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Bass · Species guide

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

Largemouth bass: The closed jaw extends behind the eye.
The closed jaw extends behind the eye.
Illustration: Duane Raver / USFWS, via USGS. Public domain. Fish are not shown at the same scale.

Look for these features

  1. 01Upper jaw reaches past the rear of the eye when closed.
  2. 02A dark stripe runs along the side.
  3. 03A deep notch separates the spiny and soft dorsal sections.

Logs, vegetation and other cover are useful places to begin observing. Fish can move with forage and conditions.

TPWD species reference ↗ · Checked September 6, 2026.

Put it to work

Your next step

Start with one manageable lure and one kind of cover. Record the retrieve and depth so you can repeat the comparison.

Open the lesson →
Record a catch →Lake O’ the Pines rules →

Identification is one part of the trip. Use current rules for the state and exact waterbody you fish.