I caught 2 bass this afternoon and both of them had extremely red lips.  Almost looked liked they had lip stick.  I believe this is a sign of what they are eating, but I am not sure what.  Or are these bass trying to doll themselves up for the spawn? ;D

That means that they're eating crawfish.

I wish I could catch 2 winter bass in Kansas... :'( its been really cold lately here in western Kansas but it was 70 degrees today, I didnt make it out fishing though.

As to the red lips i dont know why they would do that. the crawfish thing makes since but other than that i have no idea :-/

They were dolling up cuz they knew you were coming KU.  

They were dolling up cuz they knew you were coming KU.

You should have saw what I was wearing.  I think they were impressed.

I am not sure its because they have been eating crawfish but it might be. I think it is because they are feeding period and the cold water makes their mouth tender.

I am not sayin that you are wrong but i fish a pond that has no crawfish none. And there lips and mouths are really red i belive that they are feeding on shad or minnows, the cold also has something to do with it.  

I noticed the same thing this weekend,i went on saturday and every one that i or my partner caught had the red lips too. All these fish were feeding on shad.

I think its from a combination of feeding and cold water, because almost every bass I catch in the winter has blood-red lips but I never catch'em like that in any other season.

basspro, yup it starts to apear in the fall and all through out the winter

We catch 'em like that all the time.  Definately not a winter thing because I don't ice fish! lol

Lake has a strong crayfish/bluegill forage base.  No shad.

Its a winter thing I believe or crayfish cause I only get bass like that in the winter usually. Everyfish I got last week was puckering up those red lips. ;D

Either we don't get redlipped bass here in Florida, or it hasn't quite gotten cold enought yet.  Water temp is still in mid 60's.  I'll let y'all know if I see any

Red lipped bass?  

"you sure got a perty mouth ..."

 :-?

I'll be sure to pull this back up this summer.  We get them during all months with the perty lips.  

If I pump up the temp on my fish tank, my Oscar thinks it's spawn time and digs a nice nest.  This gives my fish the same red lips but only the bottom one.  He uses mouth like a shovel.

When we were catching them later in the year like that, we ruled out the spawn theory.  I firmly believe it's somthing in their diet at the time but it can't be shad because there are none in my lake.

Raul---dig out the med books.....what's up w/ this?

If I pump up the temp on my fish tank, my Oscar thinks it's spawn time and digs a nice nest. This gives my fish the same red lips but only the bottom one. He uses mouth like a shovel.

When we were catching them later in the year like that, we ruled out the spawn theory. I firmly believe it's somthing in their diet at the time but it can't be shad because there are none in my lake.

Largemouth bass do rip up their tails pretty bad during the spawn by making nests and they can turn red, but I ain't noticed their lips turning colors. At least, not when I was sober.

That's funny about your Oscar thinking it's spawning time when you change the temperature. I used to have an Oscar. Great fish!!! He'd come to the top and gently take the food out of my fingers.  I felt bad for him when he got too big for my tank so I (illegally) released him in a nearby lake. In Florida, I've heard that so many people have released Oscars into the wild and they have thrived so well, that they are now listed as an official Florida Freshwater Gamefish.

Though the crawfish theory sounded good at first, I looked back and noticed that none of the fish I catch have red lips. Even in the spring when thay feed prodominately on crawfish. I beleive it has more to do with water temps. Although there are an abundance of fish and other animals that their colors change due to the nutrients the enjest. One example would be aq flamingo, who's pink color is dependent on the type of shrimp and othe crustations they eat. I beleive it may have more to do with the water temps and such although I will ask a proffessor at school about it, he is an ictheologist, and a bass fisherman.  

that is just my opinion,

Peter

Aug 13th

Temps here in RI are around 80-90 in August.

Those lips are pretty, but the two fish I caught were prettier. ;D Bright Red. It really jumped out at you. I am going again this weekend. Hopefully I can catch a few and post some pics. As I recall, both the top and the bottom were red as well.

The crawfish theory makes sense.  Due to the hard shells, I can see how the lips would become irritated and tender.

Those lips are pretty, but the two fish I caught were prettier. ;D Bright Red. It really jumped out at you. I am going again this weekend. Hopefully I can catch a few and post some pics. As I recall, both the top and the bottom were red as well.

Mine were brighter to, i will get some pics this weekend. Somebody please find the answer to this its killin' me :-/

I had a good day today.  I checked all of the bass but no red lips.  I think it must be a temperature thing.

Avid, i thought i was temp too but LBH caught that one in 90 degree weather, i caught mine in about 25. I dont understand this?????

Maybe it's just a bass thing??  :-?

I recall both Bill Dance and Al Linder commenting on their shows that the red mouth is from eating shad.  A bass typically sucks in their prey but they still have to make sure their dinner goes down head first (lessens the chance on getting hurt from the prey's dorsal spines).