images of a smallmouth bass (micropterus dolomieu) my dad caught on a lake in new york state that connects to lake champlain. these fish are an invasive species throughout much of the US and southern canada.
smallmouth and largemouth bass both belong to the genus micropterus, and it can be easy to confuse the two at times. the key identifying factors that separate the smallmouth bass and the largemouth bass are their dorsal fins. smallmouth bass have joined dorsal fins that appear as one, while largemouth bass have a clearer separation between their dorsal fins.
smallmouth bass can also vary heavily in colour depending on their size and habitat. when living in clearer water, their markings are much more pronounced as opposed to living in cloudy water.