SoCal.

There are not that many around but most that I have heard about around here are at Pyramid.

I did catch one up there once... they do fight really good. Never seen a spotted bass though.

I've caught all three, Smallies are my favorite fighters with spots right behind, But largemouths are my favorite to fish for. There's just something about pulling up to a blowdown or a lily pad field and knowing that at any minute there's gonna be a blowup!

I was just wondering if they surface and do the tail dance the way LMB do?

Which ones? Smallies just go straight up usually. They can do 3 feet over the water. The spots I caught just pulled so hard it was strange. You would fight this fish and it would be a real tussle and then get him to the boat and he's only 14 inches long. Just plain STRONG! I couldn't imagine how hard a 5# spot must pull.

This is getting me all set to rig up for smallies and make a trek up to pyramid.

I have never really tried to target them.

Largemouth are what we have more of than anything, but the smallmouth in lakes that have them are fun to catch. Spots are fun too. I like them all!

Funny thing about the spots at home there is no size limit on them. Most tournaments have put a 12" size limit on them to keep guys from getting points by weigh-in a 6" spot. Alot or the lakes are loaded with them.

Yes, they do jump and splash. Great fun for a smallish fish.

Fireball, Spotted bass resemble a largemouth in color. They don't actually have spots, just small broken lines below the lateral line. They have reddish eyes, have smaller heads and mouth than the other bass and have a patch of sandpaper like teeth on their tongue. Great little sportfish. Often in Missouri and Arkansas, anglers will go for a limit of spots in tournaments, then try to up-grade in size with smallmouth or largemouth. In some tournaments where the largemouth must be 15 inches, you may be able to bring in 12 inch spotted bass.

I got out Smallie fishing this past weekend and we crushed them... Great day with water temps averaging around 48.8 degrees. Best 5 smallies went about 17 lbs... and then this dude showed up and got our weight up in the 19+ range...



Not exactly the brand we had been targeting but it was a pleasant and welcome surprise.

On a side note, shouldn't I be holding up a duck with that outfit on?

That picture is flat out one of the best "guy holding a fish" picture that I have ever seen, and the funny part is, it's not the size of the fish that makes it good. It just works!

Brendan,agree with Frank...great picture. Looks like you have lost a lot of weight! Must be saving it up so you can chow down today. Happy Thanksgiving to all members.

Good-clear-clean photo-nice fish, nicer angler. Someone take your pic or was it tripoded? Nice job either way. Johnnie

wow... i guess that picture is better than i thought. It was taken with my cell phone! Ron you are right, I was saving up for Thanksgiving... lol actuAlly started working out again alond with low carb diet... glad that it is starting to show a little...