Smallmouth and Largemouth ,can they hybridize?

[John Sheehan]

Never heard of such a thing but this fish made me wonder. It is a largemouth as I see it but looks almost like the color of a bronzeback.It didnt fight like a smallie I'll tell you that. It's too green to be a smallie and doesnt have smallie verticle bars but where are the side markings and green/white/black colors of a 'normal' largemouth?

http://www.bigbluegill.com/photo/may15grassmerefish5-1?context=albu...

[John Sheehan]

Josh-Thanks for your input .First I heard of a meanmouth and an attempt to hybridize Lmouths and Smouths. I agree like I originally said that my fish is a Largemouth. The bronzish color and lack of distinct lateral line got me thinkin...hybrid ...no bars like a smallie I catch around here though.

[John Sheehan]

Chris-That bass you show has a very distinct black an wide lateral line unlike the bass I posted that prompted this blog .I'd be very interested to see the Potomac strain you speak of.

[John Sheehan]

Bruce -Never saw a bass like that ...spotted/LMouth Hybrid?

[chris]

all the bass i catch in my pond are that color

[Bruce Condello]

This is what a meanmouth looks like. Apparently this one was genetically tested....or so I heard.

[Bruce Condello]

[Magnolia Rick]

Mawmaw my only meanmouth I know of.

[Josh Milczski (Omaha)]

The original Meanmouth Bass was a cross between a largemouth and smallmouth, but it was very rare since they have different spawning habits as well as habitat differences. When people refer to a Meanmouth now, they are generally referring to a cross between a smallmouth and spotted bass. Your fish is a largemouth in my opinion.

[Magnolia Rick]

I agree with Wi Gills the body of water will make bass look diffrent. When my pond was muddy after all the rain my LMB looked almost like a stripper being so white.

Again that just my 2 cents which ain't much.

[WI Gills]

Just looks like a normal largemouth to me. Depending on the body of water - they can have a wide range of colors. Some will be flushed out and basically silver, while other places produce them with very dark black colors. Just like how bluegills can have such a wide range of apperances.