Black Spots on Bass?

[Shimano4Life]

I have caught several fish with the large blotches and spots of black all over them. I have always heard that this is a sign of "health" or a "healthy fish population". Caught a few from Cedar Creek with these spots, as well as one this past Monday (MLK Day, 1/18/2010). The one I caught from Dale Hollow had the spots all over the tail, which you can see in the pictures.

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME A REASONABLE (maybe biological) EXPLANATION ON THIS?

Are they birthmarks in the fish's DNA, or is it some kind of disorder with the fish?

Dale Hollow 1/18/2010 (look at the tail in these)

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...-1-18-2010.jpg

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...-18-2010-1.jpg

Cedar Creek 3/2009 (can't really see the spots in these pics very well)

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...edarCreek2.jpg

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...edarCreek1.jpg

I'm sure alot of fishermen wonder about this...................

[lroberts]

I'm not sure about the spots...i just wish i was out there catchin' em like that...had to work that day!

[crappiepappy]

Here's all I know about this "black blotch" mystery : http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/articles/T205.htm

I've seen Bass with black blotches, in Cedar Creek, moreso than anywhere else I've ever fished for Bass .... so, the idea that it's from C&R/handling may have some merit ... IMHO.

...Pappy

[AndyG]

Same deal as CC on Lake Fork. About every bass you catch there has them. I dont know how a healthy bass population causes this... I guess they have birth marks just like we do.

[kygorski]

I'm not positive, but I think I remember some thing said about a parasite, that comes from fresh water snails. I have caught gills crappies and perch with these spots also.

[smljaw]

All I know is that I know right where you caught those fish at Cedar. What a great spot! I've had some awesome bites there in March/April. 2 days in particular that I'll remember for life! DYNATRAK knows what I'm talkin' about.

As for the black spots, not too sure. That "spot tail bass" pic from Dale is really cool looking for sure!

[mhall]

I overheard Harold Knight talking to somebody at a Strader show one year about fishing Barkley. The fella asked Harold about black spots on the bass and that he caught alot of them like that down there. Harold said a Biologist told him it's not always a bad thing and that it can mean a very healthy and abundant population of bass. There is a disease that can cause a similar look though and it can actually kill bass.

Just some overheard stuff, but I have caught bass like that out Of Barkley, Barren, and Kentucky lake and they sure looked healthy to me.

[Splatterback]

Last good one I caught on Cedar Creek just before x-mas had quite a few spots on it

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_0293.jpg

hope this link works

[mhall]

Last good one I caught on Cedar Creek just before x-mas had quite a few spots on it

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/a...k/IMG_0293.jpg

hope this link works

Beautiful fish, I love the wide latteral line those bass have at Cedar.

[WacoWildcat]

I was watching Basspros on Vs. the other week and Edwin Evers said they get that when they move up shallow from deep water. According to him you see it more in the spring because they were in deep water during the winter. I guess in the winter if the surface temps warm up from warmer rains that could bring some largemouth up. Anyone ever see these on smallies or just largemouth?

[Embrey]

I was watching Basspros on Vs. the other week and Edwin Evers said they get that when they move up shallow from deep water. According to him you see it more in the spring because they were in deep water during the winter. I guess in the winter if the surface temps warm up from warmer rains that could bring some largemouth up. Anyone ever see these on smallies or just largemouth?

i dont buy any of that at all. i catch em all year long with blotches all over them

[Shimano4Life]

I was watching Basspros on Vs. the other week and Edwin Evers said they get that when they move up shallow from deep water. According to him you see it more in the spring because they were in deep water during the winter. I guess in the winter if the surface temps warm up from warmer rains that could bring some largemouth up. Anyone ever see these on smallies or just largemouth?

Joe,

I've watched some fishing shows where they're on the Great Lakes and they're pulling smallies up with those blotches all over them. I forget which show it was (probably a couple years ago) and they said that it was "good luck" when you would catch one. These guys even kept on fishing until they got one with spots. Until they caught one, they had to continue the show.........couldn't stop recording until they nabbed one.

These guys were saying that they were from pollution before regulations forced companies to clean up the Great Lakes. They said even though the lakes were cleaned up as conservation projects, there are still remnant pollutants present. ????? Kinda far fetched.....