Coosa Bass

The original species of redeye bass first documented in 1941 by renowned ichthyologists Carl Hubbs and Reeve Bailey. These fish are relatively common in the upland streams of the Coosa River system.

These fish have a tooth patch and have pronounced white edges on the caudal fin margins. They have a few anterior vertical blotches along the lateral line that become more diffuse or absent to the posterior. The distal portions of the anal fin, pelvic fins, soft dorsal, and caudal fin will be brick red. Sometimes there are blue colorations present on the pelvic, anal, and soft dorsal fins. Blue coloration is concentrated in the anterior and ventral area, but can be throughout the body. During spawning the colors will be more pronounced but is present on both males and females.

The Coosa bass populations have not been surveyed in detail like the others in Alabama, but anecdotal evidence suggests many of their populations are comprised of mostly pure individuals with little hybridization with other bass species.

This species of redeye bass has been introduced outside of their native range into streams of the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and mountain streams of California and Arizona!