I think it looks like a largemouth bass. Looks like the couple of bass I had mounted from Rayburn. Only difference I see is the broken lateral line. Good fish either way! They didn't certify it at 7.98 though.....lol.

I just don't see a spotted bass growing that big in a small water body. I saw Tom Mann Jr bring an 8+ spot to the scales at Lake Lanier and there was no doubt about it being a spotted bass. Good luck and I hope it does turn out to be a spot, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Now that is a fishing story! You don't know what you don't know, is what I was told many moons ago.

Cool story..

Me and two partners in crime went out into the gulf when we were much stupid'r than I am today. On the way down my buddy said we should get entered into the (star tournament). Naa, we said. Would have won a boat, or truck (or maybe both) from the kingfish we landed.. you never know what is going to happen. Although, if we would have entered the tourney, we prob wouldn't have caught jack "you know what". Keep us updated..

July 28th is my bday....

Cool story for sure and hope it turns out to be whatever it is you want it to be sir.

Great story, keep us updated!

Looks like a spot but the taxidermy guy could have added those features.
I’m looking at the broken lateral spots which means a spot.
The belly has some pronounced lines which means a spot.
But this fish has been doctored up also.

I dont think its the real tongue. I think the taxidermist use a type of puddy, then paint it.

thank u sir.

I just want to know what it is. im not a record chaser, but it would be a good trophy for our state. just a tiny bit shy of the oklahoma record of 8.03 pounds, which im sure it surpassed before its long icechest ride to the weigh site in the hot texas sun..
This has been a mystery to me for over 25 years, before any type of testing similair to what we have today was in use. it would be a great story to pass down to the kids and grand kids for many years.

you know ive thought of that, but then asked myself, why would he try to make it look like something it really wasnt. I had no input in it at all, just asked him to mount it., back when I caught it I was in my late 20s, and was not even familiar with a spotted bass. I knew of 3 species, largemouth, and smallmouth., and sand bass. it was many years later before I caught a small rock bass. had not heard of or seen one before that.
To me it would be alot easier to try and accentuate what was already there, then to try and change the way it looks naturally. back then there were no I phones and I didnt even have a digital camera, so I cant recall if any pics were taken or not. would sure help though,.

A friend of mine caught the state record perch on a ft hood lake many years ago when we worked at sears together, his name was Richard. cant recall his last name. dont know if he still holds the record, will have to look it up.
Lots of big fish are caught in small water bodies.

yes, with the skin and scales being in tact, the original pattern is there, it would have taken alot of work to change it.
think abt it, he would have to paint over the original lines, and paint in a new pattern,, ALSO, the jawline, theres no changing that it is the real jaw. the top fins, bottom fins, tail, all from the actual fish. it would have been a heck of alot of work to do something I did not request.
It doesnt make sense.