Ahhhh…the enduring question among bass anglers. Which is better, Smallmouth or Largemouth? Everyone has their favorite: many smallmouth aficionados indicate “Smallies put up more of a fight” or that “Ounce-for-ounce, smallmouth fight harder than any other gamefish”. The Largemouth fans will tell you that “Largemouth are better for their sheer size potential alone” and “These are the most sought after game fish in Earth for a reason”. Who to believe? If you are reading this, you’ve probably caught both and have a favorite. Personally, I can’t choose. I’ve thought a lot about this though. Here are some arguments on each side of the spectrum based on personal observation.  We’ll take a look at five different areas to help you decide.  

1. Fight: Flesh v. Flex -Smallmouth really do seem to have an attitude when hooked. Even the little ones never seem to want to give up. Perhaps this is because they are generally caught in water with higher oxygen content than their green counterparts or that they have evolved to be able to exist quite nicely in the current and have just that much more muscle mass per ounce than the largemouth. Either way, these muscular athletes can stress most tackle.

Not to say Largemouth don’t fight! Some of the best battles I’ve had involved big, fat, green fish refusing to come up from the depths. You can feel them shake their head from side-to-side in an attempt to free themselves from the lure. They are adept at using their mass and bulk. Those hooked in the shallows will often run for the thickest cover, like straight back into the tree or stump you hooked them near. This adds another layer to the question. It isn’t only strength you have to deal with, you must consider how you will be able to remove fish quickly and effectively from cover. In many cases different tackle can account for how hard a fish seems to fight.

Lot’s of folk use “light tackle” to take the nicer smallmouth.  Where smallies hang out has a lot to do with this. They can usually be found in clearer water lakes than their cousins. Often times, you’ll need to use lighter line, smaller lures and thus a lighter pole than you would use for largemouth angling in order to catch fish. This could be the explanation for a good portion of the reputation that bronzebacks have as the “best fighters”. I’m not saying it isn’t fun, but there is a difference between playing a smallmouth in 30 feet of water on a medium-action spinning pole rigged with 6# test than there is an equal sized largemouth in 5 feet of water under a tree on a heavy action jigging pole and 20# test. The resulting mismatch of equipment will make the smallie appear to have an edge in this category.

I’ve noticed on occasion that smallmouth strike ferociously. I don’t give any special credit to the fish here. I think that it is due to a couple factors that aren’t necessarily in their control. The first is that they are often likely to be in the company of other hungry smallmouth when you encounter them. This means that the one you hook probably had to beat a few other fish to the bait and eat it before her schoolmates could. I’ve encountered this on several occasions. You have too. You’ll be fighting a fish and notice that there are a few following behind. You may have even witnessed a smallie hit a lure after another had dropped it or even seen a second fish swim right up and attempt to grab the lure trailing from a fighting fish’s mouth, often resulting in an angler catching two fish on one lure! The other factor is that a lot of people who fish for smallies employ top water tactics a very high percentage of the time. Almost ANYTHING hitting a surface lure, especially a bedding smallie, will appear to strike ferociously. Largemouth too can hit bait like a freight train. Anyone who has ever felt a huge larry hit a deep crank bait can attest to this. Usually though, when a largemouth inhales a jig, worm, etc you’ll only feel a slight tick or nothing at all. Edge to the Smallmouth?

2. Size: It does matter. -Of course, everyone knows that largemouth attain a greater average size than smallmouth. This isn’t true everywhere, especially in Maine, where we are at the extreme northern limit of both fish’s range of occurrence.  All things being equal largemouth will get, well, larger than smallmouth. There isn’t anything you can do about it, nor should you want to! If larry has access to a good portion of his optimum temperature range, then he will be able to outgrow Sally. There are instances, however, where largemouth bass occur in lakes that are more suitable to smallmouth. In cases like this, they can be out-competed by smallmouth for forage and habitat. Plus, this generally colder environment will limit their growing season resulting in a larger average size of the resident smallmouth populations. For the person who is looking to catch the largest bass possible, the largemouth is the only option. There are fish over nine pounds swimming around Maine I’m sure. If there are nine-pounders then there must be a ten! You never know. Even though the state record is just under 12 lbs. I’m not sure how much I trust a nearly 40-year-old record…but that’s a different tale. The largest one the average angler is likely to see will be 7-8 lbs. That is a good sized northern strain larry! Smallmouth, on the other hand, can grow big too. I’ve caught them around six pounds and have seen them larger. The state record is 8.0. This could realistically be broken by some angler any day. What does all of this mean? Well…there are some big fish out there. I guess that someone is likely to catch a 7 or 8 lb fish of either species, but the likelihood of it being a largemouth is greater. Edge to the Largemouth?    

3. Distribution: Where the action is. - In Maine, it is fact that the Smallmouth has a greater range of the two fish, or is it? There is no question that they occur farther north than their cousin. One could assume that the temperatures of most northern lakes prohibit the establishment of viable largemouth populations. This may not be the case. In most situations, these species co-exist in a water body. When this isn’t true, you really can’t blame the environment. I believe that when there is a lake containing one and not the other (usually Smallmouth and not Largemouth) it is simply because they both haven’t been introduced there.

At this point I’d like to say that I under no circumstance support the introduction of any type of organism into any type of ecosystem where they do not or should not occur. I don’t think any one party is primarily responsible for illegal fish stocking. I know there must be unscrupulous lake residents and anglers out there that are transporting fish around. I also know that there are instances when an otherwise undocumented introduction can happen “naturally”. I also assume that the sheer amount of fish the state moves around can facilitate invasive introductions. All three methods need proper researching. But I digress…

There are places where one or the other do/do not occur. That’s that. I think you could have either in any given pond in the state. Distribution as a percentage of either species’ occurrence as it relates to habitat is another thing. There are lakes that are simply more suited to one fish over the other. Shallow, warmer, weedier more fertile lakes are said to hold more and/or bigger Largemouth. In deeper, colder and less fertile lakes one can reasonably expect more robust smallmouth. Again…the possibility that EITHER fish can be there is equal in my opinion. Tie? 

4. Technique/Tackle/Presentation: The Human Factor.  - Everyone has their favorite way to chase and catch bass. This is a very big factor when you ask the “largemouth vs. smallmouth” question. I was with two fishing buddies last night in my boat. One considers smallies his favorite; the other gave the nod to largemouth. The difference that was evident to me is the way that each prefers to fish. The smallmouth angler loves to use things like imitation crayfish or senkos and generally uses the “light tackle” mentioned above. He indicates that he likes smallies better because they fight harder. The other would rather catch largemouth because of where and how he prefers to fish for them- in shallow, weedy areas on surface baits such as a “mouse” or “frog”.Personally, I like to jig and crank for largemouth, preferably on mid-lake shoals. I know that fish will be somewhere on, near or around this type of structure almost every time of year. The rods, line and lures I utilize are well-suited for this type of fishing. After moving to what I consider to be one of the best smallmouth lakes in the state, I’ve had to adapt. I still like to fish the mid-lake shoals, but since my target here is the smallie, I’ve had to make a move toward lighter line and more finesse presentations. Now that I am adept at using all of these techniques for either fish, I’m a more well-rounded angler.

Whether you are a “finesse” fisherman throwing light tubes, flukes or those “sinking minnow” baits generally known by the brand name senko- or a “power” fisherman that lives to throw crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs, you can have success catching bass. Fact is; both presentation styles can be effective for either type of bass under the right conditions. The more versatile you are the better off you’ll be, but clearly, our preference for one fish over the other can be affected by our preference for tackle, technique and presentation. Tie. 

5. Intangibles: Who, what, when, where and why. -There are as many rationalizations why one is preferred over the other as there are anglers. To me, asking which fish is better is like asking me why I fish. There are so many reasons, each playing a vital role. Those who prefer one above the other (or even trout over both!) have their own motives. People are beholden to one type of lure, rod, reel and even lake for reasons even they might not understand. I know that I catch many more smallmouth now than I ever have, mostly due to the price of gas (Big smallies are local to my area), so if you’d have asked me this question 3 years ago I probably would have said “largemouth” without a second’s hesitation. Some love to fish in Spring, some in Summer. Some like to boat, others love the shore. Often, positive reinforcement is at work. When one has a great experience, they almost certainly want to duplicate it. When queried, it is these positive memories that we access in order to make our decision. Tie?

So- is one fish better than the other? I guess it depends on who you ask.