Spotted Bass

Spotted Bass (Micropterus Punctulatus)

Spotted Bass Description

The Spotted Bass, also called Spotty or Kentucky Bass, is a popular game fish in the Centrarchidae family. It is a cylinder-shaped fish with its lower sides of its body having characteristic dark spots in rows. The color of the body can vary from light green to light brown. The Spotted Bass is frequently confused with the Largemouth Bass. Several key features distinguish them: jaw length, cheek scales, the dorsal fin, the tongue, and belly markers. Here are the differences in detail:

1. The most significant distinction between the two, and the quickest way to tell the difference, is by looking at the dorsal fin. The Spotted Bass has a top dorsal fin that is connected, while the Largemouth Bass has a separate dorsal fin.
2. On the Spotted Bass, when the jaw is closed, it does not extend past the rear of the eye; however, it does so on the Largemouth Bass.
3. The cheek scales on a Spotted Bass are much smaller than the rest of the scales on their body. Largemouth's scales are uniform in size across their body.
4. Spotted Bass have characteristic dark spots in the form of rows along the stomach. These spots fade gradually towards the belly. The Largemouth has a plain, white stomach.

Other differences you may notice are:

Largemouth Bass are generally larger than Spotted Bass.

Largemouth Bass tend to jump and rush to the top of the water when hooked, while spotted Bass will dive deep and behave more like a Smallmouth Bass on the line.

Spotted Bass tend to school more than Largemouth Bass.

Spotted Bass primarily gravitate to structures while you will find the Largemouth Bass in cover.

Spotted Bass Spawning

Spotted Bass reaches maturity in their first year. Rock and gravel bottom are preferable spawning spots for them, with the temperature of water range from 57 to 74 F. Males guard eggs laid by females for four weeks.

Spotted Bass Size

Spotted Bass can reach 25 inches in length and 7 pounds in weight.

Spotted Bass Interesting Facts

The males keep guarding the fry even after hatching.

They tend to group in schools, unlike other Bass species.

Spotted Bass is a carnivorous fish as it primarily feeds on crayfish but can also eat in catfish, insects, and minnows.

They cannot tolerate low oxygen saturation in very cold water.

They are excellent fighters.

Spotted Bass Fishing Technique

The best fishing techniques for Spotted Bass are bait casting, spin casting, still fishing, and drift fishing. A favorite is a light-medium spinning rod and 6 lbs line of fluorocarbon.
For fly fishing, just about every fly works well, such as poppers, streamers, poppers, and Clouser minnows. It can be a fun fish to catch for fly fishing as it puts up a tough fight.

Spotted Bass Diet

Young Spotted Bass usually feed on insects and zooplankton. As they grow into adulthood, their diet changes to fish and crayfish.

Spotted Bass Baits and Lures

Anything that can catch largemouth bass is perfect for catching Spotted Bass due to their aggressive behavior. Anything in your tackle box such as crankbaits, jerk bait, soft plastic bags are effective bait. You can also use topwater lures in the late afternoon and early morning.

Spotted Bass Habitat and Distribution

Spotted Bass Habitat

The Spotted Bass love to dwell in slow-moving clear water with rock bottom or gravel, such as streams or rivers. They are not found in brackish water and rarely enter natural lakes.

Spotted Bass Distribution

They are fairly distributed throughout the lower and Central Mississippi River Basin and Ohio basin. Spotted Bass can be found from Florida to Texas and east Texas from Guadalupe River to Red River.

Spotted Bass World Record

World Record Spotted Bass was caught by Nick Dulleck on New Bullard's Bar Reservoir, California, weighing in at 11 lbs. and 4 ounces. It was 24.25 inches and had a 20.75 inches girth.