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Bass Have Glass Jaws
I like bass fishing, really I do. Having been scuba diving with the bass (see the upcoming Dec.-Jan. issue), I find them absolutely fascinating. And there's nothing quite like the charge of a largemouth crashing a swimbait.
But someone please tell me why bass can't fight.
I mean, playing a bass usually involves about as much action and drama as the Spinks-Tyson fight did in 1988. Jump, shake, fall down. It's over in a matter of seconds. The bucket-mouth (smallies and stripers are excluded from this) might indeed be the ultimate "tomato can" among fish.
I watch the pros reef in bass like they're pulling carrots out of the garden and wonder "What gives?" Well, bass give ... they give-up. Bass could learn to fight harder from the French. When I hook a bass, I hear Boy George in my head ... "I'll Tumble 4 Ya." I don't know why, but it gives me the creeps.
I'm not saying what I think the toughest fish in the world is, but it rhymes with mako shark. Steelhead are pretty darn sporty when you add some river current. Even the much-maligned carp shows up for the bout. Not terribly flashy or pretty, but they'll slug it out. Call carp the "Tex" Cobbs of the fishing world.
Deeter
My warm water $.02:
The take --> Bass
The tug ---> Carp
Will Rice
Carp Lover and Proud
Posted by: Will Rice | November 02, 2007 at 01:08 PM
Agree that they don't fight that well (though I have found exceptions). The take is what makes largemouth bass fishing so sweet. Friggin' ferocious.
Try them on a fly if you want a decent battle. Their girth alone makes fly rodding for them fun.
Smallies are awesome fighters. So are some strains of rainbows (those from the Delaware River come to mind). But for my money, I'll agree with the late, great, very cold-headed Ted Williams: a fresh, sea-liced Atlantic salmon will blow you're mind and that fancy $300 reel to bits.
And dude, you have to get that Boy George out of your head...fast.
Posted by: MB | November 02, 2007 at 01:10 PM
make that "your" instead of "you're"
Posted by: mb | November 02, 2007 at 01:19 PM
No question in warmwater Largemouth loose something. I am a Smallmouth guide and can tell you we have had plenty of anglers break big fish off on 10 and 12 pound tippet. They are tackle busters. Largemouth are not in the same class but I have to say that fish in cold water in the spring before they get beaten up by spawing and anglers fight much more like Smallmouth.
One other thing I would submit is that most of the Largemouth anglers are catching have been caught many times before and they just aren't the same fish after a while. I saw this in farm ponds as a kid.
You know there is also a bit of a myth regarding Steelhead as well. Those fish really only have one season where they are exceptional, fall. Spring fish are okay but not the same. Some of them in cold water fight about like a brick.
Posted by: Chad Miller | November 02, 2007 at 01:45 PM
give me a break, kirk. when was the last time you landed or even fished to a bass with 4x tippet? i hope never, since there's no point in doing so.
i promise you that trout related species are some of the wimpiest fish on the planet. try catching any trout with a bait casting rod and 14-20 pound test or jamming a 1/0 hook into them and watch them reel on in DEAD.
Posted by: joey | November 02, 2007 at 01:53 PM
Steelhead by far.
Posted by: daywill | November 02, 2007 at 01:55 PM
Good point Chad. For the record, smallies are excluded from the argument.
On the steelhead ... well, are you Great Lakes guys really catching steelhead at all? I think Tyler Palmerton of Oregon might differ. I'm a Michigan man, so you know how I feel. Tyler always ribs me about that. Maybe we should open that can of worms next.
Posted by: KD | November 02, 2007 at 01:55 PM
Agreed that largemouth are a different beast in colder spring temps, on a fly rod, and esp. in lesser-fished waters.
Interesting to read a passage from an old Hemingway piece the other day extolling the glory of "horsing" out fish, over fighting them. Beating salmonoids agaist the bottom of a stream on light tippet ain't always all that.
I'd have to say that the the peat-mined pit ponds I grew up fishing had 2-3 lb bass, whose collective fight blew away any of the "sewer" trout rainbow plants in the nearby stocked lakes.
A big halibut on a old-school single-action reel gets my vote. Got a few hours?
SC
Posted by: Sal M. Clarki | November 02, 2007 at 01:56 PM
any fish in a lake sucks compared to moving water. i only fish for bass in rivers. largemouth are plenty strong in the rivers. these bass will eat trout any day:
http://faroutfishingtrips.com/blog/?cat=6
http://faroutfishingtrips.com/blog/?cat=6&paged=2
Posted by: joey | November 02, 2007 at 02:23 PM
LOL! (laughing out loud)I knew when you started covering bass fishing for the magazine that you'd be tempted by the dark side but it's good that you'll stay true to trout!
Posted by: Paul Zabel | November 02, 2007 at 02:50 PM
You snooty trout freaks. The silly little fish you guys fight just seem strong because you insist on using light tackle and tiny tippets. Try that with a surly 5-pound largemouth and I think you'll change your tune.
By the way, you know how the biggest trout grow to double-digit size? By eating pathetic little slimers. Heck, in California, a rainbow trout is bait.
Posted by: Frank Fox | November 02, 2007 at 02:57 PM
You mean the biggest bass, right?
Posted by: | November 02, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Yes, I meant bass. Thanks.
Posted by: Frank Fox | November 02, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Kirk,
I have no doubt West Coast Steelhead are different than our fish, as I have been corrected by Randy Stetzer. But I can't imagine why they would fight differently. When a Steelhead has been in a river a while something is lost. Spring fish aren't the same as fall fish here. I wonder if Tyler could tell us different. Sorry I don't mean to go off the subject of America's gamefish.
By the way Jerry Darkes and I are in the process of organizing trips to Lakes in Mexico for Largemouth. Could be something really interesting with a fly rod. I will keep everyone up to date.
By the way Joey, Smallmouth on Lake Erie caught in 30 feet of water on a full sinking line is like catching Grouper off a reef. They will wear you out.
Posted by: Chad Miller | November 02, 2007 at 03:31 PM
Why is it always "snooty?" You're right, of course, about the trout diet. Sure bass will eat trout, they just can't swim afterward. Joey, you're right about the river angle, for sure.
Posted by: KD | November 02, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Except when it comes to smallies, like Chad says.
Posted by: KD | November 02, 2007 at 03:37 PM
I have had the best of all worlds. Grew up and learned how to fly fish in the bass pond behind the house, hiked 30 minutes to chase after Steelies on the Cattaragus Creek and moved to Colorado in 1993 to chase after the perfect trout.
Largemouth will turn soft on you after the first 15 seconds. Because it is just pissed as it was fooled again by some silly looking pattern. All they care about are full stomachs and will be voracious in the take. I have even thrown a rubber worm on a fly rod after largies for a take.
Large Mouth Bass are much like the Young Bull standing on top of the hill looking down at the cows and chasing after just one because the young bull is spent.
For solid, hard, impressive fresh water fights - grab your seven weight and fish the tributaries of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario for the rush of your life. STEELHEAD!!!
This is where the Old Bull will be as he comes down the hill to get all the cows for the time of his life and have to work at it too.
Deeter's next major cover story for F&S will be Walk on Water and when you open the cover of the mag, the sound chip will be blaring Eddie Money's song as Deeter dances a jig as Large Mouth Bass attack his toes all captured in a photo expose.
Or do we call your next feature - RIVERDANCE!!!
Posted by: Anthony Bartkowski | November 02, 2007 at 03:42 PM
Deeter has brought up Boy George and Tumble 4 Ya... That sums up a fight by Large Mouth perfectly...
I like to compare a Steelhead Fight to Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.
Posted by: Anthony Bartkowski | November 02, 2007 at 04:31 PM
well, if you're gonna compare bass to saltwater fish (true steelhead are pretty much saltwater fish), then let's enter tarpon or jacks into the conversation...trout and steelhead then become pretty irrelevant.
"trout are for clients" - anonymous, Colorado Fishing Guide
Posted by: joey | November 02, 2007 at 05:24 PM
I agree with you on the fight of bass but can't figure out why you excluded smallies?
Both of 'em hit hard and pull hard but none of the largemouths or smallies I've ever caught seem to interested in taking line.
Posted by: Fly Times | November 03, 2007 at 07:44 PM
Joey made a great point about tackle and Bass. We use big tippets and stout rods on these fish and typically we can't give them an inch. I have on many occasions used large tippets 12, 14 pound while streamer fishing for trout. I was on the Big Hole 3 weeks ago streamer fishing and I pretty much horsed in most of those 15 to 17 inch fish. We fish Smallmouth during terrestrial season here with 4 and 5 weight rods. A 20 inch Smallmouth will take plenty of line on light tackle. WE sometimes have ot chase a big Smallmouth with the boat. Joey is right it is about all about tackle we match to the fish.
Posted by: Chad Miller | November 04, 2007 at 07:51 AM
chad, thanks...
also, i think a lot of this debate has to do with 'trout' being the 'preferred' species. it's so pervasive in this industry.
it's amazing how much a guy will spend on trout gear, or tip a trout guide...yet bass get no such respect.
yes, i prefer smallmouth or guadalupe bass to largemouth, but bass in general are just so much hardier. they can live in much more marginal conditions than delicate trout.
to me, that's much more respectable than fishing to most trout, which are not of native or wild origin in most places these days.
Posted by: joey | November 04, 2007 at 10:22 PM
This is the reason that I prefer saltwater. No one will ever question the fight of most species that we chase and you can't argue with the species being native (I question how many lakes have native largemouths). I do have to agree with you Kirk, largemouth bass are pansies when it comes to a fight. I would rather chase bluegill, at least they don't just roll over and play dead. In saltwater people have backing on their reels for more than just show.
Posted by: Drew Delashmit | November 04, 2007 at 11:43 PM
I agree with the comment from Joey that you can't compare the fight of freswater fish to salt--it's apples to watermelons.
But talking just freshwater, pound for pound, I accidentally caught a six-pound bowfin on a 6wt a few weeks ago and I was surprised by how game it was. Has to be a darkhorse contestant.
Posted by: Pete | November 05, 2007 at 10:16 AM
ok, it's funny to hear people make generalizations about largemouth bass, although not my personal favorite of the 'basses'. i'm actually curious where the people posting here are catching these 'wimpy' fish (crappy front range ponds?). either they continue to fish for fish they have no respect for, or they actually don't have that much experience with them. come down to texas and fish for them in a spring creek. the big bass in clear moving water are as smart as any new zealand brown i've ever fished to.
by the way, drew, bluegill and largemouth are of the same family. they have basically the same characteristics. stationary ambush feeders.
Posted by: joey | November 05, 2007 at 12:24 PM