Red eyed largemouths

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:56 am

My partner and I fished Casitas last Friday, and three or four of our largemouths had red eyes, almost looking like smallie eyes.
I've never noticed that before, so I was wondering if it had to do with the spawn, or if that's normal for Floridas?
And, no, Ray, I don't think it was because they were up late drinking beer!

Rob Cummings · Post by **Rob Cummings** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:08 am

I've noticed that too and there have been a few where I've seen the eyes actually change turn red. It's mostly been swimbait fish in the clear water when you can see everything very clearly. It's when the fish was directly under a topwater bait and sitting there lookin at it, getting all worked up before he bites. That's what I've noticed but I don't know specifically why it happens either...pissed off maybe?

19X · Post by **19X** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:14 am

Thats the "Casitas I'll kick Your ***" stink eye your gettin

These fish know most of you guys by sight, and some "Doug Pee on My Boat" by smell

It's pure attitude, thats why we love and hate Lake Casitas.

John Barron · Post by **John Barron** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:58 pm

We all know that Bass don't drink beer. But it is springtime and the spawn is on so they may have been out late chasing the ladies! I know I have spring fever real bad right now and my eyes are red.
jb

Ron C · Post by **Ron C** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:02 pm

During the spawn, the males become extremely aggressive and protective of the nest, eggs, larvae, and ultimately the fry. Their eyes turn red when they attack any intruders. It is a natural phenomenon which some biologists believe occurs to make them appear more intimidating to the intruders. Once the spawn is finished, this stops occurring.

When Timothy was five years old, he asked me that exact question. I told him that during the spawn, the male bass got so mad at the intruders that they had "fire in their eyes". He still remembers this even today.

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:36 pm

Maybe these fish saw 19X in his pink thong, so what your really seeing is "pink eye"

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:25 pm

Ron,
Thanks for the info. Jonathan Ashcraft said the same thing. You know how great minds think alike.
Lance,
Please don't spoil a perfectly good spawn with those images! Talk about chasing them off the beds! They might run all the way to NoCal to get away from that!

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:04 pm

Your right Mark that is a bad image, sorry it wont happen again

19X · Post by **19X** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:22 am

Just for that Lance i'm wearin my thong all day tommorrow, imagine the view for Dougy all day

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:43 pm

Ohhhhh not good. Let me give you some advise, ya better have some heavy line. Once those fish see the thong at the boat, there going to surge under the boat breaking you off.