Spotted bass: a common Kentucky fish with a history of mistaken identity
On a cool autumn morning a fisherman stands along the bank of a creek. He holds his rod steady in anticipation of the violent and aggressive strike of the spotted bass, which will interrupt his quiet waiting within a matter of seconds.
While this particular angler may immediately identify his catch, this plentiful fish has been the victim of misidentification on more than one occasion.
From a Calliurus classification to Micropterus
The spotted bass was first described in 1819 by a professor at Transylvania University who named it Calliurus punctulatus, which means “spotted beautiful tail.” In 1927, the genus name was changed to Micropterus, which means “little fin.” This change solidified the spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) as a member of the black bass genus.
Other Kentucky native members of the black bass genus are the smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).
Looks like an Alabama bass, but it’s not the same species
One non-native member of the black bass genus is the Alabama bass (Micropterus henshalli). The Alabama bass was once thought to be a subspecies of the spotted bass because the two were visually indistinguishable. It was not until 2008 that genetic testing confirmed significant differences between the two fish.
The early misclassification of the Alabama bass led to its introduction into watersheds outside of its native mobile watershed.
Alabama bass are prolific breeders that will mate with other members of the black bass genus. The resulting hybrids are much smaller than the parent fish, which impacts trophy fishing in the introduced locations.
Luckily, the Alabama bass has not been introduced to Kentucky, and it is illegal to do so. This is one of the reasons why Kentucky has excellent bass fishing compared to our surrounding states.
Not strictly a Kentucky bass either
The spotted bass was also thought to be endemic to Kentucky. However, they are common all over the Mississippi River Basin from West Virginia to southeastern Kansas and down to eastern Texas. Many anglers call the spotted bass the “Kentucky bass” because of this misconception.
Spotted bass are the most common species of bass in Kentucky, which is one reason it was designated as the Kentucky State Fish in 1956.
For a complete guide to fishes in Kentucky, visit the Kentucky Department of Fish Wildlife Resources website. For information on fall fishing at The Parklands, including regulations and popular fishing spots, visit our fishing activity page.
Join us for Junior Explorer: Fish Fest!
Looking to introduce your kids to fishing? Join us at Beckley Creek Park on September 26 for Junior Explorer: Fish Fest! Stop by during this FREE, family-friendly event to try fish-inspired treats, enjoy fishing demos, and learn about the bass and other fish in our streams.
It’s going to be fin-tastic!