Seems I have been catching more  smallies with spots this year than times past. All have been upwards of 3 pounds and more. Is anyone else catching them with spots. 

I've caught a few over the last 5 years. Not a good thing but also not serious. I know its happening across the U.S. with both smallies and largemouths. 

I caught a few in CT with those spots but clear in WA and now TN

I have caught about 6 with spots in the last 2 weeks. I just don`t remember the spots from long ago where I fish.I know its not harmful to them.

C22

Hyperpigmented melanosis, it's harmless to the fish. 

Pretty common on the rivers I fish here in Penna. I find them to be on fish that start to get to a chunk or respectable size. Never see those marks on dinks and runts. I read somewhere along the line that they are a healthy thing and nothing to be concerned with. Correct me if I'm wrong or if you find out differently.

Interestingly I read a post about the same thing on LMB and a bit of research indicated that it seemed to be relative to catch and release.  While the logic seems sound, it also seems to me there is more at play here than just CPR.  Seeing certain tributaries more impacted than others, along with a certain rise in reports could be attributed to more CPR and more social media sharing coupled with regions where CPR by choice or legality is more prevalent - but I think there would need to be more studies to really lock that in.  I'm kind of suspicious that there is another cause, or at the minimum another impacting factor.

 

Got a little quick on the submit -- I challenge the CPR being the main culprit as if so then we would see this a TON on small private ponds where the fish are almost exclusively CPR.  I've not seen that, nor have I heard reports of that being the case.  I know some would assert that you handle your own fish more carefully, but kids will be kids regardless -- I cannot imagine that fish handling would be so drastically different, consistently enough, to make a valid counter.  It would seem to reason that if CPR is the primary cause, fish that are exclusive to that would be the most impacted...small ponds "should" be in the forefront for this and would have been so for many years.  Something just doesn't add up...