Pond Boss Forums PHOTO GALLERY Image Gallery Bass colors

This is a screen shot from a Go Pro video in my pond. This Bass has awesome colors.

Great pic ! Is this in Wisc. ?

Yes its in Wisconsin near Sheboygan. This is the only time I have seen pattern.

Are you saying the rest of the LMB don't exhibit that pattern ? That general patterning is common on Fla strain LMB - that is why I ask. What was the source of your LMB?

I video in my pond a lot besides fishing. I got another video of what I believe to be the same fish in the same spot. Other than those two videos all the Bass have solid coloring on their backs. I didn't know the Florida strain had those patterns. thanks for that information. The Bass in my ponds are locally sourced. Is there a definitive way to identify the Florida strain besides DNA?

No definite method other than DNA, especially if they are Fla/Northern crosses.
Not all Fla LMB have that patterning but it is much more prevalent in Fla LMB.
Call the local source and ask them about their sourcing.

The bass (all the of the black basses I have messed with) can change color patterns pretty quick to match background or indicate a particular mental state. With some persistent color patterns, that can be the result of nervous damage, especially where large black areas are involved. Nerve damage does not typically result in blotching pattern as shown in original post.

Because the pictured lmb is located in Wisconsin where the Florida strain is not supposed to be and because the lmb has vivid markings, I might think some spotted bass might make up some of the genes in that fish. Here, the spotted or what some of us call the Kentucky bass has strong vivid markings that jumps out at you. Much more than our Florida strain. Eric knows I am no expert but just thinking outloud .

I have a few thousand spotted bass in tanks and ponds now. They seldom adopt the spotted pattern shown in orginal photograph. Their base coloration on the back tends more towards brazzy grey than the green of the largemouth bass. I have similar or more largemouth bass of similar size growing in same volumes making comparison easy.