Bass.....Why?
 

Is this the only fish you all fish?

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

Depending on the lake, conditions and who I am fishing with I could be fishing for a number of different species. When I take my daughters with me I usually fish for crappie since the girls like to bobber fish and stay in one spot. I also like to spend some time fishing for northern & walleye's. But I would have to say that bass are my favorite!

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

Heck no i for one have never fished for bass but when i watch fishing shows that is all they ever fish for and im sick of them and i have never caught them but i cant really judge till i get one and yes i do want to get one but my main target fish is trout then walleye, then pike , then every thing else is pretty well equal

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

Lethal...Largemouth bass are decent but not overly impressive fighters...I would rate them like a walleye that JUMPS fairly often... Smallmouth bass, on the other hand are verytough customers...Pound for pound they rate right up with rainbow trout and landlocked salmon, IMHO, and they like to jump...

I don't fish for bass exclusively.... Probably I spend the MOST time fishing for lake trout, because we have excellent lake trout fishing locally here in NY's Finger Lakes....

I probably spend an equal amount of time fishing for bass as I do fishing for various panfish species, usually bluegills and yellow perch... The panfish are my favorite fish to eat..

After that, stream trout fishing, mostly for browns but some brookies, rainbowsand steelheads...

After that, walleye and northerns...I'd fish more for these species but there are not a lot of good walleye and pike waters near my home...

Bringing up the rear...Rough fish like carp and bullheads...

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

There isnt a bass out there that will compare with a Laker out of 70 ft. of water through the ice. Or a 40-50" Pike/Musky in 4 ft of water. I have caught Bass most by accident and I just see what the hipe is.

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

I like fishing for wild native brookies and landlock salmon early in the year. I live next to the St. Croix River here and it has great fishing for white perch, landlock salmon, and smallmouth bass. It is well known with the guides here for it's smallmouth fishing however we do catch a few atlantics as well. For the best fighting fish I've ever caught it would have to be the atlantic by a long shot. Repeatedly jumping out of the water and caught mostly in the fast water on a fly rod. I also enjoy fishing for lake trout over to West Grand which quite peacefull fishing and alot of fun.

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

True...Bass don't get as big as lakers or northerns, but pound for pound I'd put a smallmouth up against either one and day... Tie a 3 lb laker or a 3 pound pike tail to tail with a 3 lb. smallmouth, and the smallmouth will pull the trout or the pike around backward until it's scales fall off, and then jump 3 times just for kicks...

A lot of the appeal comes with catching fish on tackle that allows them to perform... A 2 -4 lb, smallmouth on UL gear and light line is a handfull.. Comparative to catching a 10 or 12 pound pike or laker on heavier gear and 10 pound test....Same comparison can be made with many other fish...A 12-14 " stream trout isn't that impressive on medium spinning gear, but catch it on a fly rod with 1 or 2 pound test leader tippet and a tiny hook andyou have a different game altogether...

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

There is a difference between catching the occasional bass and catching the 5+ lber. Also watching a bass hit a topwater lure can be damn exciting!

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

Absolutely, I didn't know there was anything else. All kidding aside. I will very rarely fish for crappie just to get a mess to fry. I also tried ice fishing for the first timethis year and while it was pretty fun, by NO means did it beat sitting on the lake in my SKEETER on a warm spring evening and watching a 5lb bass bust to the surface and inhale a buzzbait.Just my .02. To each his own. I was born and bred a bass fisherman. And no other kind of fishing will ever give me the enjoyment and gratification that bass fishing does.

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

That's not the only thing I'll fish for, But it's the most fun out of what we have here. Certain times of the year getting into a bunch of crappie is a load of fun. Sometimes lounging around and tying into some cats is a good time, that and you can set your pole down and concentrate on the beer.

But if I want to get in 'serious' mode, I'm fishing for bass.

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

i used to fish just about exclusivly for bass then i went to saltwater
a red drum will laugh at a smallie by far pound for pound the tughest fighting fish you will ever catch then you got speed like king mackeral and bonito that will put slcak in a rod then go to screamin drag finally there are the consistent fighters a 42 lb 50 in cobia took me 2 hous to get in now put that up to a muskie. i have never seen one fight for that long. plusmost of the saltwater fish are good to eat

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

Well, usually around here if bass are present they are THE dominant predator. Part of it is a bass's nature I think. There are so many different ways to catch them that nearly everyone can find a type of fishing they enjoy and are good at. I mean look at all the different pros out there and no two fish alike, but they all catch fish. If you like to take fish on the water's surface, you can fly-fish for them or go topwater. Maybe you like structure fishing and you've got a tackle box full of jigs, trailers, and accessories. Can't sit still, always have to be doing SOMETHING? Power fishing with crankbaits and spinnerbaits is going to be right up your alley. The thing is, they are all productive and you can spend a lifetime trying to master them all.
Personally, I like bass and I like the way everybody is in to bass. If they were all out trout fishing , I would have to chase carp full time.:D

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

heck no!!!

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

yall talking pound for pound, wow I would like to tie into a 5 lb Sunfish!

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

yeeeeoowww, who wouldn't, i used to fish for everything, then i slowly crept to the underworld of nothing but bass, now i am finding my way back to what it is all about;)

BTW, you ever make it this way i'll put you on some good largemouths or smallies your choice, if i head up your way, i'd love to try some other critters;)

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

In texas, yes only for bass. Mainly because there is nothing else around here I like to fish for - I'd much rather fish fast with a lure than anchor and live bait fish

In WV, I fished for just about everything that swam, because I had a much greater choice of fishable waters.

But I've yet to find a way to win any money fishing for catfish. [8D]

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

I only fish bass when I can't catch anything else. Bass are easy. Walleyes, crappies, bluegill, northerns, whatever else will bite.

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

i used to be a big time bass angler. all the ponds, lakes, streams and rivers have bass in them around here. fun fish to catch..can fish for them a million diffrent ways..from a minnow under a bobber or on the bottom to spinnerbaits and stick baits to topwater plugs to fly gear etc etc...

lately ive gotten out of the bass scene almost completely..just dont really have time for it...i spend spring chasing trout...and once the water is too warm for trout(most of our trout fishing is stocking..put and take...water warms and creeks dry up and not much trout fishing after about mid june) its time for catfishing..which works out...i work alot during the summer..if im not at work i got grass to cut etc...so that leaves me with evenings and nights..nothing beats a night sitting at the river waitin for a big ole catfish to bite!

nothing wrong with bass fishing though....

i do agree though...youd think most these guys dont know what another fish is:D id just have to say they love their bass fishin...nothin wrong with that...i enjoy the reading and pics..

id like to hook up with my buddy and make a trip to a few ponds we know of this summer with the fly rod...theres like 5 strip mine ponds on his buddies land..1 has some crazy panfish ive never seen in PA before plus bass..the rest have bass and bluegills..and one ONLY has bass. we have never ever caught anything or seen anything else in that pond. its small..but theres 1000s of bass in there..no real size to them but man the numbers are awesome. one day i was 40+ fish for the same number of casts....i loved it..i broke 100 that day on that tiny pond...literaly 30yds by 50yds max!! another thing is the fish never see lures or bait...but it makes for a nice day...and will be a BALL on the fly rod!!

RE: Bass.....Why?
 

i agree with travisville bass arre easy and you can fish any time of the day all summer from shore or from a boat. once the lakes freezeto heck with the bass give me a walleye. after the end of febuary until ice out its crappies and sunnies