Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Floating Disease Bass

I have seen two largemouth bass in our lake that are very strange. They are obviously sick. They are coal Black in color with white bulging eyes. I was able to net one that weighed 9 pounds and spotted another aroung two pounds. I just saw these two diseased fish about 2 months ago. All other bass caught since then are healthy and "large". Any answers? Thanks.

John,
My first response is this...those two fish were blind. Fish color is directly related to water color, interpreted by fishes vision. If the fish interprets "dark" or clear, color darkens. "Light" color water, like milky, muddy water, bass lose much of their color.
But, the blindness may be an effect, not the cause. The cause is either disease, or a dramatic water chemistry change. I have seen water chemistry change, especially a pH change, cause fish eyes to become cloudy, leading to blindness.
If you find another fish like that, call our office for help. Try to keep the fish alive, but if it dies, wrap it in paper, and cool it. Don't freeze it. Pathologists will want to see it.