Ridiculed from buddies for bass fishing???

[king fisher]

My favorite lake the bass were planted illegally.  The commercial fish manager of the lake, wants all the bass removed because he believes they eat to many Tilapia.  He lets me sport fish, as long as I let any Tilapia I catch go, while encouraging me to keep any bass I catch.  I have to make sure no commercial fisherman see me release a bass.  Most of the time I'm the only one on the lake, or am to far away for anyone to see me release a bass.  I have killed a 10 pound bass because I caught it while a local was checking his net right next to me.  I gave him the bass and he was very happy.  I hated to kill it, but I don't want to offend any of the local people and loose access to the lake.  

       I was very critical of the management practices of the lake manager, but a friend pointed out, I hook a DD bass about 1/4 of the days I fish, there, so maybe the management isn't so bad, even if it is accidental.

[Buzzbaiter]

37 minutes ago, king fisher said:

My favorite lake the bass were planted illegally.  The commercial fish manager of the lake, wants all the bass removed because he believes they eat to many Tilapia. 

In that case, I could understand exterminating bass. If they’re truly invasive, then I see much more value in a native fishery than yet another bass fishery. I think that we as outdoorsmen should value and protect our native ecosystems a bit more, even when it might conflict with our own recreational interest. Killing a 10 pounder would still sadden me though

[Bassin Bruce]

Trout is king here, Catskill region, but I love to fish for any and all species of fish to include pan fish and such. Never gave any thought to what others might think or say and never cared what others were fishing for.

I don't fish with anyone except my son and he doesn't speak so I'm not sure of his opinion of my target fish but I think he's okay with it.

[ironbjorn]

People who think like this are too limp wristed to set a hook, too talentless to learn a baitcaster, and too stupid to locate fish and prefer the laziness of sit and wait.

[king fisher]

10 hours ago, Buzzbaiter said:

In that case, I could understand exterminating bass. If they’re truly invasive, then I see much more value in a native fishery than yet another bass fishery. I think that we as outdoorsmen should value and protect our native ecosystems a bit more, even when it might conflict with our own recreational interest. Killing a 10 pounder would still sadden me though

The problem is the Tilapia they are trying to protect are not a native species.  I do understand their point of view.  The dam was built to try and improve the lives of the local people.  They planted Tilapia to give the people that until then relied completely on farming, a chance to make some money on commercial fishing.  Some one plants bass for recreational purposes, and they fear the bass are eating their profits.  The bass are there and are not going away.  They catch and kill as many as they can with nets, but a few survive and learn to live in the trees where they can't get caught by nets.   The lake is not good for numbers.  The few that survive have more to eat than a lake with a big population of bass would.  Many days I only get a couple bites, but they are usually big.  Completely by accident a trophy bass lake was born. 

[cyclops2]

Their country. Their local land.  They do as they please. I never eat any Tilapia. 

 

 

[scaleface]

I use to visit a bar that was full of old men . I knew the owner since I was a kid . Every time I came in they would start talking fishing and bash bass .  I just had to take it . They were having fun .

[DaubsNU1]

A few of my buddies worked for Cabela's here in Nebraska years ago (corporate HQ). They were all die-hard walleye fishermen.

 

One of those guys actually purchased a lodge in Canada, and we still get up there now and then. It's a trophy walleye fishery...and they absolutely slay the "Eyes." I like to eat walleye, but fishing for them bores the hell out of me. I'll go, and it's great to hang with friends, but I'd rather be chasing bass, or even Musky / Pike. 

 

To each his own. Doesn't bother me a bit. 

 

Brother and I took my Dad to South Dakota last spring to chase smallies. We had a BLAST! Caught tons of fish.

[cyclops2]

I would rate a Walleye  the least desirable gamefish. 

 

Food wise # 2.   

 

# 1 is fresh caught Yellow Perch. I would eat them prepared in any way.

[Bluebasser86]

A lot of guys here see bass as baitfish ?‍♂️ It's legal as long as they're keeper size and not over the daily bag limit so nothing we can do about it but there's a pretty strong disdain between catfishermen towards bass guys it seems. Some is caused by bass guys not respecting the catfish guys space and right to the water, but some is the cat guys seem to think that since bass don't get as big, they're inferior. I fish for both and enjoy both so I don't understand it but it's there for sure. 

[schplurg]

Like the song says:

 

We can bass if we want to,

We can leave your friends behind,

Cause your friends don't bass,

and if they don't bass,

well, they're no friends of mine...

 

?

[gim]

On 2/25/2022 at 9:42 AM, DaubsNU1 said:

but fishing for them bores the hell out of me

It’s extremely boring sometimes. Dragging around live bait or trolling crank baits through the basin is like watching paint dry. There is definitely some finesse and feel involved though, I’ll admit that.

 

Another item not mentioned yet with walleye. Anyone who has ever caught one knows that there is almost fight to them. Even a sizable one feels like reeling in a wet sock.

[Junk Fisherman]

9 times out of 10, the jokes I see online targeting bass fishing is coming from walleye fishermen.  Seems like walleye fishermen are insecure about their fishing which is why they want to mock bass fishing.  I don't have any interest in walleye fishing myself yet I enjoy catching the occasional stray 'eye.  Personally, I respect all types of fishing and enjoy talking to passionate fishermen of other species.  

[cyclops2]

Part of this problem is the arrogance of some bass fishermen stocking every piece of water with bass.

 

Who died & put them in charge of spreading bass all over the world ?

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, cyclops2 said:

Part of this problem is the arrogance of some bass fishermen stocking every piece of water with bass.

 

Who died & put them in charge of spreading bass all over the world ?

 

Should bass fishermen stock the type of fish you want to fish for?  

 

[cyclops2]

YES !!   

[N Florida Mike]

Bass is king in fresh water here. Specks are second, maybe not too distantly.

The problem here is more people like saltwater fishing . They dont run us down much for bass fishing, but I get the impression that most of them would rather spend a couple days with their mother in law than go bass fishing…

[Aaron_H]

Tell 'em to kick rocks. Plenty of room to be a fan of whatever species you want, no need to tear other anglers down.

 

Now good natured trash talk between friends is another thing, but I don't have room in my life for anyone who gains happiness by trying to undermine my happiness.

[cyclops2]

A 3' eel beats a no fish day for me.  Been there.  Water fish & me. All is good.   

 

Edit

My best C & R was a BIG  water snake looked too poisonous. So I broke a forked  branch and held his head still. Removed the hook with another stick. 

 

He ran up my leg & kissed me.?

[LCG]

I just enjoy fishing. Any species if fine by me. 

[soflabasser]

This subject reminds me of a friend that does not like me fishing for bass. One day he went on a rant about how bass fishing is a waste of time and how he does not understand why sometimes I rather fish for bass than fish with him in his boat for saltwater fish. I explained to him that I enjoy bass fishing in the Everglades since it is one of my favorite places and that I catch lots of fish. That whole day he was upset while we were fishing on his boat. To this day he still does not understand why I like bass fishing and multi species fishing. That is ok with me since I like catching bass and will continue to fish for bass for the rest of my life. Besides I have caught lots of big saltwater fish in my life so I can fish for whatever I want, however I want since it is what makes me happy.

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

That whole day he was upset while we were fishing on his boat. To this day he still does not understand why I like bass fishing and multi species fishing.

Sounds like he needs his dosage adjusted.

[thediscochef]

On 2/24/2022 at 7:28 PM, Skunkmaster-k said:

Here in Texas bass is king  , so it did weird me out to read people consider them trashy. 

It's wild but I meet a surprising amount of folks here that ridicule bass fishing, as well as a surprising amount that keep them to eat, too. It irks me but again that's why I try to find totally unoccupied water when I can. Easier said than done in DFW.

 

[Glenn]

I used to have friends (and ex-girlfriends) ridicule my obsession until I created this as my response:

 

Quote

It's what I do because it's in my DNA.  You don't have to like it. In fact, feel free to hate it.  I'm not asking you to agree with it, but you do have to respect it.

 

Haven't had to give that speech in decades.

 

On another note, I live in a state where the game department has declared bass, walleye, and catfish an "invasive species", and is on a quest to exterminate them, all in the name of the Almighty Salmon.  Despite, of course, any evidence or studies whatsoever that demonstrate they harm salmon populations.  So...that has a way of "empowering" trout and salmon anglers to discriminate against warm water anglers.

[soflabasser]

10 hours ago, Glenn said:

On another note, I live in a state where the game department has declared bass, walleye, and catfish an "invasive species", and is on a quest to exterminate them, all in the name of the Almighty Salmon.  Despite, of course, any evidence or studies whatsoever that demonstrate they harm salmon populations.  So...that has a way of "empowering" trout and salmon anglers to discriminate against warm water anglers.

 

This reminds me of people that complain about bullseye snakeheads and other exotic species of fish in South Florida yet the largemouth bass fishing here is amazing. These fish coexist well together, that is a fact that many do not want to accept. People will always discriminate against what fish you like to fish for so it best to do what makes you happy and not care much what others think.