Bug Eyed Bass! (pic)

[IaFisherman]

I went fishing last sunday(Halloween)and caught a couple of nice bass. One went 20 1/2" and the other went 18". The 18" was some freak of nature!!! It had eyes that were bulging out of it's head! I've never seen anything like it! I have caught two fish that have had only one eye but, nothing like this fish. Any of you ever see or hear of this before???

[andy j]

Iowa.

You can't use shutterfly with the new format, Try imageshack. Go Hawkeyes! 6-2

[IaFisherman]

Thanks Andy!

[andy j]

caught a lot of bass over the years and never seen eyes like that!

[turn_in_poachers]

Ive seen that before. But it was at Bass Pro Shops in FL in their aquarium. All of the 10+ lb bass all had bulging eyes. I asked one of the workers there and he said it was natural when they get that big. Kind of cool looking I think.

[Lost]

It actually looks like popeye, which is an actual fish disease. Go to the local PetSmart and ask them about it.

Here's something that I found online about it:

POPEYE

Symptom: One or both eyes protrude from the socket. Some fish also exhibit a lack of appetite.

Popeye can be caused from bacterial diseases, abscesses and tumors, eye injuries, as well as over - aerated water.If left untreated, the eye may bulge out so far that the eye can pop out of the socket, resulting in the loss of an eye.

[LEECH21]

Maybe its just something in the Iowa water? LOL

[cheektowaga]

I have also seen that before in some pics from a friends trip to Mexico and like T.I.P. said it was on the 10+ lb'ers.

[caster]

Kind of reminds me of the three eyed fish on the Simpsons. Is there a nuclear plant near by?

[st.crioxfishin]

Very cool looking bass, two very nice fish, congrats!

Bob Downey

[katoguy]

Caster - the name be "Blinky"! Fellow Simpson Fan.

[Matt Johnson]

Wow, thats an interesting one...I've never seen a bass like that before. Thanks for sharing the pic.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Metroguy99]

I believe i read in Homer Circles Bass Wisdom (great book) that the "bug eyed" bass come from or live in deeper water. There are several pictures of bass with this "bug eyed" symptom in his book. I also met a guy who has a picture of a 7 pounder out of Lake Elmo with the same "bug eyes".