Need help with fish indentification?

[FishTank]

I don't tend to catch too many smallmouth but the ones I have caught here in Indiana and in Tennessee have been like the ones in RW's avitar (only smaller).  They have a large amount of bronze and red striping but the one I caught today had no striping at all and instead of being bronze it was solid red.  Out of the freshwater fish I have caught, it had one of the most vicious strikes I have encountered.  It weighed 3lb 4oz and was the best looking fish I have ever caught.  I have looked online and have found no photos of what I caught.

Sorry I am being a little vague but it did look like a smallmouth but again no stripes just solid red.  Any ideas what it was?  I am going to continue to research online to see what I can find.

Thanks for any of your thoughts and ideas.

[FishTank]

This photo is similar but again solid red not stripe or markings around the eye.

[Jig Man]

Maybe it was in an agitated state.  Here in Mo if you catch a smallie that reaction strikes it is a light brown but if you hit an area where they are feeding they are all chocolate and hit the bait like Gang Busters.

[slarose20]

Depending on the temp of the water the fish will also have a variation in color.  By your description i would say it was a smallie.  To bad you didnt have a pic of it.  I will tell you that they fight like monsters ... thats why i love em.

SteveL

[Cade Laufenberg]

I agree, they do fight amazingly! it seems as if the smallies change color way more that largemouth do, especially when put into a livewell for any period of time. It only takes minutes and there is a noticeable color change.

Here is a 17" largemouth and a 19-1/2" smallie. The largemouth looks normal but the smallmouth has a lot of color compared to when I actually caught it.

[roadwarrior]

Well, it sounds like a buffalo to me. They fight EXACTLY like a smallmouth except they do not jump.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_fish