I would say that it is primarily due to water run off. It is fed by several creeks coming out of a big pasture. The pasture ground is pretty rocky with a lot of oaks. Probably another cause to the color is all the oak debris. Once the water hits the upper end of the lake it is all mud, very little rock. The lake is primarily mud bottom with some rock. As far as culling out bass goes, we do guided trips on the lake several times a week and we have the opportunity to cull out little bass then as well. I've culled out as many at 45 in about 5 hours of fishing. Thanks for the info thus far.