Do bass eyes turn red during spawn?

Have you ever heard the expression he is so made that he is seeing RED? I have noticed since I really started to notice stuff in bass fishing. That in the middle of the spawn the males eyes change color, I First noticed this with smallies, but wrote it off as they have orangish eyes anyhoo, I then noticed it in largmouth that their eyes appeared orange or red! So a few years later I was fishing and pinned on a BRIGHT RED crawdad lure. The lake we were fishing was referred to as the aquarium, and was super clear - down to 30' - and held BIG FISH -possible next world record- needless to say you can learn alot by fishing ponds like this!

So I noticed that the fish were JUST Clobbering this red bug as soon as it was near the bed, the bait was horrible at hookups, so I would throw a change up to catch the fish. The fish had red eyes, interesting and this planted the seed. The fortunate or unfortunate part of the spawn is it does not last long - a few solid weeks to build theories and its gone until next year! I started to incorporate red into my baits during the spawn time a small white bait with RED Claws a RED bead on my pumpkin lizard, as long as there was a highlight of RED. During this time of year I am using red hooks, as I want these fish to key in on the hook. Also too it doesnt have to be bright red, my buddy last year and I were up on Berry fishing the bite was tuff and he was cleaning my clock on his jig like 6:1 OUCH I look at the color of his jig and it is PLUM RED with Blue flakes...I realized that the smallies he was catching were spawning bucks and quickly went to a red worm.

The only downfall in my observations is that the BIG fish the ones I believe to be females do not display this charecteristic. In my obersvations they will shy away from these baits.... The key here is knowing when to pull it out and slay the bucks, then tuck it away and target the BIG GIRLS.

Now the irony of this all...throughout the rest of the year I dont give any stock to red hooks, redlines etc... I think they are very GIMMICK and are designed to catch more fisherman then fish, however there is a window when I believe the fish are seeing RED....

I have not seen an increase of bites due to red hooks.. Red turns to gray as you get deeper in water.

There is a pretty good article in this months infisherman magazine,Learned a little from this article.I am not one to type or I would put it in.

Ive never paid attention to their eye's color. Gonna have to make sure I LOOK.

I'm a red believer year around. I realize the color spectrum says red doesn't get very deep before turning gray, but I've many times seen red jasper pebbles in 10' of gin clear water here. That has sunlight going down 10' then reflecting red back up 10'. All colors turn gray sooner or later, violet/purple probably the last to gray out.

When red hooks first came out I was a BPS shopping and watched a presentation of them. They showed bass in the big tank responding to red while ignoring other hooks. I was sold, but they sold out before I got some. When they arrived I took them out and fished them alongside partners. Many times they noticed a difference on their own, 'borrowing" some of mine. Now just about everyone I know here uses red hooks to speed up the bite (hopefully, at least), and try to always have a spot of red somewhere on a bait. One of the theories is red near the head of a bait represents gill flare, interpreted by predator fish as fright in a prey fish.

I can certainly vouch for females in the spawn ignoring red, but they also tend never to eat anything anyway. They tend more to just pick up any intruder and take it away from the bed area.

"The largemouth bass is a sight feeder and one of the most popular freshwater fish for lure fishing. While lures a have variety of colors and forms, there is no information on the color vision and form perception in the largemouth bass. We recorded S-potentials from the isolate retinae of the largemouth bass to examine color vision electrophysiologically. The occurrence of the C-response provided direct evidence for the possession of color vision. L-responses recorded indicated a high spectral sensitivity to red. The direction and distance of lens movement of a specimen of 43 cm in fork length indicated a horizontal visual axis and the near point at 13.5 cm, respectively. The visual acuity calculated from the cone density and the focal distance of the lens was 0.10. Histological characteristics of the retina indicated that the eyes are well adapted to both form and movement perceptions." http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1444-2906.2002.00530.x?cookieSet=1&journalCode=fis

I've seen those smallmouth red eyes in largemouth occasionally, but never made any connections like you did. Interesting observation!

Jim

Just like Jim said, I believe in red year round. In fact, the only hooks that I use anymore are red. I noticed a huge difference in the hookup/strike ratio as compared to nickel hooks, so I made the switch. I do have a few nickel hooks in the tackle box, though, for the event I run out of red hooks.

I, too, have noticed red in the eyes of spawning bucks, but never thought twice of it. Figured it was nature doing what it does best............doing something to make humans scratch their head. I haven't ever used a red lure in a bed. Honest truth is that I have had better luck with dropping crappie jigs, of all things, in the bed and having the bass nail them! :thumbup01:

Again I feel very hypocritical in the fact that I dont "buy into" the red craze the swept the nation. For the most part I have found that even my Owner and Gammie red hooks are not as sharp as the stock black ones or nickle, I believe the powder coat process dulls the hooks! However, I thought I would share one of my theories (read work in progress observations) on red during spawn. I am a firm believer and still throw change ups, I tend to REALLY like Purple or blue as accent colors, now if they came out with Purple hooks I would stock UP!

When I am fishing I am always trying to find clues to a larger spectrum, if I see that red or orange glow in the fishes eyes I will definatly start accenting my baits accordingly, as I believe the fish are SEEING RED! This can also be true during post spawn when fish are protecting fry, I think the stress from the invaders (blue gills) cause this, perhaps they are keing in on the red or orange dots as the bluegills this time of year get VERY bright and floresent dots on thier gills? I dont know the reasons, never will just sharing an observation and theory that I have been building.

What are some of your off the wall theories when it comes to bass fishing?

Zippers said:

Again I feel very hypocritical in the fact that I dont "buy into" the red craze the swept the nation. For the most part I have found that even my Owner and Gammie red hooks are not as sharp as the stock black ones or nickle, I believe the powder coat process dulls the hooks! However, I thought I would share one of my theories (read work in progress observations) on red during spawn. I am a firm believer and still throw change ups, I tend to REALLY like Purple or blue as accent colors, now if they came out with Purple hooks I would stock UP!

When I am fishing I am always trying to find clues to a larger spectrum, if I see that red or orange glow in the fishes eyes I will definatly start accenting my baits accordingly, as I believe the fish are SEEING RED! This can also be true during post spawn when fish are protecting fry, I think the stress from the invaders (blue gills) cause this, perhaps they are keing in on the red or orange dots as the bluegills this time of year get VERY bright and floresent dots on thier gills? I dont know the reasons, never will just sharing an observation and theory that I have been building.

What are some of your off the wall theories when it comes to bass fishing?

There's a very simple fix for the sharpness of the hooks..........drop Owner and whoever else you use, and use Gamakatsu. If you don't think that those are the sharpest hooks around, I will show you quite a few scars on my fingers from sticking myself on accident when tying them on.

Zippers, you have me researching to see if anyone has done more research on your idea. But, it would take me months to read everything I see links to in the archive of Journal of Fisheries and some other fisheries sources. I wonder whether the folks for that link I posted caught on to the red eye thing. They would probably have had to be there during the spawn, right? I didn't pay enough attention to notice when I saw red eyes on any but smallmouths or redeyes. Maybe when they get that smallie eye the males are super sensitive to red more than any other time. Most of what I've read so far backs up the cone & rod eye components belief by some pros that put their color perception almost equal to ours. The big difference is they can see in low light hundreds of times better, which fits what we've already seen in fishing magazines like in Bass Times, that bass are primarily sight feeders. Since they feed at night a lot they doubtless have a highly developed night vision for that. Very interesting, this stuff. Thanks for telling your theory. I have no doubt you are onto something there.

As for the dull red hooks, yes, most if not all are painted after sharpening, so they are dulled by a layer of paint. I clip that off the point with a pocket knife. As for me, if any hook out of the bag doesn't snag my fingernail I run an Arkansas novaculite whet stone over it to make it that way. Any brand of hook can be so sharpened in a few strokes. They cut those stones here in Hot Springs out of a quarry, in several grades from glass smooth hones to coarse grit.

I really don't bother buying red hooks anyway since I can do my own. One dip in Quick Coat Lure Dip in red does the trick, and that doesn't affect sharpness. I dip spinnerbait blades, jig heads, whatever. I have 5 colors plus neutral for changing colors. I think there's more, but I carry red, black, yellow, green, and blue. I mix colors to get orange, brown, purple, etc. If you decide to try it be sure to carry plenty of the neutral, as that's the only thing that will clean a spill off carpet. It'll even stain aluminum on the boat. The stuff runs about $5 a 4 oz bottle. I dip worms in it too, and have resurrected badly scraped crankbaits.

Jim

Well, I feel kind of hypocritical sometimes too, like not carrying Lucky Craft Pointers and such. I've had them, most given to me for helping campers learn or fix something, and fished them, but I won't buy. Like the red hook thing, I am not at all convinced they are twice as good as what I have already, basing the "twice" on price. Some folks can't believe I get by without the latest and best. I refuse to do things to make observers happy. Now, I do go out of my way to try out the latest in spoons and jigs, like the Scrounger and Vibrashock. As soon as this shoulder mends I'll be learning those baits.

Again, what works or doesn't work for you is YOUR deal. You have to build your own confidence in what you believe is 'best' for #1, not what I like or believe in. I think all our fishing discussions should be like you wouldn't let everyone around you tell you what courses to take in college, what career to go for, what truck to buy. We listen politely then decide for ourselves, as we are the one paying for the choices. I say just spit it out and stick to it until you are convinced you need to look deeper and maybe change. I still do a lot of things the way I did them in 1962 because they still work, so why have to change for the sake of changing.

Long post shortened a bit....you don't need to be apologetic here about your beliefs.

Jim

Quachita, dont know how deep the lakes you fish are but there are two luckycraft baits (well now three for me) that I cant be without for clear deep water lakes, the Staycee 90 and the Bevy Shad - I have had the same baits for Years now and they catch me great fish especially the spots I cant get both of them down to about 12-15' on a long line and thin line about 20' its just UNREAL. The other believer lucky craft made out of me was the BSD4 a RedandOrange Craw shallow crank I found this guy out on the delta and it has been UNREAL for me....maybe its just a "LuckyBait" I bought a few more but I am still throwing the one I found

That says to me there are baits that induce confidence, and some don't, one fisherman at a time. I have found two nearly new Pointers washed up on shore, tied them on and fished where intended to be fished, and if I remember right only caught chain pickerels and some large bluegills. I can't remember catching any bass worth mentioning. But, I might tie on a Rapala X-Rap and mop up on bass. When it comes time to sort and thin baits in a box I remember which caught, and which just swam, so many baits never get a long workout from me unless they produce quickly. You probably don't own one, but I carry and fish collectible Heddon River Runts in favor of the latest crankbaits. They are actually more expensive baits now than anything Lucky Craft offers. I can leave a big part of my confidence in them since they have caught by far most of my crankbait over the past 46 years. If I ever run out and can't find replacements I'll be in trouble and have to rebuild my confidence base. Those baits probably lack in the "perfect" action compared to today's engineered marvels, but those baits remain the least known among bass, and still fool them the same as they did day one.

The whole idea of confidence in red, or LC, custom built, whatever seems a lot like my wife prefers we eat out at Dixie Cafe here. I avoid the place because I come out hungry, while she has confidence she can guard her weight there. So it is Dixie is for some folks to enjoy, while I will drive on by. I see confidence in something for fishing to be based more on past experience than probably all other factors like peer recommendations, common sense, eye appeal, apparent 'perfect' action, bathtub tests, pro sponsorship, etc.

Jim

Interesting thread. I myself can say with CONFIDENCE that red lipless baits outwork other colors during the pre spawn and spawn period. Perhaps there is a correlation here?

BTW, the only time I have ever seen Bass with red eyes was a long time ago I went with my parents to Arkansas and fished in Ouachita lake I believe? and caught Bass that had a red ring around their eye. I was in my early teens and didn't know much back then, but I still have some pics of those fish and you can plainly see the red ring.

I guess I haven't noticed as much since as I honestly do not remember seeing red eyes in Bass since.

The color change in blue gills & crappie you see, & the change in the eyes on bass is caused by hormone changes for spawning. For the most part it seems that it is the males that change, at least that is what i noticed when I used to keep aquairiums.
Rodney

All three do darken colors for spawn, the colors more pronounced for a short while. Bass are a lot more dark green and darker "black" spots here then, real beauties. Within days of spawning they bleach back out big time.

Jim

The big females out west in clear water tend to turn lighter green just before spawning in lieu of darker green, the males have darker green backs. To be honest, I never noticed the eye color change, will watch for it this year.
I'm a believer in using red tone highlights on lures. My favorite jig color is black/purple/brown with a few strands of red crystal flash. Keep in mind that purple is a combination of red & blue and I also like purple and purple highlights.
Tom

KeithsCatch said:

Interesting thread. I myself can say with CONFIDENCE that red lipless baits outwork other colors during the pre spawn and spawn period. Perhaps there is a correlation here?

BTW, the only time I have ever seen Bass with red eyes was a long time ago I went with my parents to Arkansas and fished in Ouachita lake I believe? and caught Bass that had a red ring around their eye. I was in my early teens and didn't know much back then, but I still have some pics of those fish and you can plainly see the red ring.

I guess I haven't noticed as much since as I honestly do not remember seeing red eyes in Bass since.

Not sure Keith but this sounds like KY Bass or Rock Bass, as they always have red rings around there eyes, Generally a lot smaller than typical LM bass. I could be wrong though, it has happened before.lol

Sure does. Goggle Eye or Rock Bass, Kentucky's, and smallies are the only one's I've ever seen with red rings in the eyes. Never have seen a largemouth with them, even bedding fish......

Yeah that is right I bet you those were Kentucky Bass I caught. Pretty cool though.

Here in Georgia, there are bass that are called "red eyes". I have caught juvenile largemouth bass that have had red eyes, but I never thought anything about it. If I get the chance and catch one, I will take photos of them. :cheers: