I sometimes fish a small pond (couple of acres) and the past few months have notices that all of the bass I catch have something strange in common...they all have red places along the edges of their lips.  It almost looks like they have worn them raw somehow.  Otherwise, they seem healthy but I am still a little worried.  I've never seen anything like it.  What on Earth would be causing this.  

Welcome Aboard Fellow Mountaineer!!!

I have noticed the same thing in a few ponds over the years.  Probably nothing to worry about, only feeding wounds or something simple if the bass seem healthy otherwise.  Hope you decide to stick around for a while.  We need more hillbillies.  

Probably nothing to worry about, only feeding wounds

Yeah, thats what I've heard before.

Welcome aboard

Does your pond have a rocky bottom?  I've seen this happen on bass that forage by flipping over/moving stones.

I've seen this alot with bass that are rootin for crawdads.

I've seen this alot with bass that are rootin for crawdads.

That would be my guess too.

There are a handful of things that can make this happen, all are natural and all are harmless.  

It's like if you have a tan.  It's not how you usually look but it is normal for someone who has been in the sun.  It's just a by-product of what you've been up to.  Same with the red lips.

and Welcome Aboard!!

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds likely

you can always ask the bass professor for a 10th opinion

WELCOME, Bass44 to the BEST bass fishing forum on the Net, IMO! IF those bass you are catching would stop KISSING each other, then their lipstick wouldn't smear and be spotty:o) Seriously, though, the other guy's answers are most likely more correct than mine. Ahgagagaga!!

Welcome aboard!

We're getting close to spawn. Maybe the girls

are just getting ready for a date and putting on

a little lipstick!

Nothing to worry about.

8-)

It does look as if they have been digging around in something for food.  That worried me because I thought maybe it meant they were having a tough time finding it.  Seems to be plenty of bluegill, though.  Glad to hear its nothing of concern.  Thanks for the quick responses.

Yes, it is good to be here.  Most forums you just get flamed for posting.  People just call you a noob and assume you have no idea what your saying because you don't live your life on the internet and your post count isn't six digits.  To tell the truth, that was what I expected to get.  Glad to see that isn't the case here.

That will never be the case here.

8-)

Welcome!