How’d they get those stripes?

  • offthewall
    Ham Lake ,MN
    Posts: 303
    March 20, 2009 at 1:23 am #1321136

    Does anybody have an explaination why sometimes smallies are plain brown and sometimes they’re painted with such distinct markings? I’ve caught fish side by side and they’re totally different. Some people say oxygen levels or stress levels but does anybody know for sure? Feel free to show off…

    ottomatica
    Lino Lakes, MN
    Posts: 1380
    March 20, 2009 at 1:53 am #760576

    I’ve heard that when they’re agitated the stripes show more…otherwise it could just be the clarity of the water or the habitat…

    tstatz
    wis
    Posts: 188
    March 20, 2009 at 2:16 am #760580

    I tend to see more highly marked fish from clear water.That said i suppose bass are like any other species- lots of variations. Interesting question!

    jstoefen
    Eldridge Iowa
    Posts: 55
    March 20, 2009 at 3:29 am #760603

    The water clarity statement makes good sense. The smallmouth that come from a stained resevoir by my house are not as ditinctly marked as the fish from the St. Croix. How about the depth the fish are at does that make a difference? I also wonder if oxygen level of the water can play a role in their color.

    oldrat
    Upper Midwest
    Posts: 1531
    March 20, 2009 at 2:10 pm #760689

    catch a bass out of the black river in “downtown ” La Crosse. now catch a main channel bass and they are two different colors and as the crow flies maybe only 300 yards apart..

    water color and how the fish “change colors” makes a difference..

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.