Redeye Bass

Body Type & Identification: Closely related to Spotted Bass — olive-green with dark mottling and distinctive bright red eyes. Found in clear, rocky upland streams of the Appalachian foothills and Cumberland Plateau. Distinguished from other black bass by the red eye, turquoise blue coloring on the cheeks, and specific range in southeastern river drainages.

Preferred Water Temperature: 62°F–74°F. A stream-adapted bass of clear, rocky Appalachian rivers. Spawns in spring on gravel and rock substrate in 2–6 feet of water near current.

Habitat: Clear, rocky streams and rivers of the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Cahaba, and Chattahoochee drainages in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. A current-loving stream bass found in fast riffles, deep pools, and rocky runs. Often the dominant bass species in small to medium Appalachian upland streams.

Best Lures: Small inline spinners produce excellent strikes in current. Small tube jigs work well near rocky bottom. Tiny crankbaits fished through riffles are effective. Fly fishing with small poppers and streamers is outstanding — one of the finest fly fishing bass targets in the South.

Best Baits: Live crawfish are the top bait. Small live hellgrammites work very well in current. Small nightcrawlers produce consistent results. Small live shiners are effective.

Top 5 Destinations: Tallapoosa River AL, Cahaba River AL, Coosa River tributaries AL/GA, Conasauga River GA/TN, Flint River headwaters GA.

Closely related to Spotted Bass — olive-green with dark mottling and distinctive bright red eyes. Found in clear, rocky upland streams of the Appalachian foothills and Cumberland Plateau. Distinguished from other black bass by the red eye, turquoise blue coloring on the cheeks, and specific range in southeastern river drainages.

Clear, rocky streams and rivers of the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Cahaba, and Chattahoochee drainages in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. A current-loving stream bass found in fast riffles, deep pools, and rocky runs. Often the dominant bass species in small to medium Appalachian upland streams.

62°F–74°F. A stream-adapted bass of clear, rocky Appalachian rivers. Spawns in spring on gravel and rock substrate in 2–6 feet of water near current.

Best Lures: Small inline spinners produce excellent strikes in current. Small tube jigs work well near rocky bottom. Tiny crankbaits fished through riffles are effective. Fly fishing with small poppers and streamers is outstanding — one of the finest fly fishing bass targets in the South. Best Baits: Live crawfish are the top bait. Small live hellgrammites work very well in current. Small nightcrawlers produce consistent results. Small live shiners are effective.

1 fishing location where you can catch Redeye Bass

1 official record on file for Redeye Bass