Salmon and trout guys

[Cantcatchbass]

Here Smallmouth bass get tons of hate from trout and salmon anglers and they often take it to far with using bass illegaly as bear bait or just wasting them.Does anyone else have this problem in their state or province 

[roadwarrior]

Not in Tennessee.

 

[Steelhead]

I'm on the west coast of B.C., Canada and here bass are scorned by a lot of different angling communities. First, both the Smallmouth and Largemouth are not native species here with the Smallie being introduced back in the 1920's by the Province of B.C. and there isn't much info on how the Largemouth got introduced but there is some theories that it migrated through some of the larger watersheds south of us that would be Washington and Idaho states. Probably more applicable would be the illegal transport and introduction and that would be certainly the case over the last 30 years. 

 

All the the different angling communities of both salmon and trout place some partial or whole blame on the bass for the decline of the specie they are pursuing. Most claim the bass are "devouring" the juvenile stocks of trout and salmon species which in my research over the years are very minimal at best. There have been studies on bass impact on native trout and salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest which most concluded there wasn't enough sufficient evidence that proved this be true. 

 

Probably the most ignorant anglers is the "elite" fly fishing community. There is a regional fly fishing forum and from time to time the topic of bass comes up and some of the comments are pompous, preposterous, ill-informed and perilous. I just shake my head... really? It's ludicrous to place blame and make derogatory comments on species of fish that has no or very little impact on the decline of other fish species when there is overwhelming evidence of other contributing factors. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a avid fly fisherman and have been at it for over 40 years and most Flyfishers are humble, helpful and well informed but from what I've seen and heard there is small group from this angling community that are ignorant, arrogant and most outspoken on this subject. 

 

With all all that being said, it's an actual benefit for me in that  the fishing pressure for bass here is minimal. The way it's going here in PNW with the salmon and native trout stocks in bad shape and only going to decline and the bass be one of the few gamefish left. I loved fly fishing for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead both in fresh and saltwater but the stock of these different species have declined in different times with first, the Steelhead then Coho/Chinook followed by the Sockeye and the last 4 years the Pink Salmon numbers have declined drastically and last year the Chum Salmon returns were dismal. The only specie I now fly fish for is the Sea-run Cutthroat Trout both in fresh and salt water. I'm sad to say it will be next. 

 

I love both both bass fishing and fly fishing but consider myself fortunate and grateful that I have the choice to pursue both bass species. 

[Cantcatchbass]

1 hour ago, Steelhead said:

I'm on the west coast of B.C., Canada and here bass are scorned by a lot of different angling communities. First, both the Smallmouth and Largemouth are not native species here with the Smallie being introduced back in the 1920's by the Province of B.C. and there isn't much info on how the Largemouth got introduced but there is some theories that it migrated through some of the larger watersheds south of us that would be Washington and Idaho states. Probably more applicable would be the illegal transport and introduction and that would be certainly the case over the last 30 years. 

 

All the the different angling communities of both salmon and trout place some partial or whole blame on the bass for the decline of the specie they are pursuing. Most claim the bass are "devouring" the juvenile stocks of trout and salmon species which in my research over the years are very minimal at best. There have been studies on bass impact on native trout and salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest which most concluded there wasn't enough sufficient evidence that proved this be true. 

 

Probably the most ignorant anglers is the "elite" fly fishing community. There is a regional fly fishing forum and from time to time the topic of bass comes up and some of the comments are pompous, preposterous, ill-informed and perilous. I just shake my head... really? It's ludicrous to place blame and make derogatory comments on species of fish that has no or very little impact on the decline of other fish species when there is overwhelming evidence of other contributing factors. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a avid fly fisherman and have been at it for over 40 years and most Flyfishers are humble, helpful and well informed but from what I've seen and heard there is small group from this angling community that are ignorant, arrogant and most outspoken on this subject. 

 

With all all that being said, it's an actual benefit for me in that  the fishing pressure for bass here is minimal. The way it's going here in PNW with the salmon and native trout stocks in bad shape and only going to decline and the bass be one of the few gamefish left. I loved fly fishing for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead both in fresh and saltwater but the stock of these different species have declined in different times with first, the Steelhead then Coho/Chinook followed by the Sockeye and the last 4 years the Pink Salmon numbers have declined drastically and last year the Chum Salmon returns were dismal. The only specie I now fly fish for is the Sea-run Cutthroat Trout both in fresh and salt water. I'm sad to say it will be next. 

 

I love both both bass fishing and fly fishing but consider myself fortunate and grateful that I have the choice to pursue both bass species. 

The trout  guys here in nb are insane ,once there was a guy asking for bass fishing tips for nb on Facebook a trout guy lied and say the government just passed a law to kill all bass and the dude who was asking believed it but good thing some guy told him the real regulations later on which were 2bass from 12in to 24inches and from July 1st to sept 15

[Steelhead]

11 minutes ago, Cantcatchbass said:

The trout  guys here in nb are insane ,once there was a guy asking for bass fishing tips for nb on Facebook a trout guy lied and say the government just passed a law to kill all bass and the dude who was asking believed it but good thing some guy told him the real regulations later on which were 2bass from 12in to 24inches and from July 1st to sept 15

 

Amazing. I used to get angry at the comments but now just laugh. Ironically, I know a guy that has worked in the tackle industry for 30 years and a very good flyfisher. I ran into him about 5 years ago on a lake using conventional gear targeting bass. He was a staunch flyfisher and conventional gear was used by dummies according to him and bass should be killed off in all provincial waters. He told me he now loves fishing for bass with spinning and casting gear. He did admit he was wrong as he never did fish for bass. Got give him credit for being humble... I guess(haha).

[islandbass]

Add WA state to that list. Bass haters. I love. These same people moan and gripe about the natives hogging all the Salmon and steelhead and that they’re almost. They are a bunch of self-hating, self-righteous folk. Why do I love it? Because it leaves all the bass to me. 

[Whatever]

In NW MT it is the Northern Pike that get the hate. They are non-native here, and did not exist here 50 years ago when I was young. And admittedly, they are voracious predators. I enjoy fishing them, but still recognize the huge complications they create. And Lake Trout have mostly been legally marked for extermination by local Fishery Managers, due to impact on Native Cutts and Bull Trout (which were considered as "trash fish" by many locals when I was a kid). Now Walleyes are popping up locally as well.

Out state and Federal Fishery Managers are attempting to restore a "Native" fish ecosystem, and dramatically losing.

After 150 years of ceaseless, blundering human intervention in fisheries, I don't think we can ever revert to stable management.

Biology is driven by politics, and lawyers outnumber biologists by a significant factor.

[Bluegillslayer]

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

Add WA state to that list.

I live in Washington and where I live people think the local lake i fish only has trout or has no fish at all I dont think they even know that their are other fish species in Washington other then trout and salmon. LOL

[islandbass]

1 hour ago, Bluegillslayer said:

I live in Washington and where I live people think the local lake i fish only has trout or has no fish at all I dont think they even know that their are other fish species in Washington other then trout and salmon. LOL

Not surprising, lol. I live in WA state too. Local lakes stocked with trout can quickly be emptied of the stickers fairly quickly by anglers and if they’re present, bass. ?

[JoeInCT]

I can’t understand how any fisherman  would look down on small mouth. Saturday I caught a 2-2.5 lb small mouth in knee deep water on a light action rod. It was one of the best fishing experiences of my life. To each his own I guess. 

[islandbass]

3 hours ago, Bluegillslayer said:

I live in Washington and where I live people think the local lake i fish only has trout or has no fish at all I dont think they even know that their are other fish species in Washington other then trout and salmon. LOL

Sounds like you might live in south king county, lol. 

[canada mike]

Just something too  blame mismanagement on. Especially salmon. Heaven forbid you point out the real reasons for decline in trout and salmon populations. There are lots of places where smallmouth and largemouth shouldn't be but them seem to be magically appearing everywhere.  

[Sphynx]

Agreed that some fly (and other if we are being honest) fishermen are elitist in the extreme, show up with anything less than a hardy rod/reel, Simms Waders and fishing the trendiest flies and they turn their noses up so high they'd drown in anything more than a light rain, if you really want to see these types lose it, mention just how much fun bass are to take on the fly, and if you've never done it you really should, it's a perfect marriage of tackle and fish and will get the blood pumping in ways that spinning/casting gear never has for me. I can understand how toothy fish could be problematic for salmonid species, but trout/salmon aren't at much risk beyond a certain size, sure the big ones will slurp a trout that is small enough, but I'd bet that bass feed big salmon or steelhead at least as much or more than the other way around, Pike are another thing altogether, also a ton of fun to nail on a fly rod if you have gear that can handle it.

[J Francho]

8 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

if you really want to see these types lose it

Just show up with a centrepin and bead rig, and catch all the fish from the hole in front of them.

[Sphynx]

5 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Just show up with a centrepin and bead rig, and catch all the fish from the hole in front of them.

That'd certainly do it too.

[Whatever]

11 hours ago, Sphynx said:

Agreed that some fly (and other if we are being honest) fishermen are elitist in the extreme, show up with anything less than a hardy rod/reel, Simms Waders and fishing the trendiest flies and they turn their noses up so high they'd drown in anything more than a light rain, if you really want to see these types lose it, mention just how much fun bass are to take on the fly, and if you've never done it you really should, it's a perfect marriage of tackle and fish and will get the blood pumping in ways that spinning/casting gear never has for me. I can understand how toothy fish could be problematic for salmonid species, but trout/salmon aren't at much risk beyond a certain size, sure the big ones will slurp a trout that is small enough, but I'd bet that bass feed big salmon or steelhead at least as much or more than the other way around, Pike are another thing altogether, also a ton of fun to nail on a fly rod if you have gear that can handle it.

You are absolutely correct. I started fly fishing in the late 60's, when it was just another technique. In the late 70's it became trendy, as the yuppies "discovered" it. I love the improved gear and techniques, but really, it is still just fishing. When I teach fly tying classes, I always emphasize this. It is no more expensive than any other fishing, if you want it to be. Trout and Salmon are incredible species, but no more so than bass and pike, and dozens of other fish. About 10 years ago carp were the "trendy" fish.

Now you have to be "extreme, "dedicated", "professional" or "passionate" about your sport.

I miss fishing and hunting when they were just pastime's. Before they became industries.

[Sphynx]

9 minutes ago, Whatever said:

You are absolutely correct. I started fly fishing in the late 60's, when it was just another technique. In the late 70's it became trendy, as the yuppies "discovered" it. I love the improved gear and techniques, but really, it is still just fishing. When I teach fly tying classes, I always emphasize this. It is no more expensive than any other fishing, if you want it to be. Trout and Salmon are incredible species, but no more so than bass and pike, and dozens of other fish. About 10 years ago carp were the "trendy" fish.

Now you have to be "extreme, "dedicated", "professional" or "passionate" about your sport.

I miss fishing and hunting when they were just pastime's. Before they became industries.

You can be extreme, dedicated professional and passionate about your chosen hobbies without being a total ****** about it, I spend almost every spare minute of every day researching, learning, practicing or just thinking about my hobbies, but I'm also a human being with real life obligations, and that's ok too, I do have to respectfully disagree about fly fishing not being the more expensive form of fishing, it doesn't HAVE to be, but I am pretty sure that anyone who gets bitten by that particular bug will end up spending a whole lot of money on it, it is very, very, very easy to do.

[Whatever]

"You can be extreme, dedicated professional and passionate about your chosen hobbies without being a total ****** about it"

Most folks are really decent about fishing. I guess that was my point--It usually is, but doesn't have to be. I have no idea how many tens of thousands of dollars I have spent on fly fishing and spinning tackle and trips over the years. It is substantial, but I can separate the gear into categories of really wanted, vs just what I needed. A lot of it enhances my enjoyment, but not necessarily improves my catch rate. And the the two do not share a linear function. Was it money and time wasted? Not in my mind.

My objection is when folks use the discretionary income factor to display their supposedly master status or ego, vs just admitting they really enjoy a given sport. When folks ask, I just say "I fish frequently. And sometimes I catch". I use the title "experienced", and let it go at that, because  things like enjoyment, satisfaction or enrichment cannot be measured. Some days I think maybe golf would have been cheaper.