Caught a Bass male or female?

[airborne_angler]

The other day I caught a decent bass,I immediately noticed the bottom of its tail fin was,red worn and looked like it would be sore.

Im thinking this was a male...Correct?

Its July,the spawn is long over,how long does it take for the tail to heal?

[fishincop640]

I was always told a good way to tell is the bottom "lip" if you will will be more of a point on a male and more rounded on a female.  I fish in Central PA where we don't get the big big bass like some others do!!   We do have OK fishing though, can't complain.

[airborne_angler]

I have always been told that the male "Fans" the nest so thats where the raw tail comes from. Thats why im thinking it was a male I caught.

[Paul Roberts]

I'm not aware of a way of sexing bass, outside of the spawn. There was a method developed by a biologist measuring anus size, but in the end it apparently didn't hold up.

It's true that males do the nest prep. Dunno how long it lasts, haven't really made notes on it. But tail wear can come about another way. It's really common in large brown trout that hold in cover, so I assume that it could explain some tail/fin wear in LM too:

Big browns holding in cover get worn tails from frequently getting abraded against hard substrate like wood, rock, or gravel. For trout this is most common on the tail, and the lower lobe seems more common. I've wondered if bass could get this.

[WRB]

You can't tell the sex of LMB by looking at them without dissection or extracting eggs or milt.

The male bass selects and builds the nest and rarely damages it tail as a result. The fact the male stays around the nest for weeks and the females for only hours to lay eggs indicates tail damage isn't caused by nest building.

Tail damage is a result of slim coat being removed when the female is laying eggs. The female rolls on it's side and makes hard contractions to release the eggs. The tail can get bacteria infection or parasite damage that can last a life time.

WRB

[Paul Roberts]

I had mentioned in the past that I had not seen seen/noticed tail wear on spawning males. This year I paid attention some and saw bloodied tails on some what I believe were likely tending males. One that did not have a bloodeid tail I believe was a female, the reasons I think this I'll share in a minute.

I do not know if the bloodied tails were due to spawning activity directly. I sort of doubt it -that is from nest prep and egg tending. Most LM I've watched tend eggs with their pelvics and body rotations. This on good substrate. In muddier siltier locations this may be different.

WRB is right that infections are an issue during the spawn. I've spent considerable time observing spawning bass (not fishing em) and Late in the spawn infections are noticeable -in my case it was fungal infections. But I mostly saw these as small spots on the body. I know Tom once caught a monster bass that was essentially missing its tail.

Anyway, I believe I sexed a LM by "noticing sumpin"...

(It's from a previous thread I posted)

Spotting pattern (2008 fish)

OK -noticed something else cool about those close-ups:

In 2008 you can see the lower arrow not only points out a pigment spot, but a tiny scar too. In 2009 there are two more small scars just caudal (right) of the 2008 scar. Anyone know what these might be from? I think I do.

Ah....the supense builds....

I believe they are from a male butting/nipping her during courtship. (Anglers have called this behavior "loosening up the eggs" -but I doubt that's the function.) The scars are in the right location. Some males are very aggressive with this. This tells me this bass is indeed a female.

For those who like to "notice stuff" about bass, here's the thread:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1251317530/0

[airborne_angler]

So then its hogwash when a Professional Fisherman on TV catches a Bass and sexes it based on the condition of the tail? Ive seen this many times,thats why I ask.

[Paul Roberts]

That appears to be a an old wife's tale. Unless WRB is right that females are more susceptible to tail damage/infections than males during the spawn. I just haven't seen that myself. It might just be larger bass in general?

[32251]

Wave a diamond ring in front of it.  Females will try to bite it, males will keep tight lipped.  ;D

[WRB]

Bass are neutral buoyant and their shape helps to prevent tail dragging when swimming normally. The spawning ritual is a different activity than any other during the yearly cycle; nest building and egg laying activities can cause the tail to contact the bottom and damage the slim coat. The slim coat is the basses outer defense system to protect it from diseases. It's a hazardous life for bass and they get damage as a result of living. Tail damage is factor in the basses life cycle, some have severe damage and other no damage. Trying to sex a bass based on tail damage alone is a coin toss; the odds favor the female having tail damage because they lay eggs several times during each spawning cycle.

WRB

[Paul Roberts]

Bass are neutral buoyant and their shape helps to prevent tail dragging when swimming normally. The spawning ritual is a different activity than any other during the yearly cycle; nest building and egg laying activities can cause the tail to contact the bottom and damage the slim coat. The slim coat is the basses outer defense system to protect it from diseases. It's a hazardous life for bass and they get damage as a result of living. Tail damage is factor in the basses life cycle, some have severe damage and other no damage. Trying to sex a bass based on tail damage alone is a coin toss; the odds favor the female having tail damage because they lay eggs several times during each spawning cycle.

WRB

Makes sense. Good post Tom.

[Red Bear]

I was always told a good way to tell is the bottom "lip" if you will will be more of a point on a male and more rounded on a female.

this is what i heard too. the males have a more pointy lip and the females more rounded. i heard it on strike king pro team journal i believe...