I don't tend to catch too many smallmouth but the ones I have caught here in Indiana and in Tennessee have been like the ones in RW's avitar (only smaller).  They have a large amount of bronze and red striping but the one I caught today had no striping at all and instead of being bronze it was solid red.  Out of the freshwater fish I have caught, it had one of the most vicious strikes I have encountered.  It weighed 3lb 4oz and was the best looking fish I have ever caught.  I have looked online and have found no photos of what I caught.

Sorry I am being a little vague but it did look like a smallmouth but again no stripes just solid red.  Any ideas what it was?  I am going to continue to research online to see what I can find.

Thanks for any of your thoughts and ideas.

This photo is similar but again solid red not stripe or markings around the eye.

Maybe it was in an agitated state.  Here in Mo if you catch a smallie that reaction strikes it is a light brown but if you hit an area where they are feeding they are all chocolate and hit the bait like Gang Busters.

Depending on the temp of the water the fish will also have a variation in color.  By your description i would say it was a smallie.  To bad you didnt have a pic of it.  I will tell you that they fight like monsters ... thats why i love em.

SteveL

I agree, they do fight amazingly! it seems as if the smallies change color way more that largemouth do, especially when put into a livewell for any period of time. It only takes minutes and there is a noticeable color change.

Here is a 17" largemouth and a 19-1/2" smallie. The largemouth looks normal but the smallmouth has a lot of color compared to when I actually caught it.

Well, it sounds like a buffalo to me. They fight EXACTLY like a smallmouth except they do not jump.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_fish