What's your favorite part?

[Catt]

@slonezp 👍

[Mobasser]

Since I'm a plastic worm fisherman, my favourite part is the tap- tap when I get a strike. But, I really love everything about bass fishing. I've been obsessed for years...

[Buzzbaiter]

Fighting a solid fish and seeing how big it is. 

[papajoe222]

For me, it's all about the fight. I've gotten more enjoyment from a 15in. bass tugging and jumping, with that don't give up attitude, than I have from some 22in.+ bass that make a run for deep water and once I turn them, the fight is basically over. I love the big girls, but some just lay there and you do all the work.  It's the main reason I love smallmouth, no matter the size, it's a fight to the finish.

[DaubsNU1]

I love the preparation. Getting the boat set up just right. Selecting the rods for the day, making sure they are in good working order, then rigging them up with the lures / techniques to start the day. Planning out drinks / snacks, etc. Making sure the truck is ready to roll. 

 

I love being first at the ramp, launching before daylight...moving silently across the water, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. 

 

I love that first cast...hearing the line peel off the reel...the first ker-plunk of a buzz bait hitting the water....the gurgle as I retrieve. 

 

I love the thrashing of a bass hammering the buzz-bait...wait just a second...now set the hook! The pull on my line...the fight. 

I love lipping that first fish of the day. Admiring God's creation. Thanking Mr. Bass for the dance...and slowly releasing back in to the water...the gentle pause, then the quick kick as the bass heads back for cover. 

 

I love the "tap-Tap-TAP" of a t-rigged plastic worm bite. 

 

I love watching the sunrise over the water. I love the pheasants cackling in the distance. I love the whistle of Mallard wings as they pass overhead. I love the slap-slap-slap of Canada goose wings as they struggle to get airborne. 

 

I love the peace and quite of nature at sunrise.  I love it all. 

[scaleface]

I think my favorite part is when I'm right about where the bass are and what bait or technique they will bite. Last week I fished this iron structure "dam equipment" with a worm and no takers. Later that day I was thinking about that beam and it struck me to go back and hit it with a tube. Returned and caught four including the largest of the day.

[Catt]

@Mike L Sounds like Livescoping 

[Susky River Rat]

I love the initial part of the bass hitting. The excitement of knowing something is on my line and I had no clue it was going to happen is exhilarating for. Only second best to landing it

[Mike L]

25 minutes ago, Catt said:

@Mike L Sounds like Livescoping 

Yep

 

But I’m just an old fashioned guy. 
😃

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

[Woody B]

Disclaimer: I have a great life, it's just a busy life.  Not looking for sympathy.  

 

I have limited time to fish.  When I do get to fish I usually have "stuff" to do after I'm done fishing.  When I first get to the lake and launch my boat the ONLY THING on my mind is fishing.  It's both intense, and relaxing at the same time.   After a while fishing "life" thought come back into my mind.  The first hour or two it's like I'm back in my childhood with nothing on my mind except Bass.  

 

 

Regarding taps, engulfs, size of baits ect.   It's my belief that when fishing bottom contact stuff you'd better set the hook if you "think" you feel anything.  With Spots you'll lose part of a plastic occasionally, but I truly believe if you wait to set the hook you'll catch a few more small Spots, but lose out on many bigger Bass.   It's by belief that big Bass (including Spots)....over 5 pounds or so don't mess around when biting.   By the time you're decided if there's "weight" on your line they've already spit out your lure and moved on.   Also, I've gotten away from using "monster" worms.   Perhaps they're the ticket is some waters where there's really BIG Bass.  It's my belief if you're not getting bit with a "normal" 6 inch worm, but can get bit with a 10 inch worm it's due to the fall rate.   Simply use a smaller weight with the 6 inch worm.  The bites will come back, and you don't have to play "when to set the hook" games with yourself.  

[little giant]

I like the whole aspect of fishing! For the last year I've been doing a lot of bfs fishing. Lightest rod is ML and best LMB so far was 8 lbs. What FUN!!! The rod nearly doubled over, drag screaming, where are those blood pressure pills!! Lol 😅

[SC53]

When preparation meets opportunity and it all falls into place. 
Plus the release.  That’s one of the best parts for me if it happens. 

[Catt]

9 hours ago, Mike L said:

Yep

 

But I’m just an old fashioned guy. 
😃

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

Staring at em on a screen ain't the same as in person. 

[MN Fisher]

24 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Staring at em on a screen ain't the same as in person. 

If I wanted to stare at fish on a screen, there's plenty of YouTube videos shot underwater.

[gim]

The “thump” of a sizable bass that stops a moving lure is tough to beat for this guy. When I am winding in a spinnerbait or a chatterbait and the blades stop vibrating because something made it stop is when my blood pressure starts to rise.

[Zcoker]

Picture a dark, calm night where the water is a slick as glass, and the calm serenity of the night is nothing but the faint plop plop of a retrieving surface lure....there's nothing more exhilarating when a big 7-8lb bass slams a musky jitterbug right at boat side. The explosion of sound mingled with the splashing dark water seems to split the senses wide open! Unbelievable experience. 

[Rockhopper]

If I'm honest...shopping new gear.  I spend more time shopping cool lures/rods/reels than I do fishing lol!

[Bazoo]

1 hour ago, Rockhopper said:

If I'm honest...shopping new gear.  I spend more time shopping cool lures/rods/reels than I do fishing lol!

I like researching new to me techniques. Trying new colors, and overall just enjoy the tackle side of bass fishing.

 

I generally go back to the same colors and styles that I know work.

[Pat Brown]

Hmmmmm: I'm pretty opportunistic when it comes to "purpose" and bass fishing.

 

I like being in touch with nature and it's cycles and always carefully observing them.

 

I like watching big bass swim and attack things in shallow clear water and the perspective being a big bass hunter affords me to these phenomena.

 

I like preparing for a trip and reading the conditions and solving the puzzle of where the bass are and what they are in the mood to bite.

 

I like releasing fish and watching them swim off to be caught again.

 

But nothing beats the bite from a LARGE bass:  just my honest opinion.  It's the single most validating moment in all of bass fishing when you can make the apex predator hit an artificial lure.  Even better when you time your hookset just right and she grabs the bait just right and you get to hold her.  But the bite is special.

 

The thump you feel on a crankbait or a jerk bait or a worm or a jig - seeing your line swimming off to one side or the other - the line going slack - oh goodness....topwater blow ups 🥹🥹🥹🤤🤤🤤♥️♥️♥️ when a fish toilet bowl flushes my frog or my buzzbait as it comes out of some grass or across a limb.  This is what it's all for.  It's also fun now to help others achieve those goals both friends and family alike.  The puzzle is great but when you get them to take your lure....that's when the real fun starts!

 

Good thread.

[Choporoz]

I love everything about catching bass, but I have to admit that the favorite parts are when it is about me.  Getting bit on a 'perfect cast'; successful adjustments on the water; or seeing something on sonar or map I hadn't fished and using my experience and knowledge to boat a decent fish from a spot or approach I wasn't previously familiar with, etc.

[Fried Lemons]

It's definitely that moment when a big fish hits the net. For me it's the ultimate satisfaction knowing I did everything right leading up to that moment. I can recall every fish over 6lbs I've ever caught - each one is a special memory.

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

This thread has so many personally relatable aspects. Great stuff everyone! I'll have a go an toss in $0.02 worth. I'm all into going fishing when I can.  Yes, my life is busy with all sorts of family and professional responsibilities. Combine that with an area that requires some travel to get to a fishing spot and you have an opportunistic recreational angler. Sure I prefer catching rather than casting. It is the catching that is memorable and evokes youthful memories of family catching sunfish, bass, crappie, and catfish. Those memories are the foundation for today's memories.

 

I have to state that I am all in on the fishing thing. I appreciate the entire angling adventure. Yup, I even enjoy just thinking about it too! Probably because that work thing still gets in the way of recreating. Being a recreational angler I've got simple objectives. Mainly to enjoy my self, minimize cost and complexity (that affects available time to go fishing). Keeping things reasonably simple improves the catching and enjoyment. Too much gear or too much fancy stuff just requires additional effort and fussing that I can do without. This does not mean I don't investigate different techniques or gear, I simply do it in a relaxed way never wandering too far from simplistic success.

 

I use mainly UL gear and I have investigated BFS and bait casting reels as of late. I'm taking my time in learning a few thing. BassResource has been great as I can read and view information shared by others, very nice. I've had some good success catching a few larger than typical fish on the BFS gear. These successes have demonstrated to me that I can use it reasonable well. I may use it occasionally but it does require a dedicated effort, so I'm not sure I need to work that hard to achieve desired results.

 

Back to the original question(s). Yes, I fully enjoy each and every aspect of my angling adventures. I love that feeling on the UL rig that tells me something is interested in playing! I love the sound of the drag clicking or screaming as line peels off the whispy UL rod. I love the sound of fully tensioned mono in the light breeze changing frequency as the tension on the line changes and vibrates. A soundtrack that represents the drama of the moment.

 

I am totally gratified when I'm able to make that precision cast and put the bait right where I want it be. I also totally enjoy the look of the line flowing in an arc with that minimal effort high accuracy cast. I love seeing the line move or increase in tension as something at the other end is "interested".

 

Quirky or not, I make it a point to thank each fish for the opportunity to play. Truly grateful to be able to do that too! Even when returning from the angling adventures, the drive home lets me think about what I did, how I did, and what I'm going to try to do next time. Usually it also involves what I need to fix or modify for the next adventure.

 

It is All GOOD! Wishing each of you well, and Cheers!

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, Fried Lemons said:

It's definitely that moment when a big fish hits the net. For me it's the ultimate satisfaction knowing I did everything right leading up to that moment. I can recall every fish over 6lbs I've ever caught - each one is a special memory.

 

I remember mine all too, Buddy, but you have more than me!

[king fisher]

Catching a bass that is so big I'm not even tempted to add half a pound when I'm telling the story.

 

To be honest my favorite part is a combination of  everything.   Buying my tackle, planning the trip, making the first cast at sunrise, feeling the strike, the thrill of the fight, landing the bass, watching it swim away when I release it, making the last cast of the day, talking and reading about bass fishing, and everything else in-between.  

[ironbjorn]

Other than actually landing the bass, from the strike to the successful hook set is easily the best part.