The Tale of Two Brawlers: Largemouth vs Smallmouth Bass
It’s late on a Saturday night, and as I’m looking at a chart of Lake Washington for tomorrow’s trip, I’m faced with a wonderful problem: do I start the day targeting largemouth buried in the Union Bay milfoil, or do I run to the Mercer Island bridge pilings to hunt for smallmouth? They’re both called “bass,” but they might as well be different species entirely. Understanding how they differ is what turns a random day of casting into a successful day of catching.
How to Identify Them: It’s More Than Just Mouth Size
The obvious giveaway is in the name. On a largemouth, the maxillary (jaw) bone extends well past its eye. On a smallmouth, it lines up with the middle of the eye. But there are other clues: coloration and the dorsal fin.
Location, Location, Location: Where to Find Each Species
Largemouth Habitat: The Cover-Dwelling Ambush Predator
Think slower, warmer, and thicker. Largemouth bass are ambush predators. They want to hide in or near cover like weed beds, fallen trees, and docks.
Smallmouth Habitat: The Current-Loving Open-Water Hunter
Think faster, cooler, and harder. Smallmouth are roamers and prefer clean, clear water with rocky bottoms and a bit of current. Look for them around rocky points, bluff walls, and ledges.
What They Eat: Matching the Hatch for Both Bass Species
While both are opportunistic, their primary forage often differs. Largemouth will target larger prey like bluegill and perch. Smallmouth often key in on smaller prey like gobies and especially crawfish.
The Fight: Brute Strength vs. Acrobatics
Hooking a five-pounder of each species is a completely different experience. A big largemouth will give you a powerful, bulldogging fight. A big smallmouth will give you an open-water, drag-peeling run, punctuated by multiple spectacular, tail-walking jumps.
Learning to appreciate and target both species will make you a far more complete angler. But no matter which one you’re chasing, the fundamentals in our Ultimate Guide to Bass Fishing will help you succeed.
-Captain Sal
