Sharp teeth on bass lately?

[JFlynn97]

Lately almost all of the bass I catch seem to have sharper teeth than I'm used to feeling, after just a couple of fish my thumb is torn up and red and sore. Does anyone know why this is? 

[Fairtax4me]

Not totally sure but it seems to always happen in spring. Bass go on a growing streak, eating lots of small bait fish, new teeth grow and the tiny bait have very soft scales so it takes very little effort to eat them. 

 

Conversely when bass are eating craws or other bottom baits, their teeth get worn and are not as sharp. 

[geo g]

I think the thumb is not in prime condition for summer fishing.

[Russ E]

1 hour ago, geo g said:

I think the thumb is not in prime condition for summer fishing.

I agree with this. I have noticed a raw thumb is based on number of fish lipped, over time of year.

[Paul Roberts]

Interesting. Dunno. I've heard a number of theories, but none put to test/measure. The seasonal growth idea might make sense, but... have never really looked at it. The "based on sheer numbers of fish" sounds like the made to order alternative hypothesis.

[The Bassman]

Evolution. DNA morphing to create a defense mechanism against the evolving skills of bass fishermen so we won't want to handle them.

[CroakHunter]

I've always thought it was because they were grown back from being dulled from eating craws in the spring so they get longer/sharper by eating baitfish/worms/lizzard/frogs 

[WRB]

Bass don't use their lip teeth to eat anything, they kill the critter by crunching between the tongue and rough of the mouth. Lip teeth are used to grip baitfish from escaping before swallowing head first. My guess is you are catching larger size bass that have longer lip teeth.

Tom

 

[Soflobassing]

I think it could be because of spawning, maybe sonething with the hormones in the fish?

?

[boostr]

I've noticed this yesterday, when I caught the male that was courting the fat lady... Always has to be the male, the fat girl wont even fake a wiff.

[bhoff]

I would guess that it has something to do with the feeding patterns of the fish. Perhaps the fact that the fish are eating less while guarding the beds. Whereas before they spawn they would be eating a lot wearing their teeth down.

[QUIET_DOLPHIN21]

On 5/27/2018 at 4:20 PM, JFlynn97 said:

Lately almost all of the bass I catch seem to have sharper teeth than I'm used to feeling, after just a couple of fish my thumb is torn up and red and sore. Does anyone know why this is? 

They tend to grow teeth or teeth like things when they eat softer prey items.if they eat more hard food like crayfish they don't need them but if they eat small baptism, frogs and mice that cross Lilly pads they grow the teeth which works almost like velcro to grip the prey so it can't escape and if they only eat soft food from a younge age they can sometimes actually grow their bristle things into harder almost actual tooth like spikes. I've caught 1 or 2 like this and In this rare case it can actually perpetrate skin and hurt pretty good. Normally though they're just really rough and will give u bass thumb faster like striper bass in salt water. If they have actual teeth like a pike you may possibly be getting walleye and mistaken it for a bass maybe? But that's why some have small to medium teeth ir really hard and large bristle things. Also it's more common on small mouth(fresh water), calico (fresh water) and striper(salt water) bass vs a large mouth(fresh water)

[QUIET_DOLPHIN21]

Just noticed this was from 2018 lol sorry. New to the site. Didn't see any reply though so this could potentially help somebody in the near future come next fishing season, or if you never got an answer for that question you will know now! so might not be a completely wasted reply lol.