Small mouths??

[Ron G]

After watching the bassmasters at new york,i was wondering from you all that have traveled,which ones fight harder the ones up north or the southern ones,ive never fished up north but evertime i watch them up there the smallys dosnt look like they fight that hard,here in tn and alabama they fight like freight trains even 1-2 pounders are just ferousious fighters.i know they catch them on light line here but 6lb test line with a 4lb smally and your going to be fighting for awhile.just wondering what ya'll think.and im not bashing the northern smallys just wonderingd

 

[KRS]

Re: Small mouths??

Maybe Southerners are just more dramatic 8)

 

[JB]

Re: Small mouths??

I have caught smallies pretty much everywhere they live.

I think cold water smallies fight harder than cool water smallies, but that could be because I have always caught the biggest ones in northern lakes and rivers.

I agree that the hardest fights come on ultralight or light flyrods. A big smallie nailing a popping bug is an experience never to be forgetten.

Remember that tournament fishermen don't care that much about the fight. They want the fish in the well, so they use tackle that gets the fish in the well right now. That is unlikely to be the most sporting tackle and might make the fish look like a poorer fighter than she really is.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Small mouths??

LOL@KRS we do have a tendancy to do things with a flaredhey yall watch thisd

 

[John_S]

Re: Small mouths??

Your TN smallies sound like they fight like our NY smallies. Ussually using 6-8lb, and never more than 10lb test. Even a 12"er won't give up without a couple digs and jumps. Three lbs and above, they will always take you for a ride.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Small mouths??

I stand corrected,i caught a 20" smally tonight but it only weighed 3.14lbs fought for a few seconds until i made it come on in.and i was using 17lb test line,JB what your talking about makes sence now,when a tourny is alot different.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Small mouths??

Inch for inch I think smallies fight harder than just about any fresh water fish.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Small mouths??

I begs the different koolerb, have you ever hooked a striper? or even better yet, a Wiper?

 

[JB]

Re: Small mouths??

That's a different sort of fight, gonfishie. Hard, deep drives, yes, but I'll take lots of wiggle and spectacular jumps on light tackle.

That's one of the reasons I like musky over pike. Both big and strong, but when a big musky comes out of the water and splatters everything and everyone within 20' it can stop a young man's heart.

 

[all thumbs]

Re: Small mouths??

Never fished south, but your heart does pound when one of these are on. Too hot to fish during the day lately so I went out this morning around 2am. Got a 20 incher on drop shot with a long cast. Came out of the water 3 times before he got to the boat then dove right under it, what a fightd

 

[Ripfence]

Re: Small mouths??

I love smallmouth bass, they fight like minature tarpon

 

[koolerb]

Re: Small mouths??

I begs the different koolerb, have you ever hooked a striper? or even better yet, a Wiper?

Yeah, I've reeled in a few striper. Still think the smallie puts up a better fight. OK, I'll ask. What a Wiper?

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Small mouths??

A wiper is a white bass and striper mix. They're big, strong and aggressive. They hit your lure like a ton of brick and will pull and pull for quite a while. Your line will break if you don't loosen the drag.

 

[Ripfence]

Re: Small mouths??

you may have heard them called hybrid stripers.

I begs the different koolerb, have you ever hooked a striper? or even better yet, a Wiper?

Yeah, I've reeled in a few striper. Still think the smallie puts up a better fight. OK, I'll ask. What a Wiper?

 

[Ron G]

Re: Small mouths??

Is what ya'll talking about a rockfish?we have strippers here they only gey about 2-3pounds ,white bass are about a 1lb and then we have rockfish which they stock that can get in the 40lb range.

 

[JB]

Re: Small mouths??

Yes. Rockfish is the Chespeake (sp?) name for the striped bass.