lately i have been wondering why different bass from different ponds/areas are colored differently..i read somwere that it has to do with the color of the water they live in.f that is true why is it,,and also why do fish at differnet parts of a pond i fish sometimes have differnet colors even if its 10 acres at most from another

I believe it has to do with water clarity and the depth of the water.  

I have been thinking about this for a couple of years now and have developed two theories - but don't know how to check either one out.  1st theory is that it has to do with the forage that they are eating -- if you could pick up a clue from the color of the fish this would be a big help.  The 2nd theory is that it has to do with the pH of the water.

I know that someone will steer this conversation to depth and light penetration -- but what I am getting from this is that the overall hue of the fish is different from one body of water to the next and, as noted above, even in different parts of the same body of water.  Looking for any info on this subject.

The more light penetration , the lighter color the bass will be.

I agree with Bass-Brat.  Bass change their hue to blend in with their surroundings.  

I have seen schools of good size bass 5-7lb. in different colors. Some very light and others very dark

all in the same spot. Bass also change their coloration depending on their mood or if they are getting ready to spawn or at least that's what i observed.

The more light penetration , the lighter color the bass will be.

Hmph that's wild, because in my experience full pigmentation requires full sunlight.

The palest, most colorless bass I've ever seen came from Mercer Lake, New Jersey,

at the time it was a perennially murky lake (muddy) with less than one-foot of visibility.

In contrast, the most beautiful bass I've ever seen with dark mossy backs, bright white underparts

and pronounced black lateral lines were in Rainbow Springs, Florida, a crystal-clear river with water visibility near 20 ft.

Roger

Match the hatch is a good way to start use ghost colors for clear water then the darker the water gets the darker the lure and more vibration is needed when in doubt use basic Shad colors first almost all water has some sort of Panfish so use those colors such as Firetiger, Bluegill, Crappie and Sunfish colors as well.

Match the hatch is a good way to start use ghost colors for clear water then the darker the water gets the darker the lure and more vibration is needed when in doubt use basic Shad colors first almost all water has some sort of Panfish so use those colors such as Firetiger, Bluegill, Crappie and Sunfish colors as well.

He's talking about bass colors not lure colors!

I have a book here about smallmouth and in it they talk about the different colors of the fish.  They show a fish in one picture and it has been in a holding tank that was well lit and then in the next picture it had been in the shade and it color was dramatically different.  It is a natural pigment change they go through.

The more light penetration , the lighter color the bass will be.

I'd have to say that I don't agree with that.  In the ponds I fish the darker muddy water always seems to hold light colored almost pale fish, as the clearer water holds darker, greener fish.

If the sun can't get through the water to the fish they can't get a nice tan.  Makes sense to me.   ;D