Bass Identification
Regulations regarding bass fishing are available in the Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations or from the Wildlife Code.
Bass Identification
Largemouth bass
- Cheek scales same size as rest of body scales
- Green with dark horizontal stripe
- Without rows of dark spots
- Upper jaw extends beyond back of eye
- Smooth tongue
- Dorsal fins not well connected
Smallmouth bass
- Cheek scales much smaller than rest of body scales
- Bronze and greenish-brown color
- No dark horizontal stripe
- Without rows of dark spots
- Upper jaw does not extend beyond back of eye
- Tongue usually has rough patch
- Dorsal fins connected
Spotted bass
- Cheek scales much smaller than rest of body scales
- Green with dark horizontal stripe
- Rows of dark spots
- Upper jaw does not extend much beyond back of eye
- Tongue has rough patch
Striped bass
- Teeth on back of tongue in two parallel patches
- Horizontal stripes
White bass
- Teeth on back of tongue in a single patch
- Horizontal stripes
Illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri. Used with permission.
