What is this fish?

[Robhanna]

I am catching alot of these? Are they crappie or smallmouth. Can you tell by the rough patch of teeth on the toungue? How long before they mature?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Neither a crappie or a smallmouth. It is a member of the sunfish family commonly called a "rock bass". They don't get very big but are fun to catch and good eating. Also very aggressive and hit all kinds of lures...some as big as they are.[/#0000ff]
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[Robhanna]

Thanks, now I'm wondering about another fish out of the same pond. I have been wondering but resolved to call it a crappie but it doesn't have the mishaped head. See the pictures attached.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Those are white crappies...and darned nice ones too. They are not nearly as widely distributed in the US as black crappies.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here is a picture of both, for comparison. The white crappie has vertical bars but the black crappie is mostly just speckled. The males turn very dark during spawning season...the reason for the name.[/#0000ff]
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[url "http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0PDoS4ZRtdMCw4Am8qJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBxczhmYWNpBHBvcwM0MwRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANJMTMxXzgx/SIG=1li11391r/EXP=1289263001/**http%3a//images.search.yahoo.com/images/view%3fback=http%253A%252F%252Fimages.search.yahoo.com%252Fsearch%252Fimages%253Fp%253DWhite%252Bcrappies%2526b%253D41%2526ni%253D20%2526ei%253DUTF-8%2526xargs%253D0%2526pstart%253D1%2526fr%253Dyfp-t-940%26w=625%26h=480%26imgurl=img.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fv15%252Fbrfixit%252Fbalckcrappiewhitecrappie.jpg%26rurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.myfishfinder.com%252Ffishing_forum%252Findex.php%253Ftopic%253D37932.0%26size=102KB%26name=...%2bwhite%2bor%2bbla...%26p=White%2bcrappies%26oid=bdb3e55168d145300a54c81abaa3688e%26fr2=%26no=43%26tt=22100%26b=41%26ni=20%26sigr=1216597na%26sigi=1237mfggd%26sigb=13frtvcvk%26.crumb=CK50zaY7XJP"][/url][inline CRAPPIES.jpg]
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[Robhanna]

Thanks, there are more in the same pond. The water level in the pond is so low now I am worried about the fish being there next year. I will probably post some pictures tomm. Its dark now but will take pictures in the morning. It is really a situation.
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[idahopanfish]

Very nice and welcome hope to see you often.
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