Blind Bass

[Paul Roberts]

Was observing my ponds today when I came upon this female bass heat-soaking in a little over a foot of water. What was interesting was that she had cataracts, yet was in great body condition. (Fish do get cataracts).

What's interesting is that bass are supposed to be primarily visual feeders. But they can adapt to poor visibility conditions. Now this pond is quite clear (~3-4 feet clarity), but this bass has adapted to it's presumably virtually sightless condition, and is apparently doing quite well.

I've seen this before, and even caught a large bass (21.5") that was blind in one eye, and in great condition. I also once spotted a large 22+" small stream brown trout that had two cataracts like the bass in this picture. It too was in fine condition, but made no attempt to hide itself under cover like any other large small stream brown would do.

This bass, unlike all the other heat-soakers today, allowed me to stalk right over top of her and take this photo. She's lucky there are no big catfish in this particular pond.

[moloch16]

Really neat, thanks for sharing!

[dmac14]

In my local ponds there is a fish that i presumably think is blind looks similar to that fish. Still over 5 pounds tho

[DINK WHISPERER]

HMMMMMMMM, i had no idea, cool info though!

[Rob G.]

It is not uncommon to catch bass, especially smallies here in the Miss. River that are blind in one eye due to injury.  We have caught them blind in both eyes before also.  Pretty amazing.

[SenkoShawn]

wow i never heard such a thing thats real neat. thanks for sharing that

[Shad_Master]

A couple of years ago when Chatter Baits first came out I was fishing a spillway pond that was really flowing - the water was choclate milk - I threw the ChB near a patch of grass and was watching the wake as I reeled in when all of a sudden another wake exploded out of the grass and slammed by lure - this fish had catarcts in both eyes and was able to track the lure just by the vibration.

[Paul Roberts]

Shad_Master, that's really neat. My next question, with fish like these is: How do they do it? I mean how do they close on something like a bluegill (which tend to be well aware of bass) without seeing, or being seen?

Considering her body condition, the above bass I photo'd shows no sign of compromise. She's catching bluegills -unless all she eats now are crayfish..

[bassmedic46]

Thats interesting, Thank you for sharing that information.

[nickb]

That is amazing! I had no idea that blind fish could survive at all. That is incredible.

[aarogb]

    Thanks for sharing that, now I can say I learned something today.

[zaraspook_dylan2]

Was observing my ponds today when I came upon this female bass heat-soaking in a little over a foot of water. What was interesting was that she had cataracts, yet was in great body condition. (Fish do get cataracts).

What's interesting is that bass are supposed to be primarily visual feeders. But they can adapt to poor visibility conditions. Now this pond is quite clear (~3-4 feet clarity), but this bass has adapted to it's presumably virtually sightless condition, and is apparently doing quite well.

I've seen this before, and even caught a large bass (21.5") that was blind in one eye, and in great condition. I also once spotted a large 22+" small stream brown trout that had two cataracts like the bass in this picture. It too was in fine condition, but made no attempt to hide itself under cover like any other large small stream brown would do.

This bass, unlike all the other heat-soakers today, allowed me to stalk right over top of her and take this photo. She's lucky there are no big catfish in this particular pond.

Wow, thats cool. How does this happen?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Goes to show ya we dont need a mill diff lures to catch regular bass,

[Steven Ladner]

Real cool... bass do have that extra 6th sense, their lateral line, which has to help out a lot

[Paul Roberts]

Just interesting I think. Lots to think about here.

Smallmouths are better suited to pursuit, which is more visual. Yet Rob G mentions catching sight compromised smallies. That's interesting.

Largemouths are slower, more tactical; cornering prey by positioning, habituation, and tactical ambush (not lie in wait), and especially under attenuated light. This blind bass shows how much this capability can play out. I bet it has learned to hunt at night, and very dark days -which isn't all that out of the ordinary for normal bass.

Light levels mean a lot in our fishing, and I've always wondered how much of this is due to bass perceiving something wrong with our presentations, versus how much is their own inactivity or unwillingness to expend energy to capture prey that can see and evade them. I've seen both at work in my fishing and observing.

It appears that sight is less important than I'd suspected.

Goes to show ya we dont need a mill diff lures to catch regular bass

Yes! Those are to catch anglers not fish. That's not new, but this blind bass does make you think about what exactly closes the deal.

[Bassnajr]

Cool photo!!!

I wouldn't say the fish is "blind" per se. If fish cataracts are like human cataracts, the fish would be able to see shadows, light, movement, etc. but not clearly what it was going after. This would explain why the fish are in such good shape. That and the lateral line!!!!

[weaver]

Over here in oz i have seen the same thing, fish with cataracts and blindness due to injury continuing to thrive no matter the conditions.

There is one particular fish i have caught local that is blind in one eye and has graced me three times with its appearence,

Two out of the three times the lure has been hit on the blind side.

Also have caught bream in the brine with serious cataracts in clear salt water bays, they are virtually visual feeders but this old guy still is able to feed.

Vibration and scent would have to play a part in these circumstances.

[Dalton Tam]

I have cought a few bass like that but never actually knew what the deal was. Thnx for the info it was interesting.

[mrlitetackle]

i've seen'em blind in one eye many of times,

but both......??

quite interesting....

seems to be doing well too....

thanks for sharing, never would have thought it was possible.

[Paul Roberts]

I wouldn't say the fish is "blind" per se. If fish cataracts are like human cataracts, the fish would be able to see shadows, light, movement, etc. but not clearly what it was going after.

Could be. But, I was able to stand almost directly over this fish on a brilliantly sunny day, and snap several photos. This was the only bass I was able to get anywhere near that day. In fact, there was a smaller one (~12" presumed male) with it, that spotted me and disappeared before I got very close. It appeared as though this female had no idea I was there.

Also, human cataracts are usually treated before they get really bad. This fish's eyes were opaque white, as if completely scarred over.

[carrothead]

Never knew that.  Great post!

[Paul Roberts]

Not sure if many are interested in this sort of thing, but I find it fascinating...

I was back doing my pond checks again, and she was there again, same location but 6 feet from where she held yesterday. I actually wondered if she might turn up dead; who knows, maybe she was sick?

I watched as a 3inch diameter branch drifted over her, wondering if the shadow would spook her. She didn't budge. I threw a few small rocks at her; she didn't budge. I got a long stick scrambled down to her (not quietly) and went to poke her (don't think I actually touched her, but was very close) and she bolted -very fast, but only about 4 feet, and buried into the low coontail. I could still see her, but she seemed satisfied ;D. She reminded me of a bullhead scrambling down into the weeds. An odd fish, but again, perfectly capable it appears.

I also got the chance to watch some bass hunting bluegills. It was pretty neat to see. The 10 bass (13" to 18") were in loose groups sometimes grouped together sometimes separating. Sometimes the 'gills avoided the bass, sometimes they stayed put and let the bass swim through. The 'gills (mostly 4-5 inchers) appeared less worried about the smaller (13-14") and most concerned with the larger (16-18"). It seemed to all be about the bass identifying a suitable target, which I couldn't ascertain what that was. But it appeared the bass and gills knew.

I saw two "chases": One of the 18"s apparently caught a 'gill after a fast 8 foot long bolt in which I didn't see the target. I saw her handling something (flashing mouth) afterward. The second was when three bass moved a group of 'gills toward another (not on purpose I believe) and when the gills realized this they turned back and one of the three bass quickened its pace moving right up close to the gills, which quickened their pace too. The bass then broke off, as if the set-up wasn't quite right.

It appeared the bass movements were random, and opportunities for an attack either presented themselves or didn't. Although some bass intermittently grouped and moved together, they didn't appear to coordinate this movement or at least plan ahead. It appeared the bass were constantly sizing up the individual gills around them, and looking for an opportunity. Now this was all under bright lighting bright sun.

Now, how might a blind bass accomplish this?? It would have to get close enough to feel prey, and this would most probably have to happen under very low light. The part of the lateral line system at the jaw and cheeks are very sensitive and directionally accurate. Get food close enough and that prey item is dinner. The trick is to get close enough.

[tennwalkinghorse]

wow i never heard such a thing thats real neat. thanks for sharing that

2X Thanks for the info

[Team9nine]

I've caught quite a few "blind" bass over the years, some singularly blinded and others double-blinded. So they certainly can live without some eyesight and get along under many circumstances. Your pictured fish and its size is also proof of that. That said, studies show that completely "blinded" bass suffer a 20% reduction in their ability to feed successfully in controlled conditions, probably greater in the wild, and would therefore suffer a competitive disadvantage which could prove fatal in some scenarios.

-T9

[NYfishwow]

neat article paul thanks  8-)