The US Geological Survey released a study this week suggesting bass are especially prone to gender-bending and are doing so with great gusto.
… makes me wonder whether the professional BASS circuit will be stood on its collective ear when metrosexual bass cease feeding on crankbaits as the ensuing chase makes them all sweaty …
In the Mississippi River, near Lake City Minnesota, 73 percent of the smallmouth bass had characteristics of both sexes.
“Gender bending” humans exhibit traits ranging from undetectable to flagrant, and while diet appears largely unaffected – presentation and table manners most certainly are..
Will that mean the days of the vicious slashing take of an aggressive largemouth are over? Replaced with a “window shopping” study of our flies and a possible demure inhalation?
The Southeast, especially the Pee Dee River Basin in North and South Carolina, had the highest rates of feminization. In Bucksport, S.C., 10 of 11 largemouth bass examined were intersex. In parts of the Mississippi River in Minnesota and the Yampa River in Colorado, 70 percent of the smallmouth bass had female signs.
Any fellow witnessing two gals fighting knows that feminization of fish should improve the ensuing tussle. With the predominance of hair-pulling we’ll have to change flies more often, but the increase in ferocity should make that a wash.
While diet may be unaffected, successful imitation may require emphasis on matching the color of the nest, proper accessorizing of flies, and inclusion of trademark labels; Dolce & Gabanna, DKNY, and their ilk.
The rubber-worm manufacturers will have to retool if mauve becomes the new Purple.
Tags:feminization of fish, she-male, estrogen, largemouth bass, gender bending fish, wastewater pollution, fly fishing humor, DKNY,
This piscine “gender ambiguity” is already well known in the fabled streams of Britain, where the problem is ascribed to “synthetic birth control hormones in sewage.” And of course the best kept secret of all is that our drinking water has been made more potent by these “hormonal contaminants” for decades. No doubt this explains why so many he-manly studs now prefer to lark about together in the woods and streams rather than keeping their wives company ???
Why do you think I learned how to sew? Orvis does’nt make wading vests with black lace and blue ribbons for “Fat Guy Alex”. And those camo waders are so last week! You can’t expect a man to double-haul without a pocket for his lip gloss! Those boys at Simm’s are so silly.