HAHA! got you didn't I. Ok seriously I have recently caught 2 largemouth that looked like they had on red lipstick. Has anyone seen this before?

No, the ones I catch are usually wearing mascara.  :

Not that I recall but I do have 3 questions.

1.Was it at night?

2.Were they females?

3.Were they keepers! ;D

Sorry but I just couldn't resist

The red lips are still a mystery.  Lots of assumptions but nothing proven.  Some say it is from rooting food from gravel, some say it's from eating craws, etc.....

Nothing proven yet.

You can put lipstick on a bass...but it's still a bass.

You can put lipstick on a bass...but it's still a bass.

I stand corrected,lmao,...this has been proven.

You guys are funny. I would not put lipstick on a Bass. Maybe a carp I would.

You guys are funny. I would not put lipstick on a Bass. Maybe a carp I would.

I hear ya, Bass are pretty enough.. 8-) :-* 8-)

They probably thought you were Jimmy Houston.

My mom always told me to stay away from the bass that wear a lot of make up .

Not that i would put much stock in Charlie Moore, but he has stated on his show bass with red lips were "feeding". :-?

Oookay -Funny stuff, but I have to get serious...

LowBudgetHooker:

The red lips are still a mystery.  Lots of assumptions but nothing proven.  Some say it is from rooting food from gravel, some say it's from eating craws, etc.....

Nothing proven yet.

I see this in late winter and early spring, and it recedes rapidly as waters' warm -well prior to the spawn. The jaws (tooth patches really) appear flushed with blood 9within the capillaries). Why? I dunno. I've heard the same reasons LBH mentions. I don't think it's that though. I've caught  crayfish-filled bass in summer and they don't have this.

This is the first time I've heard of this in the fall. Or, I 'spose I just never noticed.

I've been catching them with 'red lips' too.  I've also caught more than a few that look like they're spawning again with bloody tails.  Will they spawn a second time?  I've heard it can happen, never really seen it until this year.

I've been catching them with 'red lips' too.  I've also caught more than a few that look like they're spawning again with bloody tails.  Will they spawn a second time?  I've heard it can happen, never really seen it until this year.

I've heard it can happen too, but I've never seen it, and don't expect to.

I was always perplexed by photos of the "bloody" tails on bass described as spawning bass. A lot if not all of these big bass were most likely females, and females don't do the nest digging.

My guess is that the red lips and tails are hormonal in nature, maybe from the development of gonads, (which begins in fall) rather than from either eating crayfish, or spawning.

My guess is that the red lips and tails are hormonal in nature, maybe from the development of gonads, (which begins in fall) rather than from either eating crayfish, or spawning.

Yeah, I can't believe it is from eating crayfish, but I still don't discount a late spawn.  In the spring I catch them with bloody tails and red mouths... You mention that it is hormonal, and a spawn is certainly a hormonal event... This is the first I've seen this behavior in the fall, and if not a true spawn, this might be a 'dry run' or false spawn for some younger fish, or since the temps are similar to spring temps right now, it might be an ill timed spawn.  I haven't seen any beds, but the water is stained where I fish, and even in the spring around here I rarely see the beds.  

It is interesting.  I'm gonna look for beds the next time I go.

I have been noticing this lately too. It must have to do with them putting on the feedbag for the up-coming winter. Their lips are red and their bellys FAT!!!!

ajr

I caught one yesterday that was more blue then green...it was interesting.