Sorry this took so long to respond, but I've been busy, and this took a back burner.  I had a suspicion about a parasite I've seen in pond fish, mainly goldfish and ornamental carp, but I've seen it go widespread in other "mixed species" ponds as well.

They look to be secondary infections caused by anchor worms, Lernaea sp.  The females look like a "Y" with the base stuck in the fish.  The two legs of the "Y" are egg sacs.  The site where the parasite attacks usually gets infected, and the swelling is that secondary infection.

Here is a link to an image showing the little critters.  They are a around a cm in length: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/LacrosseFishHealthCenter/Images/Anchorworms.JPG

The life cycle of anchor worms is 20 days @ 70°F.  So, in the warmer climes, it wouldn't be unusual to see the infections, but not the parasite.

If there are coldwater species mixed with the bass, such as koi, goldfish, comets, etc.  I would say that is the source.  The parasite usually runs rampant in a stressful environment, where many environmental parameters are not optimal.  Heat, or huge temperature fluctuation, with no ideal water retreats would one stress that might cause an outbreak.  Otherwise, it could be just one sick fish.

If you catch anymore, I'd say sacrifice it, put it on ice, and bring it to either the TPWD or your biologist friend for further analysis.  You wouldn't want that honey hole of yours to crash and burn.

JFrancho,

If I catch another sick one I'm going to sacrifice it and my biologist relative is going to open it up and confirm the issue.

Thanks for all your input.

Do either of you remember if those little brown things were attached to the body of the fish, or were they just debris from the water?  They really look the female anchor worms.  The puffy, swollen areas near the caudal peduncle (base of the tail) are what is left behind.  The fishes body encapsulates the resultant infection in order to keep from spreading into a systemic infection.

just debris from the water

A container with lake water?  :-?

Why would you need to do that, your standing right next to the lake!

A container with lake water? :-?

Why would you need to do that, your standing right next to the lake!

some of the shoreline is either very steep or is a rock wall that is 3ft above the water.

snapping turtle