What Is Wrong With This Fish?

[RHuff]

Dad caught a nice little bass the other evening in southern WV on a white Colorado Bladed spinnerbait with a brown pork trailer. When he held it up we noticed it was bleeding but didn't have evidence of any trama. The blood appeared to be coming out of the fish's tail fin. Anybody have any ideas?

[F14A-B]

Albeit very confused.. protist Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating amoeba".

[poisonokie]

I always think parasites like leeches when I see that

[gardnerjigman]

Most fish I've seen like that live in brush/rocks. I assume it's from the environment it lives. I read an article one that said bass will fan rocks and other cover to stir up forage such as craws. Don't know if it's true, but I'm sticking with it.

[RHuff]

Come to think of it, this fish was near heavy cover around a couple of fallen trees and a good sized beaver dam about 20 yards away at the bank. He said he felt like he got hung up and when he jerked it loose the strike hit about 3 seconds later. Wonder if the fish hurt itself when going in for the bite? But also, there are no signs of trama anywhere either.

[lectricbassman]

Ive seen it on spawning fish, it looks like healing wounds to me, possibly scar tissue also

[CDMeyer]

First thing I thought of was parasites

[*Hank]

First thing I thought of was parasites

Me to.

[the reel ess]

EEEEWWWW!!! Bass cooties! I don't know the cause, but I've caught a lot like that on public lakes. Always assumed it was caused by pollution, outboards, jet skis and stress. I don't see it in ponds I fish now. I do see some chewed up tail fins during spawn. But those look like lesions.

[Raul]

I don´t know what´s wrong, but that can be solved ----> dear Mr Sick Bass meet Mrs Frying Pan and put the little critter out of it´s misery.

[RHuff]

The fish looked very skinny for its size. I think it had just spawned and is healing up from that.

[Bluebasser86]

Usually the spawning wear and tear on a bass' tail is on the bottom half of the tail like this one,

 

 

That looks like something I see pretty often when it gets hot out that I assume is just an infection but not positive if that's what it actually is. 

[BadBassWV]

I've always heard it is parsites from the weeds.  Happens in the summer when the water gets hotter and the fish bury up in the weeds. Don't know where I heard it but it made since.

[Mswen]

This time of year, I'm thinking parasites.  Around here I see yellow parasites in the fins and meat of bass and sunfish.  I do see fish that have had their tails and pectorals nipped and pecked, especially after the spawn, or in waters that are heavily stocked (esp trout).  It also makes sense that they could have some damage from fanning gravel, but fins typically don't bleed, unless you cut them right at the base.  They're kind of like hair or fingernails.