Why are large mouth bass in my pond grey? 2025
cristiano reply :
Why are large mouth bass in my pond grey?
and i mean grey, not even a little bit of green.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Got any pictures of them?
BassWhole! reply :
Bass like many fish can change hues depending on environment. Around here in winter and early spring they are silvery grey with little green in them. Every so often I see some with a yellowish tint, black spots, and other odd coloring.
TriStateBassin106 reply :
I have bass in my local pond that suffer from this, this usually has something to do with pigmentation and dirty/heavily stained water. If the bass aren't getting enough light penetration they don't develop that distinct green with black stripe and black tail that most bass have. They're just light green/gray with little or no black stripe at all.
roadwarrior reply :
On 10/10/2019 at 7:26 PM, pondhopperNJ said:If the bass aren't getting enough light penetration they don't develop that distinct green with black stripe and black tail that most bass have.
Depth is also a factor.
Sweet Tater Pie reply :
On 10/10/2019 at 7:26 PM, pondhopperNJ said:I have bass in my local pond that suffer from this, this usually has something to do with pigmentation and dirty/heavily stained water. If the bass aren't getting enough light penetration they don't develop that distinct green with black stripe and black tail that most bass have. They're just light green/gray with little or no black stripe at all.
I think this is correct.
Cover also plays a part. Bass who spend a lot of time in weeds develop that dark green color. If they spend most or all of their time in open water not inside the weeds then they will lose that green color over time. I have been to a pond who had bass like this. There was almost no cover and it was very stained water.
Hope this helps
Joe
JediAmoeba reply :
Both these LM were caught out of the same lake on the same day.
TnRiver46 reply :
Why are some people blonde and some people redheads? Only the shadow knows
the reel ess reply :
Maybe they're inbred. 
Yumeya reply :
Maybe they are old.
The Bassman reply :
I've noticed that bass that aren't eating tend to be gray. Big heads, no gut = gray bass. Have seen it happen rather quickly in some ponds I fish. Wish I knew what was going on.
TriStateBassin106 reply :
This was a bass I recently caught in a pond that has been lowered for the fall and has little visibility. Almost all of the bass have this color. Some have more distinctive black stripes and tails than others. Some are just a gray with no stripe at all.
BassWhole! reply :
On 10/11/2019 at 12:30 AM, the reel ess said:Maybe they're inbred.
TVA...
fishballer06 reply :
A bass's color can/will change depending on water color, clarity, and the habitat around them.
BassWhole! reply :
On 10/10/2019 at 11:40 PM, TnRiver46 said:Why are some people blonde and some people redheads? Only the shadow knows
Is this Hannity?
Hair color is determined by genetics. Several genes affect the amount and balance between 2 types of melanin in individuals, and that determines hair color.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/11/2019 at 9:16 PM, BassWhole! said:Is this Hannity?
Hair color is determined by genetics. Several genes affect the amount and balance between 2 types of melanin in individuals, and that determines hair color.
Leading us to believe genetics can also cause variations in fish color . Every individual is not the same. Lets see your punnett square for a largemouth bass that lays a few thousand eggs
lo n slo reply :
On 10/11/2019 at 3:13 AM, Yumeya said:Maybe they are old.
not funny ????
????????????????????????
OCdockskipper reply :
On 10/10/2019 at 9:58 PM, JediAmoeba said:Both these LM were caught out of the same lake on the same day.
It looks like 2 of them were caught at night.
My experience is that the top fish is an open water, more pelagic fish while the bottom fish is more of a homebody, hanging out under cover type bass.
WRB reply :
On 10/11/2019 at 10:23 AM, pondhopperNJ said:This was a bass I recently caught in a pond that has been lowered for the fall and has little visibility. Almost all of the bass have this color. Some have more distinctive black stripes and tails than others. Some are just a gray with no stripe at all.
The dirt looks grey the bass looks ovlive green and normal.
Tom
the reel ess reply :
On 10/11/2019 at 11:28 PM, OCdockskipper said:It looks like 2 of them were caught at night.
My experience is that the top fish is an open water, more pelagic fish while the bottom fish is more of a homebody, hanging out under cover type bass.
I tend to agree. If fish can change color to match their surroundings, fish in shallow water are in a less murkey environment. The further light has to travel through water, the darker it gets. I've caught a lot of bass that are almost black because I fish shallow a lot. My dad used to say they got a tan.
Sam reply :
We see "gray" LMB in the spring when they come up from the depths to spawn but never this time of the year.
To be honest, I have no idea other than what the guys above have offered.
Big Rick reply :
I've caught fish in muddy water that were bleached out. After an hour in my live well their color had turned so vivid that it appeared I had caught them in crystal clear water. Bass are somewhat like chameleons in that they can change colors rather rapidly to blend with their surroundings.
Hower08 reply :
On 10/10/2019 at 11:40 PM, TnRiver46 said:Why are some people blonde and some people redheads? Only the shadow knows
Because blondes are good to laugh at and reds are good for.. well probably can't put that on here I've been in trouble enough for having to much fun on here
Koz reply :
I think it has to do with light penetration and the depth of the bass. Is your water heavily stained?
I fish some lagoons that are dark like chocolate milk and the bass in those are always on the pale side.
WRB reply :
Bass floating belly up tend to be gray.
Tom
geo g reply :
Sometimes hard bottom bass with little vegetation in the water, and lots of rock will be lighter in color. I have fished some rock pits that produce lighter color bass. They blend in better to their surroundings and don't stick out so much.
In our south florida lakes with all the veggies, they are usually dark in color, and blend in with their surroundings. it's all about ambushing bait.
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