Why do you fish for bass?

[813basstard]

Why? So many other tasty species out there. So many bigger ones. So many more predictable ones. Saltwater buddies give me a hard time but timing up the tides, slapping a shrimp on a 1 oz and throwing it close to a bridge pilling isn’t exactly angling to me. Man, I think I’m at the point where figuring them out is as fun as catching them. There’s magic on the water at daybreak with a top water, or junebug worm when it’s 157 degrees outside and there’s 2 waters left in the cooler but your thumb is raw from lipping so many that day. I’m not sure they get that part..so why do we fish for bass?

[BuzzHudson19c]

Because trout are sissy fish!!!

[Glaucus]

Plentiful, easy to catch, put up a good fight, can be handled with ease, lots of fun techniques to use to catch them. They're just a fun fish and the fishing is still enjoyable if you're not necessarily catching.

[MassYak85]

At least in my local waters they are the dominant predator. If I lived in Muskie territory my feelings may be different. I do have some pike near me that I sometimes target. 

[Glaucus]

Also, most bass anglers are sport fishermen so how a fish tastes is irrelevant.

[BigAngus752]

12 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

easy to catch

I fish for bass because I catch catfish, carp, bluegill, and tons of crappie by accident.  Too easy to catch those.  I don't fish for bass as much as I "hunt" for bass.  It takes study and planning to catch bass; where, when, with what.  For me it's a real challenge.  A real hunt on the water.   I can't image it will ever get easy for me, but if it does I will probably move on to something else.  

[Happybeerbuzz]

There are several complicated reasons.  First, I have to be in the right mood to soak bait.  Second, I am about 100+ miles inland, and time is already an issue for me.  Third, my father was a bass fisherman.  Fourth, as someone pointed out, there are so many different techniques to fish for bass that are all applicable at different times which keeps it interesting.  Fifth, as a consequence to all the different viable techniques which center on bass fishing, it allows for a rich and interesting sub-community of which this forum is a part.  Six, the feeling of knowing that I caught at least one more fish than the guys I fish with.  I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, but this is what comes to mind. 

[soflabasser]

Some of the reasons I fish for bass are the following;

1. They exist in large numbers where I live in South Florida.

2. Big bass remind me of groupers, which is one of my favorite fish to catch.

3. I like catching fish on topwaters and bass like topwaters.

4. I want to break all my bass fishing PB's ( biggest bass, most bass in 1 day, top 5 bass,etc) since it is challenging and I enjoy challenges. 

5. All I need is 60 minutes or less to catch a bass where I live, so I can go on a quick fishing trip and expect to catch a bass.

[Glaucus]

5 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

I fish for bass because I catch catfish, carp, bluegill, and tons of crappie by accident.  Too easy to catch those.  I don't fish for bass as much as I "hunt" for bass.  It takes study and planning to catch bass; where, when, with what.  For me it's a real challenge.  A real hunt on the water.   I can't image it will ever get easy for me, but if it does I will probably move on to something else.  

Hunting the lunkers is a challenge, but, in my opinion, the fish itself is not challenging. They're just fun. You can go to any bass pond and throw soft plastics and catch several fish. You can go to any lake and, with a little knowledge, identify where they will be. It is indeed hard to consistently find the quality bass, but I'm speaking generally.

 

As for your comment about moving on to something else should it become easy for you, well, we have different reasons for bass fishing, then. For me it's a passion. It's something that I love. Difficulty or lack thereof has no impact on this passion of mine.

[BigAngus752]

23 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Hunting the lunkers is a challenge, but, in my opinion, the fish itself is not challenging. They're just fun. You can go to any bass pond and throw soft plastics and catch several fish. You can go to any lake and, with a little knowledge, identify where they will be. It is indeed hard to consistently find the quality bass, but I'm speaking generally.

 

As for your comment about moving on to something else should it become easy for you, well, we have different reasons for bass fishing, then. For me it's a passion. It's something that I love. Difficulty or lack thereof has no impact on this passion of mine.

Clearly I am not nearly at your level yet! 

[Glaucus]

2 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

Clearly I am not nearly at your level yet! 

You may be getting the wrong idea. My abilities are simply average or perhaps above average in terms of bass fishermen.  Perhaps I am blessed to have excellent waters. It's the same anywhere I've been though, if the population is good and healthy. I think at worst anyone can throw a wacky Senko and catch some bass from any decent pond. That's not to say you'll be walking away having caught anything but some dinks and maybe a 2 or 3 pounder. But the fish is a very catchable and predictable species.

[StrikePrince]

Because setting the hook on a jig bite is one of the most fun things in the world. And the anticipation of that moment fuels everything... 

[Bluebasser86]

I don't eat fish, so taste is irrelevant. Long way to the ocean from Kansas. If your buddies can figure out how to catch big wipers, flatheads, or blues more regularly than I can catch big bass they have something really special, bass really aren't that hard to catch. Other than catfish and carp there's not many bigger fish in Kansas. I'm an avid multispecies angler though, so I go after all of them.

 

I fish for bass because each day is like figuring out a puzzle and I like the challenge. 

[BigAL]

The challenge of getting double digit bass,trying to master all the different techniques and being on the water.

[Catt]

Cause

 

I love fishing in the spring

Spinner baits with a fling

 

I love pitching in the brush

Rat-L-Traps in a rush

 

I love that big bump

When you flip by a stump

 

I love flying across the lake

The sound a 2 stroke makes

 

I love fishing in grass

Kicking bass's @$$

 

I love hawgs on a bed

Trying to hit em on the head

 

 

 

 

And I love twins! ?

[LadiMopar]

Used to be a multi species fishing human, happy to catch most anything....then....magic happened.The first time I caught a 3+ pounder on a 4ft ultra light rod with 4# test and an itty bitty reel...she leapt out of the water, tossed her head, flashing those beautiful gill plates...I was hooked, or maybe more to the truth...she hooked me!

 

And with that said, I'm off to hitch up the trailer and head out in search of another magical green fish!

 

The early worm gets the fish! ????

[thinkingredneck]

I love the feel of a Bass hitting a T rig worm!  Or a jig.  Or seeing a blow up on a frog. Or fly rod popper. I love the anticipation and concentration.  And I love that "gorilla in a phone booth" fight.

And there are so many baits and flies to try.  Figuring out their mood is a puzzle.  

They are one of the species that has actually benefitted from our messing with the environment. 

[Oregon Native]

Truly love all species of fish and fish for them and have from ocean to ocean but bass is very high on my list.  Thanks to BASS I have gotten to fish from coast to coast in competitions that I never really dreamed of fishing from my old cold water state of Oregon.  Now I live in Tennessee and there's a ton of bass fishing opportunities and I'm fishing the FLW's (state team)  

To me ....bass offer a challenge unlike the other species.....especially in competitions where you think you may have have them patterned.....so humbling.  Enjoy the camaraderie of the clubs and fishing on the road traveling to different lakes....guess I'm addicted.

[jbmaine]

I've fished for just about everything in this neck of the woods, both fresh and salt, and I have to say my first fishing "love" is fly fishing rivers for trout. In an ideal world that's all I'd do. However in the real world I fish for bass because,

 

bass waters are numerus in this area, good trout rivers, not so much.

 

My wife loves to fish but because of disabilities can only use a lite rod, so fresh water bass fishing is a good fit, salt water not so much.

 

We can bass fish from ice out to ice in.

 

Bass fishing is fun and it's easy and convenient  for my wife and I to do together.

 

 

[scaleface]

When I was a kid  , I loved going into tackle shops and looking at the bass lures . I remember buying my first bass lure , a"Mirro Lure Jointed Catfish"  and taking it down to the river too try  it out . The action was mesmerizing but never caught a fish on it . I was hooked though . 

[Rahlow]

Cause I wanna be like all my hero’s here who catch fish with the greatest of ease. Lol

I guess if I fished farm or private ponds and not  1,000+ acre lakes I could catch em anytime I wanted to, the fact for me that it’s fishin’ and not just go catch em is what appeals to me, plus bass fishin your always or generally on the move, not sittin watching a bobber,

[ww2farmer]

From a young age I was drawn to the old Bassmaster's TV show, and bass have always been abundant and (sometimes) easy to catch around here.  

[Ariffy]

Sometimes the pike and musky don't bite 

[scaleface]

I like the smells and sounds .I'm watching the bassmasrter at Sabine right now and watching the guys fish the canals , hearing the insects and frogs and i can almost smell it . I fish an irrigation canal  and it smell's like bull heads . Its one of the best bass spots I know of .

[JustJames]

Because that only fish in town that I can catch without touching slimy worm and stinky bait. LOL I don't know how to catch crappies.