Nolin Guide Service
Nolin Guide Service
Is that a black or white crappie?
Both species are present in Nolin. The easiest way to tell them apart is to count the number of hard spines on their dorsal fins. The dorsal fin is the big fin running down the center of the back of a fish.
1. A white crappie will have 5 or 6 spiny rays on the dorsal fin.
2. A black crappie will have 7 or 8 spiny rays on the dorsal fin.
Can you tell the difference between
a spotted bass and a largemouth bass?
So how do you tell the difference between these two bass species when both are olive green and have this dark, wide horizontal band running the length of their body?
1. Check for a small tooth patch on the fish's tongue.
yes (spotted bass) no (largemouth bass)
2. Check the sides of the fish for horizontal rows of spots down to the belly,
yes (spotted bass) no (largemouth bass)
3. Check to see if the fish's jaw extends past the eye with the mouth closed.
yes (largemouth bass) no (spotted bass)
4. Check for a deep notch between the spiny and soft dorsal fins.
yes (largemouth bass) no (spotted bass)
Did you know?
The preferred spawning temperature for smallmouth bass is from 59 to 60 degrees, spotted bass is from 63 to 68 degrees and for a largemouth bass is from 68 to 72 degrees.
