How dark is it under a thick algae mat? How long does a bass have to stay under the mat to turn black in color? And What does it mean when your catching really light colored bass out of the grass?And in the summer, it seems like some of my bites are from bass laying close to the bottom or even on the bottom around scattered grass, anyone ever see this?

my experience fish out of very stained water are much lighter in color than bass out of normal water.

so i guess deep shade triggers their skin like dirty water.

Not sure the exact time frame it takes for bass to get darker. But the lighter fish in the grass usually means that they have recently moved into that cover. The lighter colored bass are usually from deeper water or haven't been in the weeds for very long.

As far as them being on the bottom. It's very common for them to hold on bottom or close to the bottom, especially after a cold front.

In my experience.

Dark bass = shallow/clear water.

Light bass = deep/dirty water.

Very green bass = grass/vegetation

browner bass = lots of wood/ other brown structure.

Their color seems to adapt to their surroundings.

Algae isn't a weed, so you mean grass or weed mat!

High acidic water the bass tend to be very dark in color, high alkaline lighter green coloration. Most reservoirs will be about 7ph or drinking water, the bass tend to be classic coloration. Bass can and do adapt their coloration somewhat to help camouflage with the shadows or bright clear water.Color changes takes a few weeks.

Tom.