Moderate canine-like teeth. Smallmouth Bass most often are bronze to brownish green in color, with dark vertical bars on the sides. In contrast to the Largemouth bass, the upper jaw does not extend beyond the rear margin of the eye. The eye of the Smallmouth bass is reddish in color. Largemouth Bass have a very large mouth with the upper jaw of the adult extending beyond the rear margin of the eye.
Skin is dark olive-green on the back with green sides shading to a white belly.
There is a dark horizontal band on each side, a deep notch in dorsal fin, and the soft dorsal fin usually has 12 to 13 rays. Northern Pike have light markings on a dark green background. Their lower half of the cheeks are completely scaled and they have five or fewer pores on each side of the underside of the jaw. The back and sides of the Northern Pike are a dusky olive-green with rows of light oval spots. Dorsal, anal and tail fin have round to oblong darkened spots.