ESPN names most saught after fish.

[GAMEOVER]

ESPN just recently (sorta, couple days ago or so) named the #1 saught after game fish the Largemouth Bass.. suprisingly in this list the Smallmouth came in 3rd while the RedFish (im almost positive) stole (imo) 2nd. Lb for lb Smallmouth is for the fighters but if you want some big big bass go look for some Largemouth. I love both equally to be honest if its a Bass im a happy man. Just thought id post sure some of you others saw it. I missed 4 and 5 but I sure hope the Pike, Muskie, and/or Steelhead were somewhere on this list (assuming it was top 10).

Offtopic: I love muskie and all but I swear if it werent for Muskie youd hear a lot more Pike stories there is some monsterous thunder strikeing Pike here in Michigan.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Tommy Sanders has been using that list as "fill" for 2 seasons now.  He really needs to give it a break.  It's like, every 3rd week on average.

[BD]

And LBH most of them repeat....very annoying.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey LBH send them one of your videos they are much more entertaining 8-)

[Brian_Reeves]

suprisingly in this list the Smallmouth came in 3rd while the RedFish (im almost positive) stole (imo) 2nd. Lb for lb Smallmouth is for the fighters quote]

I've never seen a 16" smallmouth empty spools of line and leave you sitting there in the boat dumbfounded with nothing but a bare spool before.  Redfish can if you're not careful...even the small ones

[SPEEDBEAD.]

It's really hard to beat a smallmouth. Here in PA (juniata and susquehanna rivers), there is an abundance of those things. Spend a Mid May day with me throwing topwaters, catching 20" smallmouth and I don't think you will have much of an argument against bronzebacks.

[Matt Fly]

One must look at the ability to fish for that species.     How easy is it to chase redfish when you live in South Dakota or other mid states.

We do have some smallmouth in our waters, but not like what we here about on the eastern coast.

A easy way to verify numbers is saltwater license over freshwater sales.

That won't be accurate for one reason, fresh water or salt water doesn't tell what species of fish are sought after, only type, but its a good start.

I would bet that more annual freshwater licenses are sold more than annual saltwater licenses.

[tipptruck1]

I think the large mouth are so saught after is becsaue there every were. If the small mouth grew as big down south as the largies the smallies would be saught after more. But I like catching large mouth and smallies more.

[Brian_Reeves]

One must look at the ability to fish for that species. How easy is it to chase redfish when you live in South Dakota or other mid states.

We do have some smallmouth in our waters, but not like what we here about on the eastern coast.

A easy way to verify numbers is saltwater license over freshwater sales.

That won't be accurate for one reason, fresh water or salt water doesn't tell what species of fish are sought after, only type, but its a good start.

I would bet that more annual freshwater licenses are sold more than annual saltwater licenses.

As far as I know, they always came joint when I bought them.  I get a hunting/freshwater/saltwater for free now because of my active military status, but I'm pretty sure that I always got fresh/salt on the same liscense in Louisiana.  Not sure if I just bought the combo or if they come seperate though.  I've caught decent smallies and I've caught small-monster redfish.  The smaller redfish fight much, much harder which is why I would say it's a hugely sought after fish.  Look at resteraunts that seel cajun food.  Blackened redfish in on the menue.  It's not only a gamefish, but a good tasting fish as well, bringing in commercial sells as well.

Smallies are almost a nationwide fish as to where redfish are only in a few parts in the southeast if I'm not mistaken.  Seeing as how FLW has a redfish tour but incorporates smallies in with their bass tour makes me think that redfish do hold their own as a popular gamefish despite their limited habitats.

[GAMEOVER]

suprisingly in this list the Smallmouth came in 3rd while the RedFish (im almost positive) stole (imo) 2nd. Lb for lb Smallmouth is for the fighters quote]

I've never seen a 16" smallmouth empty spools of line and leave you sitting there in the boat dumbfounded with nothing but a bare spool before. Redfish can if you're not careful...even the small ones

True but the same could be said for Pike, Muskie, and Steelhead (fish im familiar with here in Michigan) Those things could tear your arm off.

[Guest avid]

It seems none of us has a problem with LMB being num. one. But even though I love samllmouth fishing, you Northern boys are missing out on some very thrilling fishing.

Think about it. Your wading or quietly drifting through inshore flats. You see this spotted tail gently finning the surface. You know it means a master gamefish is casually feeding. So using every bit of stealth you can muster you ease within casting distance and call on all your skill to GENTLY drop a lure in FRONT of his feeding path. No big splash or you spook him. Too far off and he's not interested but if you do it just right............................. BAM. The power of bull refish is awesome. The experience can leave you trembling in your boots.

PS> They are a beautiful, great eating fish.

[Rattlinrogue]

Yeah,I've seen that list at least 100 times in the last couple of years.I do think the LM bass is # 1,but then again I've never fished for or caught a Smallie.I might change my mind.

[DR_Bass]

I would like to be further up north so I could fish for smallmouth and I would like to be on coast so I could fish for Redfish but, for now, I'll have to stick with largemouth. :'( :

[GAMEOVER]

I think the large mouth are so saught after is becsaue there every were. If the small mouth grew as big down south as the largies the smallies would be saught after more. But I like catching large mouth and smallies more.

I think your a little off imo. Largemouth Bass are more saught after because they grow huge compared to their hostile cousins, the Smallmouth Bass. When people catch fish they always want that big fish (its like some oldschool muscle car guys and their bigger motors that they crave). Face it, size matters and when it comes to Bass the Largemouth is the King of size (for Bass). I too love catching both Large and Smallmouth but for newer anglers ripping in a 6lb Largemouth Bass compared to a 3lb Smallmouth will get them hooked more just because of the fact they are going to look at that hawg and be awed. The part I disagree with is when you said they are everywhere. They're not everywhere if you look at it from a Global stand point. NA dominates most of the Bass population.

You have to think to ESPN covers just the NA sports fishing scene. Im 100% positive other countries would have a completely different #1-10. We are blessed to have such a wonderful species of fish to catch that not many can. The American Flag to America is like the Largemouth Bass to American Fishing. I have many, many friends who are anglers half of them dont even fish for Bass some fish only for the fight of a Pike/Muskie or the good taste of Perch/Walleye. I always bs with them and have asked every single one of them at one time or another that if they were fishing for Bass what would they rather catch they all told me Largemouth when I asked why I got an appearance related answer every time. Now everyone on this forum pretty much are hardcore Bass anglers so we appreciate the both for different reasons. As a rule of thumb smallies will fight harder then a Largemouth but, I have caught Largemouth that out faught smallies of the same size. Even though were all human we are all different and even though Bass are Bass they are all different as well. The biggest Bass fight I ever had and will never forget was when I was 16 and it was on a Largemouth. It was at Lake Erie (a known lunker/hawg spot for Michigan Bass anglers) I was with my father and grandfather, my father hooked into this thing and gave me the rod (so I dont consider it a catch for me) and this thing wouldnt let up at all. It took me around 20 minutes to get her in from about 14 feet away. It was a little over 8lbs, it wasnt as long as some of the 6lber's ive caught but this thing was fat as hell and its mouth was huge. I'll never forget that day and ever since then ive been hooked on Bass. So for me it was the Largemouth that got me hooked as im sure it has for so many others. I hope some people dont misinterprate this whole post as I have a hard time getting people to understand what I truely mean but anyway, yeah.

[GAMEOVER]

It seems none of us has a problem with LMB being num. one. But even though I love samllmouth fishing, you Northern boys are missing out on some very thrilling fishing.

Think about it. Your wading or quietly drifting through inshore flats. You see this spotted tail gently finning the surface. You know it means a master gamefish is casually feeding. So using every bit of stealth you can muster you ease within casting distance and call on all your skill to GENTLY drop a lure in FRONT of his feeding path. No big splash or you spook him. Too far off and he's not interested but if you do it just right............................. BAM. The power of bull refish is awesome. The experience can leave you trembling in your boots.

PS> They are a beautiful, great eating fish.

Bass being aside for now,

I understand that completely. Just like Michigan has our hardcore fighting Pike/Muskie/Steelheads that most states dont have. But hey we in Michigan dont have some of the fish you guys got down south or elsewhere to enjoy. Every state in America that I can think of off the top of my head has a great sub-species to catch aside from our beloved bass. Id love to take a few state fishing trip just to catch fish I can never catch in my area. As a matter of fact I wrote down and kept a name and number to a guy RW highly recommended to me for when I do.

[Brian_Reeves]

Actually Gameover, I think that redfish are more hunted in Louisiana than bass.  We have hundreds and thousands of acres of coastal marshland that is packed full of these boat dragging beasts.  You see more bay boats than bass boats in almost every city in the state, even near akansas.  I'm sure FL. is probably no different.  There is NOTHING that compares to a redfish and the way they fight.  I've caught some 150 different species of fish and nothing is that violent, has that much heart, or that much pound for pound strength...not even sharks.

[GAMEOVER]

Well I cant say really give an opinion on them because I have never saw or fished for one for obvious reasons but if you came to Michigan I bet some of our Pike could fight just as much as a red fish. Muskie im guessing would out do them (?) and if they could fight more then those two I highly doubt they can out fight a Steelhead. Ive seen Steelheads (even a muskie once) split many rods like a pencil. Heres some pics I gathered off the web really quick that are from Michigan for those who arent familiar with the species.

Michigan Pike

Michigan Muskie

Michigan Steelhead

Dont take this the wrong way its just ive never heard of stories from the out-of-towners about those fish I always hear them coming to catch (aside from bass) one of the three above or walleye. They talk about Snook and stuff which we dont have etc thats all I heard. Wish I could dig into one of those (redfish) to really know.

[Guest avid]

Dont take this the wrong way its just ive never heard of stories from the out-of-towners about those fish I always hear them coming to catch (aside from bass) one of the three above or walleye. They talk about Snook and stuff which we dont have etc thats all I heard. Wish I could dig into one of those (redfish) to really know.

No sweat.  No one takes these lists very seriously, or at least they shouldn't.

Snook are also a great gamefish, but I'm surprised you haven't heard about redfish.  FLW has an entire tour devoted to the spottails.

[SBM-RL]

Ive encountered redfish  

I was wading some flats in florida using shrimp and jerkbaits i ended up with 1 redfish 1 sheepshead and a speckeled trout but wow when that red hit i was terrified i though maybe i had a small shark on but eventuly i gottem in great fish

[GeneinTX]

My personal list (of the fish I have caught):

1. Redfish

2. Smallmouths

3. Largemouths

4. Pike and muskies

5. Stripers and hybrids

This is based on : first fighting ability, and second size.

Who else can put theirs in order?

This would be my order that I would fish for them if they were all available around me.

GAMEOVER, those are some awesome looking fish there!

I hope to get down into central America for some peacock bass soon. I am sure they would be right up there in the top 5 somewhere.

[j-bass]

lb for lb I would go w/ the LMB as no. 1.  Redfish are great.  A nice 30" bull red will definately give you a run for your money; however, a king mackrel hitting your line at 20 mph and stripping your spool before you have a good chance to react is a lot of fun, too.