Bloody tail

[Rydaddy]

The fish I put i my boat this weekend all had a bloody tail what does this mean on beds were on beds 2 shallow one was way of shore I was at contra loma a lake in antioch they lowered the water way down I think the one way of shore was spawning and maybe stoped cause they lowered the water she still looked pretty fat 6 lbs I was wondering what about the tails fighting of little fish ?

[bassindon69]

Bloody fins can be a sign of stress, I think. I have caught them and it is not time to spawn and before I can get the bait out I start to see a little blood show in the fins. I believe I was told this was from stress, I guess I will go with that idea also. I only see one do this here and there.
This time of year many fish have scars and bloody fins too from the spawn.

Don.

[hunterdave]

Typically a bloody tail fin is a sign that the fish has been "sweeping" a bed. But I have also heard the same as bassindon, can be a sign of stress.