Pale Bass

[FLATHEAD]

Found this interesting, thought I would share. Check out these bass I caught last weekend. About as pale as I ever seen. I know deep bass get pale , but these were darn near white They were very deep, about thrity feet and the water was murky as all get out. Headed out in a little while to try for a few more. Cold last night, below freezing here. Should kick the fall bite into high gear.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Pale Bass

good catches!i've caught some like that to espisially in the fall when they come up shallow.whatcha throwing at them at 30'?

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Pale Bass

On that lake I fish tubes almost exclusively, along with jigs.The water is always stained, so a rattle is added some times. The place has lots of 90 degree steep rock walls and bluff banks, that jut in and out all the way to the bottom, I just work the tube all they down, resting on ledges between drops.. When I feel the bait stop on a ledge on the next drop is when they usually take it.

The place is a typical big reservoir, real long and narrow at spots, with some very wide main bodys of water. They impose electric motors only (Sucks) I have a dinky 12 footer I keep there with two 50 pounders pushing me around. It takes me 25 minutes to get from the ramp to my good spots (Sucks) But on the other hand is is not built on at all, no houses just forest all around. Three minutes from my housed Got a few fall foliage shots yesterday

Yesterday was tough, cold front and blue bird Sky's. Only managed three dinks.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Pale Bass

I fish Lake Champlain that boarders NY and VT. The lake has multiple personalities. There is a bridge and trhe water below the bridge is cloudy, muddy and near impossible to see more that 3' and above the bridge it is clear.

The bass caught below the bridge are pale and colorless and the ones in the clear water are colorful. The walleye and the northerns are the same way.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Pale Bass

I fished Champlain this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm not sure what what was going on with the water clarity. The water was milky in spots, poor visibility. And it moved around, a spot that was clear yesterday would be milky looking today, and vice versa.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Pale Bass

Lake turnover??

 

[Ron G]

Re: Pale Bass

thats some tuff fishing during a turnover.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Pale Bass

I'm not sure, that was my first time up there. I don't know if that’s normal for Champlain or not. Another thing up there struck me as odd. All the fish my wife and I caught were pale like the ones in the pictures. I noticed that some of the big bags of bass (maybe two), the fish were very green. A lot more color than ours. I mentioned it to my wife on the way back to the hotel the first day and she noticed it also. It got me thinking; I hope everyone was honest during this tournament. No sour grapes about not winning, I just want a level playing field.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Pale Bass

That would suck if that was the case. I will say that the day I caught those bass I also Landed a few in shallower water, maybe five feet or so. Those bass had a lot more color, but were not anything of real size.

 

[AJ168]

Re: Pale Bass

Fish change colors quite quickly to match the color of their surroundings. Typically, pale fish mean that the bottom of the lake is white sand. I've watched fish go from dark to pale overnight due to the color of the tank they were being held in.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Pale Bass

I think here it has more to do with light penetration. There is no sand or white rock in this reservoir.

 

[imported_ryno]

Re: Pale Bass

You can watch the color change from the catch to the livewell. As already discussed, fish caught in murky or shallow water will tend to be paler in color. You can observe this with most of the sunfishes (bass, crappie, bluegills). By just placing the pale colored fish in a covered, dark livewell, the fish will darken up within hours.

 

[John_S]

Re: Pale Bass

My experience with river smallies leads me to believe it is related to sunlight. Smallies caught in deeper water have always been light in color compared to dark ones caught near the bank. I notice it mostly in the spring and fall, when I catch them in both locations, and can't say it is 100%. Last Friday, caught 6 smallies. the two near the bank had dark black splotches. The rest caught in 15' or deeper water, were a yellowish/green color. Occasionaly I have caught bass through the ice. They have always been light in color.

 

[AJ168]

Re: Pale Bass

I know that it's been scientifically proven that saltwater fish will change their color to the shade of the bottom. I would assume that the same thing would hold true to freshwater fish. Light penetration, at least in salt water, isn't a variable, unless it changes the shade of the bottom.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Pale Bass

qqq

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Pale Bass

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