ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TJ Maglio is a tournament angler and outdoor writer based in Minnesota . He has a degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has also worked professionally as a wildlife biologist and environmental consultant .

hen compared to other species , there ’ s very little physically that stands out about a largemouth or smallmouth bass . They lack whiskers , barbels or any other unique appendages ; grow to only a modest size ( compared to many other fishes across the world ) and even their coloration is subdued compared to other species .

To a die-hard bass angler , though , they ’ re the most beautiful fish in the world .

The subtle lines of a bass ’ jaws suggest the ability to unhinge and inhale a passing bait ; their mottled , ever-changing coloration pays homage to

their unique ability to live and thrive in almost any type of water and habitat .

Sure , maybe bass fishing doesn ’ t offer the same artistic experience as watching a blood-red cutthroat trout sip a dry fly off the surface , but boatflipping a 4-pound largemouth out of a laydown after it inhaled your jig offers its own rush ; a rush much more accessible to most anglers .

But that beauty comes with aberrations at times , as is the case with all species of animal . Bass are beautiful to those who fish for them , but even dedicated bass anglers will tell you a tale of one that was just plain ugly .

This column is dedicated to those “ ugly ” bass – and what we know about the causes of the various deformities we see on the water .

“ Pugheadedness ”

This distinctive condition results in the steepening of the forehead , a widened and shortened upper jaw , exophthalmic ( bugging ) eyes , and often an incompletely closed mouth resulting in an underbite . Termed “ pugheadedness ” by fisheries biologists , the condition is known to occur across many species of fish , both in freshwater and saltwater fishes .