diseased fish/fungus

[rickhise]

in the winter its not unusual to catch large mouth here on Dale, with black ugly splotches,
but sat. this 3-4lb large mouth took it past splotches actual large growths the size of acorn's i wonder if there a site i could forward this picture to for info.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_1047.jpg

[FlyLie]

Try the TN department of fish and wildlife. Google to find their web site.

[Shimano4Life]

Whoa....................hope it's not the virus that causes hemorrhaging and is highly contagious. I forget what the name of the particular virus is, but I pray Dale isn't contaminated with it. It was spread (like Zebra mussels) and has led to several large fish kills.

I'm not an expert, so like Boone stated I would leave it up to the TN Department of F&W to determine. If they let you know something, please post the results -- I would like to know what they have to say.

[Fishin is life]

I've seen several pictures of largemouth from dale with those black splotches...I've heard several theories but does anybody know exactly what causes them?

[RayP]

I've seen several largemouths and smallmouths like the one pictured. We labeled one creek at Dale "Mutant Creek" because we have caught so many fish that either had splotches,half a jaw, missing an eye, or covered in tumors etc.

A guide at Dale told me several years ago that they lost a lot of big largemouths to LMBV (largemouth Bass Virus) back in the late 90's. I assume that it is a one-time kind of virus.
It's still a good practice to bleach out your livewells if you keep any fish in them.

[kygorski]

If it goes into my livewell, it goes home! Why take a fish to some other place so folks can look at it.I release almost all my fish, hate cfleaning them, and worrying about critters tearing up the garbage bags.

[Shimano4Life]

I've seen several pictures of largemouth from dale with those black splotches...I've heard several theories but does anybody know exactly what causes them?

According to the TN Dept. of F&W manual (I saw the manual not too long ago as a PDF file), the black splotches are a parasitic abnormality. It is not harmful to the fish. In fact, they are like birthmarks. I have caught fish from several lakes (Cedar Creek, KY Lake, Dale Hollow, etc.) that have this feature and they have only been largemouth. However, I have seen some fishing shows on the Great Lakes where smallmouth exhibit this coloring as well.

I have also heard that this means "there is a healthy fish population" or that "water quality is high". I don't believe these suggestions though -- I believe in the scientific theory that they are like skin blemishes like we have moles and birthmarks.

[BassMasterMikeD]

Makes me want to stop kissing all my fish on the mouth...or maybe that's what is wrong with the fish!!! LOL

[BanditMan]

Look at the picture closer fella's . We've all seen the black spots on fish. But look up at the back fin. That is the funky acorn type growth that I believe Rick is referring to. It looks pretty nasty to me.

[wolfewiz]

I've never seen those black growths on the top. The splotches are common. I caught a LM at Barren in October that had a huge growth on its lower lip.

[rickhise]

If it goes into my livewell, it goes home! Why take a fish to some other place so folks can look at it.I release almost all my fish, hate cfleaning them, and worrying about critters tearing up the garbage bags.

i sent u a pm i have plenty of bait help yourself if u dont know the bait cage key is pm me

[Fishin is life]

i sent u a pm i have plenty of bait help yourself if u dont know the bait cage key is pm me

And where is that bait cage Rick? hahha....I saw some pictures tonight of a couple guys that had been down there live bait fishing last weekend....they caught 18 and had 6 over 4lbs....headin down this weekend and just hope to have some of that luck