The redeye or Coosa bass is an elongate, slender fish with a large mouth that extends to or slightly behind the rear margin of the eye.

Breeding males have a light bluish green color on the lower head and throat.

On juveniles, the sides of the body usually have 10 to 12 dark blotches that do not join to form a lateral stripe.

The probable world record for redeye bass is 5 lb 2.5 oz (2.34 kg) from Lake Jocassee in South Carolina.

Introduced Micropterus coosae have displaced native hardhead (Mylopharodon conocephalus) in the Cosumnes River.