I watched @A-Jays latest video about the kayak angler catching his PB.  Hearing mention of putting that smallmouth in the livewell for a few minutes, to bring back it's markings was a revelation.  I fish from a canoe (or a borrowed tinner, or shore) and had noticed I wasn't catching any of those gorgeous tiger-marked smallmouth like so many other fellas do, especially out of Lake Ontario.   I'd assumed it was partly just my crappy photos, but now I get it - the fish are stressed right after the fight and turn dark/lose their markings.  Makes me sad to not get to admire my own good smallies and get better photos.  Just one more reason to want a bass boat with a livewell, I guess.

Early season (Pre-spawn) here this state's Regs require catch & immediate release.

So no fish in the live well until the 'possession' rules go into effect.

Either way, if & when your local regs allow it, even without a live well,

a few minutes along side your canoe with the fish in the net,

can go a long way to not only allow the fish of a life time to recover,

but you'll start to see much of the color come back into that beast as well.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

Actually the more vivid dark blotches coloration can indicate high stress levels with LMB just before they lose it and roll over. Livewells are also dark inside without light and low DO levels that impacts coloration. 

Tom

On 8/31/2022 at 7:55 AM, The Baron said:

I watched @A-Jays latest video about the kayak angler catching his PB.  Hearing mention of putting that smallmouth in the livewell for a few minutes, to bring back it's markings was a revelation.  I fish from a canoe (or a borrowed tinner, or shore) and had noticed I wasn't catching any of those gorgeous tiger-marked smallmouth like so many other fellas do, especially out of Lake Ontario.   I'd assumed it was partly just my crappy photos, but now I get it - the fish are stressed right after the fight and turn dark/lose their markings.  Makes me sad to not get to admire my own good smallies and get better photos.  Just one more reason to want a bass boat with a livewell, I guess.

Stinger only cost you $1 

What is a stinger?

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

What is a stinger?

Woops, stringer 

I find it interesting that Alabama Bass are always vivid, very little differences b/t the looks outside of size.    On the other hand LGM and Smallmouths can look a million shades of brown or green.   

 

Being a saltwater guy too, nothing compares to the lose of color on Maui Maui when boated.  Most of the saltwater gamefish "light up", especially Billfish.    The blue on a Blue Marlin is the most extreme blue you've seen by the boat.    

13 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

What is a stinger?

It's that pointy thingy on the rump of a wasp that will change the trajectory of your day!!

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Actually the more vivid dark blotches coloration can indicate high stress levels with LMB

I see very interesting, perhaps that suggests bass after the spawn on beds have pretty blotchy black markings, and in summer not as much?