WHO FIGHTS HARDER 2

[mudcatwilly]

In the CA delta, we catch largemouth and striped bass.  Pound for pound, the striper fights harder.  I'd like to see some kind of tug-of-war between a smallie and a striper of equal weight.  But then again, I don't really care how hard a fish fights, as long as I get it in the boat.  I've spent 45 minutes fighting a fish in the SF bay and when I got it to the boat, it was a stinkin 40 pound bat ray.  I would've rather spent 10 minutes fighting a 20 pound king salmon.

[bronzeback_NW]

How did we get on plastics?

OK back to the topic.When was the last time you had a smallie roll over and give up on you?I do alot of float tubing for both smallies and largies time and time again the largemouth will quit.3lb smallies vs a 6lb largemouth I think the smallie is still much more of a fight IMO.And the battle is about half as long or less catching largemouth over smallmouth.GB...Jim

[GobbleDog]

Fishing in Florida all my life, I've never caught a smallmouth. I'd like to go up north and catch one someday. I've always heard that they fight harder. I assume that pound for pound, smallmouth probably win.

As for how often fish jump, largemouth bass that are smaller tend to jump a lot more than the bigger largermouth. So it doesn't surprise me that smallmouth bass overall jump more than largemouth.

Peacock bass look like the best fight. Those things seem downright ferocious. I'd like to catch one.

[SENKOSAM]

dodgeguy,

Largemouth are not consistant fighters, some are "tough", some are not. It seems to me that much of the "fight" is a function of size, pulling in a large, bulky mass is different than a small, sleek body.

However, for those who catch smallmouth on a regular basis, I cannot perceive how this comparison can be seriously considered. It's not just jumping, running and digging that favors the smallmouth bass, it is also the length of the fight and the surge at the boat that thrills. At any given EQUAL weight, the smallmouth is a stronger fish and battles more aggressively than its cousin.

Couldn't agree more. And the striped bass is even more of a fighter due to it's shape and an anatomy built to live in current.

[roadwarrior]

GobbleDog,

Actually you have a smallmouth unique to Florida and southern Georgia. It is a suwannee and is only native to the Suwannee River. Micro Munch Tackle uses this very special species of smallmouth for their logo.

[GobbleDog]

Ok, I've heard of Suwannee Bass before. I didn't know it was related to smallmouth though.

I ain't never caught none.

[-Drums-]

Hmmm.  My personal-best largemouth is a 6-3.  My PB smallie was a hair over 3 lbs.  There was no comparison, as I remember it.  I caught the smallie in a section of the Tennessee River that I was told (by a guide) also had some huge stripers - and no lie, for a second I thought that's what I had.  My drag was screaming, and this fish just would not come up.  Interestingly enough, it never jumped.  An acrobat he (or she) was not.  But to this day, that's the fightingest fish I've ever caught.  

I can't even IMAGINE what those hogs in RoadWarrior's avatar must have been like.  I'm thinking a good analog might be...uh, tarpon?    

[mjbfsh07]

Smallmouth fight better than Largemouth handsdown.  If you think differently you have been living in the south to long! COme up to the Northeast and try and fight one of these pigs.  A four pound smallmouth will give you more fight than a 7 pound largemouth.

[abelfisher]

Smallmouth, Hands down!  No question about it.  

[BassNut]

Pound for Pound it's the SMB Hands down.

Man if the LMB fought as hard as a smallie I think

there would be a lot more broken hearts out there for

the one's that would get away.

This one gave me the fight of it's life!

[roadwarrior]

BassNut,

WOW! That's a beauty...Congrats!