Attention, marine biologists....

[Jim Marshall]

...I'm curious about something.



Went fishing yesterday for the first time in a while in a couple of ponds near me. Caught three bass, and all were unusually pale in color. During most times of the year, bass in these ponds are a beautiful deep green color, with a very well-defined lateral line.



I'm wondering if the color of the fish has to do with sunlight, water clarity or water temperature. I'm guessing the water temp. was around 45 - 50 degrees. That what I'm seeing in reports from the bigger lakes around here. One of the ponds was slightly stained, the other had clarity of 4 ot 5 feet.



Just wanting to learn something...



Jim



By the way, I was using light tackle, and one of the fish was 4 lbs. That'll get the old ticker goin'!

 

[Mark Hofman]

They do the same thing around here. The cooler the water, the paler the fish get. They also tend to lose the dark stripe on the side. As the water warms up, the color returns. I also wonder if it has to do with slower feeding habits.

 

[gone bye bye]

Feom my experience, I am no marine biologist, that it is a combination of factors as far as the coloring goes. Lighter enviroment lighter the colors, colder the water the lighter the colors.



In the Cinci BPS store I noticed that the fish looked really pale last year during the SPring Classic. Right until feeding time, then the colors were enhanced. Made me think that aggressiveness has something to with it too.



Mini

 

[James D.]

I wish i could catch one to make the comparison! mine are all kind of a browny color like tree bass. i've read that bass have some chameleon (sp ?) characteristics to blend in with the environment. probably is the water temp though and slower metabolism. congrats on the 4lb bass, good fish.

jd

 

[Huck Palmatier]

...well I was a biologist in a previous life, so here goes .....The melanophores (pigment containing cells)require vitamin D to become fully active....vitamin D is more commonly known as the "sunshine vitamin", so during shorter photoperiods (decreased daylight)less of this compound is produced, resulting is a loss of color. Ever tag one from water that's been muddied up for a few days, or from water deeper than 25 feet?.....all due to lack of sunshine!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Don't know about any of that, but I do know that fish, bass to an extent walleyes especially change colors with their environment. When I first started fishing years ago, I had a 14' tin boat and a 150 quart cooler as a livewell. The interior was white. When I put fish in there, by the end of the day, they were always much lighter than when I put them in. Had nothing to do with lack of light as I will explain more. Now that I have grey livewells, when I put fish in they come out much darker than when they go in, and again, the lids are closed so there is no sunlight. I have noticed it the most on walleye, but smallies too, seems, the "bands" or stripes really come out when they've been in the livewell a while....unless they get stressed, then they get pale and a real off brown color and are uniform. You can tell when a fish is really stressed when he starts getting funny colored like that. Just my observation.

 

[gone bye bye]

I usually put picture fish in the livewell for that reason Rob. Not only that, I usually forget the camera in the truck anyway...lol



Mini

 

[Bill McElroy]

good thing i always have my camera in the boat aye Mini??..LOL We need to take Craig out with us this spring and get some REAL GOOD photo's.....we'll take both boats and really do it right!!