Why is this bass orange?

[Fairtax4me]

So I’ve caught bass that have yellowish coloration before. I know that FL strain bass tend to have yellow coloring. Have caught plenty of those, and they’re usually pretty distinct. 

I’ve never caught any bass that was this color before. 

This fish came from a Cold mountain water lake. About 40 acres, mid to upper 50s water temp, with clean clear water. Between my buddy and I, we caught probably a dozen fish on this trip that had this type of color. Very prominent Bright Orange on the lips, mouth, fins, and belly. Basically anywhere on a bass that would normally be white, these were orange like they been eating Cheetos. 

We caught a few that were sort of in between, and all the rest (majority of the fish we caught) were normal colored northern strain LMB. 

I just don’t know what would cause this kind of coloration. Anybody? 

[MN Fisher]

"You are what you eat."

 

Could be any number of things, from bright colored crayfish to inhaling colored mud from eating from the bottom of the lake.

[geo g]

Beautiful fish!

 

[JVM]

It could be a mix between a peacock bass in a Florida strain Bass. Peacocks are often orange around the mouth like that look em up.

[MIbassyaker]

Xanthism?

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Xanthism+bass&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkq_mBn8zlAhVHC6wKHej3AcsQ_AUIEygD&biw=1366&bih=665

[FishTank]

Wow.  Just when I think I have seen it all..... I have never seen a bass like that.   Very cool and an incredible catch.

[Brad Reid]

That's a new sub-species . . . called a "Trump Bass."

 

It has that characteristic orange hue, a larger mouth than most other bass, first discovered to exist only in NY . . . but some say it is now migrating to Florida.

 

Brad

[Fairtax4me]

On 11/2/2019 at 3:13 PM, MIbassyaker said:

Xanthism?

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Xanthism+bass&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkq_mBn8zlAhVHC6wKHej3AcsQ_AUIEygD&biw=1366&bih=665

Thanks! That really sounds like it, though these weren’t quite as bright as some of the other pictures there! 
 

 

[The Bassman]

Probably not related but I do notice that a lot of my bass get yellowish highlights as winter approaches.

[Falkus]

That's pretty one there .....

[FLAGATOR49]

An Omega 3 rich diet is most likely your answer with the bass feeding on fatty fish. Feel the basses belly to see if its crunchy, that would indicate a Crawfish diet. The stain/temperature of the water can also cause a different appearance.