Largemouth vs. Smallmouth

[ww2farmer]

It will vary by lake, but around here, yes, generally smallmouth are much harder fighters and will jump enough to make your heart stop, especially when it's a big one.

 

That being said, in reference to my "it vary's by lake" comment, on the two lake's I fish most often...Silver and Conesus, which are full of BIG northern strain largemouth, until you get a look at the fish, it's often not clear which one of the two you have, as the largemouth on those lake are hard fighters. Silver lake smallmouth tend to fight more like largemouth, bull-dogging, and running into the weeds rather than taking to the air, but they are still prone to going airborne more than largemouth. One of my favorite things in the summer is catching smallmouth flipping weeds and grass with not a lot of line out. They are MAD, and a 4 or 5lber will often come 4 foot out of the water an arms length away, and even though it's on stout tackle and heavy line, there is nothing like it. It's the closest thing in bass fishing to grabbing a wild cat by the tail...you just hold on, and hope it doesn't hurt you, or destroy your equipment LOL.

[B-Dozer]

just like people, big mouths usually can't fight ? 

[TnRiver46]

Smallmouth fight great but I have caught 3 different 8lb class largemouth that about sank the boat they were fighting so hard. Maybe one day I will feel how hard 8 Lb class smallmouth fights

[RyneB]

River largies fight like a smallmouth. The thing I notice most about smallies is they dont give up as easily. A 4lb largie is a hell of a fight, but it doesnt have the stamina. A 2.5 lb smallie on spinning gear will be several runs just when you think they're done.

[rejesterd]

I think largemouth give up earlier in the fight, but they feel heavier on the line. 

 

Smallmouth are more ferocious and come unbuttoned more. 

[Spankey]

On 7/22/2018 at 8:56 PM, RyneB said:

River largies fight like a smallmouth. The thing I notice most about smallies is they dont give up as easily. A 4lb largie is a hell of a fight, but it doesnt have the stamina. A 2.5 lb smallie on spinning gear will be several runs just when you think they're done.

I'm with you 100%. My experiences on the river have produced Largemouths in the same holes, current and structure as smallmouths. I like the unexpected catch of one. More then once I've caught a smallie on the outer edge of a laydown only to pick off a largemouth or a couple of largemouths as I work my way back to the bank side of the laydown. The river largemouths and smallies are generally leaner than their lake cousins but they deal with current their whole life.

[J Francho]

I don't fish for river smallies, so I cannot comment on them.  Pound for pound, the common argument that smallies fight harder is true.  Fight, is the key word.  Not pull.  After about 4 lbs. though, they start to even out, but even then there are exceptions.  My PB LMB was like reeling in a soggy boot.  My PB smallie just hung on the bottom, and took some convincing to come to the surface.  My #2 LMB made three drag screaming runs on my braid to leader finesse setup.  First run was around 20 yards, and they each got shorter.  That fish did not jump either.  I also wonder if the bigger fight has more to do with being evenly matched with the fish, using lighter gear for smallmouth.  That said, they definitely are "squirrelier" than their largemouth cousins.

[RyneB]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I don't fish for river smallies, so I cannot comment on them.  Pound for pound, the common argument that smallies fight harder is true.  Fight, is the key word.  Not pull.  After about 4 lbs. though, they start to even out, but even then there are exceptions.  My PB LMB was like reeling in a soggy boot.  My PB smallie just hung on the bottom, and took some convincing to come to the surface.  My #2 LMB made three drag screaming runs on my braid to leader finesse setup.  First run was around 20 yards, and they each got shorter.  That fish did not jump either.  I also wonder if the bigger fight has more to do with being evenly matched with the fish, using lighter gear for smallmouth.  That said, they definitely are "squirrelier" than their largemouth cousins.

I also agree with this. Conditions play a huge factor. I can jack a 6 lb largie in a mat and it's just a heavy resistance. I can also hook into a 2 lb smallie with 6lb line on spinning tackle and have it jump several times and take drag. We can all agree both are a lot of fun and I'm lucky enough to live within a 6 hour drive of Traverse city and 1 hour drive of the Mississippi river.

[LxVE Bassin]

My hardest black bass fight to date was a 3 pound Smallie I caught out of the White River. I caught it out of 10 feet of water on casting gear with 15 pound flouro. It pulled harder than any largemouth I have ever hooked into. I thought it was at least a 6 pounder or atleast that is what I imagined a 6 pounder would feel like.

[Further North]

On 7/21/2018 at 11:24 PM, soflabasser said:

Smallmouth bass fight good for their size but there are plenty of fish that fight harder pound for pound. Peacock bass destroy smallmouth bass and all black bass species I have caught when it comes to overall pound for pound power, endurance, and acrobatic ability. Tarpon are even better fighters than peacock bass and give a skilled fishermen a hard time to land. Tarpon fishing days are classified in the following ways; number of follows you get, number of jumps you get, and the ones you actually land. Sailfish are another species of powerful,acrobatic fish but they are not as acrobatic or strong as a tarpon is pound for pound. Jacks and tunas are other species of fish I have caught that are extremely powerful for their size and they will give anyone a decent mini workout, especially when they are over 20 pounds.

Interesting and all...but none of those other fish live in our water...

 

I've fished for and caught several...but it's like comparing Miller Lite to Cragganmore...

I'll leave you with this:

 

 

Pound for pound...yeah, a smallie beats an Esox.  Problem is...that thing eats seven pound fish...and still comes after your lure...'cuz it's not full yet..

 

Pound for pound, a sunfish kicks bass butt...Imagine an 8 lb. bluegill...I'd be 'fraid to skinny dip in water that held fish like that...

[soflabasser]

4 hours ago, Further North said:

Interesting and all...but none of those other fish live in our water...

 

I've fished for and caught several...but it's like comparing Miller Lite to Cragganmore...

I'll leave you with this:

 

 

Pound for pound...yeah, a smallie beats an Esox.  Problem is...that thing eats seven pound fish...and still comes after your lure...'cuz it's not full yet..

 

Pound for pound, a sunfish kicks bass butt...Imagine an 8 lb. bluegill...I'd be 'fraid to skinny dip in water that held fish like that...

That muskie is a beauty, did you catch it and how long was it? I have caught a couple pure strain muskies while on vacation up north, so I know how they fight. Muskie are good fighting fish for freshwater fish standards but they are nothing compared to most equal sized saltwater fish. I caught a 43 inch muskie and it barely fought compared to a equal sized barracuda. Have caught several +50 inch barracudas and I am certain no muskie compares to a barracuda of that size. With that said muskies are still my favorite northern freshwater fish to catch and I plan on traveling to fish for them again. Bluegills are definitely stronger pound for pound than a largemouth or smallmouth bass of equal size but these sunfish do not compare to some of the exotic freshwater fish we have in South Florida, like the pacu which fight reminds me of a permit, one of the toughest pound for pound fish in the keys.

[Further North]

13 hours ago, soflabasser said:

That muskie is a beauty, did you catch it and how long was it? I have caught a couple pure strain muskies while on vacation up north, so I know how they fight. Muskie are good fighting fish for freshwater fish standards but they are nothing compared to most equal sized saltwater fish. I caught a 43 inch muskie and it barely fought compared to a equal sized barracuda. Have caught several +50 inch barracudas and I am certain no muskie compares to a barracuda of that size. With that said muskies are still my favorite northern freshwater fish to catch and I plan on traveling to fish for them again. Bluegills are definitely stronger pound for pound than a largemouth or smallmouth bass of equal size but these sunfish do not compare to some of the exotic freshwater fish we have in South Florida, like the pacu which fight reminds me of a permit, one of the toughest pound for pound fish in the keys.

A friend caught that fish - I just love the picture.

[gim]

On ‎7‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 9:59 PM, BuzzHudson19c said:

For me, nothing beats river smallies. Hard fighters. It never stops amazing me their ability to get loose. You can have both trebles firmly in their mouths and after a good jump they spit the darn thing right out. Frustrating sometimes, but a challenge for sure.

I have been told that river smallmouths are harder fighting than their lake cousins because they have to be in order to survive the constant current and flowing water.  I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.

[Further North]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

I have been told that river smallmouths are harder fighting than their lake cousins because they have to be in order to survive the constant current and flowing water.  I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.

That seems to be the case.  Without a way to measure it, we'll just have to accept it.  I certainly believe it to be the case.

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

 

[J Francho]

12 hours ago, gimruis said:

I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.

This part isn't true.

[FryDog62]

I’ve always believed that pound for pound the best freshwater fighting fish is the smallmouth.  But the one fish I would like to compare it to is a Wiper... although that’s technically a partial saltwater breed... correct??

[Scott F]

15 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I’ve always believed that pound for pound the best freshwater fighting fish is the smallmouth.  But the one fish I would like to compare it to is a Wiper... although that’s technically a partial saltwater breed... correct??

A wiper is a hybrid between a striped bass and a white bass, and are raised in a hatchery so they never see saltwater. They are then stocked in lakes. None of the ones I’ve ever caught will jump but they are a lot of fun to catch. They hit so hard, they will rip the rod right out of your hands if you aren’t paying attention. 

[J Francho]

I’ve caught a few wipers in VA, and they do whack a bait hard. Reminds of the big brown trout up here. 

[soflabasser]

Hybrid stripers have many names such as sunshine bass, wiper, palmetto bass,etc. They fight much harder than a equal sized largemouth or smallmouth bass, at least the ones I have caught.

[Further North]

So..."Largemouth vs. Smallmouth"...do they...like...fight an' stuff?

 

Can we bet on the winner?

 

Who gets to eat the loser?

[FryDog62]

13 hours ago, Further North said:

So..."Largemouth vs. Smallmouth"...do they...like...fight an' stuff?

 

Can we bet on the winner?

 

Who gets to eat the loser?

Both can hit like a freight train, but the largemouth can lose steam at the end - where the smallmouth never does.  Likem both but my vote is bronze.

 

 

[Vilas15]

On 7/22/2018 at 9:46 AM, ww2farmer said:

One of my favorite things in the summer is catching smallmouth flipping weeds and grass with not a lot of line out. They are MAD, and a 4 or 5lber will often come 4 foot out of the water an arms length away, and even though it's on stout tackle and heavy line, there is nothing like it. It's the closest thing in bass fishing to grabbing a wild cat by the tail...you just hold on, and hope it doesn't hurt you, or destroy your equipment LOL.

Sounds awesome. I imagine it would be like catching a Musky at the boat on a figure 8 but with more aerial acrobatics. You're right about just hanging on, thats when you hope your drag wasn't locked down too tight.

[Further North]

1 hour ago, Vilas15 said:

Sounds awesome. I imagine it would be like catching a Musky at the boat on a figure 8 but with more aerial acrobatics. You're right about just hanging on, thats when you hope your drag wasn't locked down too tight.

A musky (or a pike) at the boat'll stop your heart...or start it.  'Specially if they're 40" or better, and it's topwater...

[BuzzHudson19c]

On 8/5/2018 at 8:39 PM, gimruis said:

I have been told that river smallmouths are harder fighting than their lake cousins because they have to be in order to survive the constant current and flowing water.  I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.

They are wild. There is a particular stretch of river that I fish, a tailrace out of a powerplant. I get my kayak right on the edge of the shale/rock ledge and run baits parallel to it. The smallmouth sit in holes and hangovers in the ledge and come flying out to destroy your bait. The definition of reaction bite. There have been multiple times where I have had the bait just out of the water on a retrieve only to have a smallie jump out and grab it. Scares you to death.