Cali Hawg Hunters vs Regular Bass Fisherman

[Captain Cali]

Needemp,

The fact is that swimbaits are not the only tool in a trophy hunters aresnal. Some use swimbaits more than others. But they are not the only tool used to catch trophy bass.

I find myself in between both realms at this point. I caught my first trophy bass on a 4" Roboworm. Second was on a 4.5" Roboworm. This came after weeks of chucking swimbaits for nothing over 5lbs. or so and plenty of skunked outings. It would be insane for me to not consider a 4" worm as part of my trophy hunting arsenal.

[Fish Chris]

Honestly, I was surprised that nobody made me answer to my statement over on the 'Using a net' post, "That the tournament guys rarely catch anything big enough to use a net on"........ because I have to admit, that later that same day, the thought crossed my mind, that a 3 lb fish that "wins the tourney" is probably even more valuable (depending on how you look at it) than a 13 lb'er that does nothing but add another notch to a trophy hunters belt, or photo to his album. That said, I'm sorry if that statement came across to anyone as arrogant, or cocky.

It's all a matter of perspective I guess.

But yes, honestly, even among trophy hunters, I'm not trying to do better than anybody but Fish Chris.

Peace,

Fish

[Randall]

Needemp, I would have to disagree with most of you original post. I don't agree with any of the second or third paragraphs. I think both tournament anglers and trophy hunters can be seen as equal in what they do. In each there are people who are among the best at what they do whether it be catching the biggest limit or catching the biggest fish. Neither is easy. You can't compare apples to oranges so why try. I have seen people on both sides try to compare and debate as to which is the better fishermen and IMHO you can't compare the two that way since both have different goals. There are fewer people who are targeting the biggest fish in the lake across the US and it takes a different mentality to just target big fish. If most had to just target big fish most would quit since most lack the confidence and preserverence to keep fishing for one big bite. Tournament or recreational type fishermen have smaller fish biting more often and can see sucess faster in the short term and have TV shows to watch on the weekend to keep them going so there are more of them. This equals more competition and more high caliber fishermen in the long run out of sheer numbers of people doing it. But, I dont think neither is a better fishermen than the other. Just two people doing the same thing with different goals and end results.

All trophy fishermen do not live in California and all do not use swimbaits or live bait all of the time. California is just the place in the US right now with most of the biggest fish caught so it has recieved the most attention and thats the baits that have had the most attention. I am sure there are plenty of other people like myself that go out and specificly target big fish who live all over the US and fish other baits. There are probably some as good as the more famous California fishermen but since they live in different states and fish in different waters so they just haven't had the same chance at publicity as the California guys. But, thats just how it is. The media goes with what gets people to pay attention and 18lb plus fish get peoples attention more than 15lb fish or smalller.

[senile1]

Maybe Needemp could have worded things differently but I honestly didn't take his initial post as an insult to trophy bass fishermen.  I thought he was saying that trophy fishermen are just different to some degree than tournament or numbers fishermen.  I think most recreational anglers do a little of both.  

Fish Chris stated:

Finally, to be good at tournament angling, I think you need to be competitive, right ? Sorry. I just don't have an ounce of competitive nature anywhere in me. Never have had. I've never had any interest in playing (or watching) ANY competitive sports, so why would I apply competition to my fishing ?

;D  I have the utmost respect for your trophy hunting abilities and your opinions, but who are you kidding, Fish Chris?  I saw the thread a couple of months back where you debated until the cows came home about the superiority of braided fishing lines.  You make sure you know the number of double-digit bass you've stuck so that you can state that number for what reason?  Not competitive?  Please, Dude.  You are competitive to a degree, and there's nothing wrong with that.  I think there are arrogant competitors and there are good sports who are competitive.  The good sports are fine and I find you to be a good sport.  Don't knock being competitive.  It is what makes our economic system the best in the world.  

[Supermat]

Senile1,

 First off, I'm very competitive, I love the challenge, I love the win, I learn from the losses. Competition is in my blood, its why I fish tournaments. Now, I'm also a trophy hunter, I'm not the best, I'm not the "worst" (if there is such a thing), but I definetely watch how other people do. I LOVE to watch other guys sticking big fish, it makes my day! But its also motivation to get my butt back out on the water and get to work.

 All that said, I know Chris and I can honestly say he means what he's saying. The guy just isn't competitive and doesn't seem to care. I think he tracks his number so HE knows how HE'S doing, plus all the info tracking helps you apply tactics and ideas in the future. Chris doesn't seem to be out to impress anybody, make a name, or act high and mighty. He just loves to fish more than the rest of us can fathom! Chris was very instrumental in my catching my first double-digit... and the second... and, oh, alright, I still apply stuff he talked about back in the day! Point is, he's legit and he's friendly, you ever have questions, problems, etc... he's right there. I don't know how he maintains his friendly attitude in the cut throat world of big-bass but he does.

Matt

[cart7t]

;D  I have the utmost respect for your trophy hunting abilities and your opinions, but who are you kidding, Fish Chris?  I saw the thread a couple of months back where you debated until the cows came home about the superiority of braided fishing lines.  You make sure you know the number of double-digit bass you've stuck so that you can state that number for what reason?  Not competitive?  Please, Dude.  You are competitive to a degree, and there's nothing wrong with that.  I think there are arrogant competitors and there are good sports who are competitive.  The good sports are fine and I find you to be a good sport.  Don't knock being competitive.  It is what makes our economic system the best in the world.  

If you think he's passionate about braided line, don't even get him started on LCD TV's vs. Plasma's.   ;D

[SBM-RL]

The 25lb 1 oz fish was caught on a white jig right not a swim bait i could be wrong though...

anyway i just dont think argueing who is more real of a fisherman between tourny fisherman and a cali/mexico/cuba hawg hunter is a pointless arguement both are hardcore bass persuers leave it at that. lets just have a good christmas and talk about how spring cant come soon enough.

[Fish Chris]

There is a TON of truth to the old saying that people tend see things through their own eyes. I know I'm in a VERY small minority of people, who just has never had the urge to do better than the next guy. I also know that this is VERY hard for most guys to relate to.

Yes, I do keep very close account of the big fish I have caught, and from where, and on what..... but only because I want to top these personal records.

One thing is for sure; Although I am certainly proud of the big ones I have caught, I have never felt like this makes me even a little bit better of a person. I always tell people that "if I can do it, ANYBODY can" ! I've just been really blessed to be able to fish as much as I do, in the places I do.

In a nutshell, fishing is just a very personal thing for me. And I can honestly say, that any time a guy catches a bigger one than me, I'll be genuinely happy for him. Everyone can go on and catch their 20 lb'ers now. I'll still be happy with a 19 ;-)

Peace,

Fish

PS, Hey Cart7, yes, I love my JVC 46" 1080p LCD  :-) ...... and yes, I do prefer LCD's over Plasma's..... But believe it or not, I find the disparencies between braided line and mono, to be about 500 X's as great, as the disparencies between LCD and Plasma :-)

[Needemp]

Those that think this is a heated arguement or a bashing of some sort probably should have stopped reading a long time ago. When we are dealing with a contraversial topic, many different opinions are going to be presented. Lets not forget that everyones opinion is based upon what they think or like. They are not necessarily right or wrong. Thats what makes it an opinion.

One guy made the statement about comparing apples to oranges. Without realizing it, he was proving my point. It is apples compared to oranges. They are different types of fishing. KVD and the best hawg hunter can NOT be compared to each other. It's like saying that those that fish for muskey are better than those that fish for walleyes. They are different. Size, lures, tactics, lines, etc. Thats the point. I just never got sucked into the thinking that one was better than the other. If I lived in Cali I probably would go after hawgs. I like the fight of big fish. Thats why I like big cats. But hawg hunting compared to tourny fishing is almost like fishing for two different species. Some people can become successful at one but not necessarily at the other.

Fish Chris came across as a little arrogant, but then stated "That said, I'm sorry if that statement came across to anyone as arrogant, or cocky." Well to me it did and so have other statements from other hawg hunters. But to say that he was being cocky would be wrong. I would have to know him to make a statement like that. However, at least one person has attested to his genuinity. That works for me. I believe he is not trying to be cocky.

As far as this topic, this is where I stand. I do not look at hawg hunters with "a bit of awe and extra respect" when it comes to my kind of bass fishing or tourny fishing. It's different. Plain and simple. I can respect them like I do a trophy catfisherman or musky fisherman, but not as far as what I am doing. I don't get those that lump the two together as if they are the same. Are they not looking at all the facts? I dont know. Its just two different types of fishing.

[Gatorbassman]

Needemp, Let me offer you a challange.

There is currently no recorded IGFA line class records for the state of missori.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/fieldstream/igfa/missouri.html

Get you some IGFA rated line in 4lb, 12lb, and 20lb and go catch you some bass. Then get them certified and you will have your name in the books.

[Mattlures]

Needemp I have to disagree with some of your statements. First you said a 15 lb Cali bass is equal to a 7-8 lb Mo bass. No way!!! There are very few 15lbers caught here each year. I would geuss that there are less than 30 caught each year in Cali. Also consider that some of the greatest bass fisherman in the state are obsessed with catching these giant fish. Where in most states thier best hone in thier tournament skills. Its geographics. If Mo had world records swimming around in their lakes then guys would spend their most of their lives chassing them like they do here. Comparing a very rare 15lber to an 8lber is taking away from the acomplishments of guys who catch fish that big. If you were to say a 10lb MO. bass I think that would be a much more accurate comparison.

This reminds me of dear hunting out here. I am verry good at it but we have a small mule deer/blacktail subspecies that are very small and have small racks. I take deer that are considered big by our county standards but they are tiny comparred to a big utah Mulie or a big MO white tail. I would never try to say those guys who shoot big deer are nothing special because they have bigger deer than me. You come accros like its no big deal and nobody shoudl apreciate a big Cali bass. I dont think you realize how few real monsters are caught. You also might not realize that our lakes are considered the most pressured lakes in the country when you consider who many fisherman are on such small lakes.

Something else you may not realize is that the elite trophy hunters dont go days and weeks with out catching fish or getting bites. They go days or weeks without catching a BIG bass. The guys who are real good catch a lot off of of swimbaits and other big fish techniques. These guys are good. I am not that good. I will steal what Supermatt said. I am not the best but not the worst. You may have though I was being arogant when you read my earlier post about who was better. I honestly believ that top tier profesional bass fisherman are the best most skilled bass fisherman there are. There is just one exception, one man who happens to be the best of the best at one aspect (trophy hunting) and he is also verry good at the other aspect(tournaments). This guy is just a freak. a Michael Jordan or Tiger woods if you will. I just dont think you give the "hawg hunters" enough credit. Guys like me arent that good so dont deserve it but there are others who are rediculously good and catch absurd amounts of huge bass. They are that good! You are correct about comparring apples to oranges. Its not quite that diferent but its close. There are some things that can be comparred. I just feel you dont realy know whats going on over here so you make assumptions. We all do it. Just so you know I know and am friends with most of the more famous trophy hunters and I also know and am friends with a lot of the top pros. I have great respect for all of them. they have all risin to the top. I am impressed with greatness wether it a guy who catches a lot of Giant bass or the guy who hold up all those Giant checks. they are both impresive.

[Randall]

Fluke thanks for posting that. I noticed there is no record for GA in two classes and the other one can be broken. I guess I will go get me some 4lb line and try to break the 4lb line one first while its still cold. I was going to try to catch my world record mud fish again but it might be more fun to try and break that four pound line record.

[clipper]

Fluke thanks for posting that. I noticed there is no record for GA in two classes and the other one can be broken. I guess I will go get me some 4lb line and try to break the 4lb line one first while its still cold. I was going to try to catch my world record mud fish again but it might be more fun to try and break that four pound line record.

I was looking at that site Fluke posted today as well.  You break the largemouth record and I will try for the spotted bass record, on 4 lb line.  It shouldn't be hard since there is not a line class entry in Georgia for spotted bass (lol).  I bet we will have some competition after these posts are read ;D.  I suspect most states are like Georgia, several open slots for different species of game fish with no entries.  

[Rattlinrogue]

I'm a recreational basser who likes to catch double digit hawgs and get just as much pleasure catching a limit of 1-2 pounders.We're all just bass fisherman.Some put their time and effort into exclusively hunting for hawgs and some are into tournament fishing.We are all bass fisherman.I don't think there's really any reason for being arrogant about bass fishing.Now,I can understand being proud of catching big bass or winning bass tournaments,but that's just human nature.Some states have bigger bass than others.A 10 pounder in your state may be as good as a 20 pounder in another state.It's all about doing what's fun.When bassing becomes not so much fun because you're worried about keeping up with the Jones instead of just enjoying the moment,maybe it's time to find another activity that brings you enjoyment.

[senile1]

I'm a recreational basser who likes to catch double digit hawgs and get just as much pleasure catching a limit of 1-2 pounders.We're all just bass fisherman.Some put their time and effort into exclusively hunting for hawgs and some are into tournament fishing.We are all bass fisherman.I don't think there's really any reason for being arrogant about bass fishing.Now,I can understand being proud of catching big bass or winning bass tournaments,but that's just human nature.Some states have bigger bass than others.A 10 pounder in your state may be as good as a 20 pounder in another state.It's all about doing what's fun.When bassing becomes not so much fun because you're worried about keeping up with the Jones instead of just enjoying the moment,maybe it's time to find another activity that brings you enjoyment.

Perfectly stated, Rattlinrogue.  

Supermat, no disrespect intended to Fish Chris or you, but I stick with my contention that Fish Chris can be competitive.  It's all in good fun.  The competitive spirit comes in different forms for all of us.  I myself do not compete against others in fishing, or anything else that I do for recreation.  But the fact that we can all debate with our opinions on this forum is a competition in ideas.  Hence, we are all competitors to some degree when we joust on this forum.  Heck, I'm competing right now.  

[roadwarrior]

I like both kinds of music, Country and Western.

I like both kinds of fish, Good Ole Bigguns' and Big Ole Gooduns'.

I don't fish tournaments and I don't live in California, so I like to think I'm after for the biggest fish in the water I fish. I like fishing for other species and think about records that are regionally possible, but I am not "disappointed" when that doesn't happen. Like Rattlinrogue wrote, "When bassing becomes not so much fun because you're worried about keeping up with the Jones' instead of just enjoying the moment, maybe it's time to find another activity that brings you enjoyment."

[cart7t]

Hmmm... I'm spooling every d**n reel I've got with 12lb test this season.  

[cravenfish]

RW, you need to kill this one.its been beat to death

[Needemp]

I dont see why this topic needs to be "killed". When I am tired of reading something, I simply dont read it anymore :-/

FLUKE, I appreciate the challenge but that is not what this is about for me. My original statement was that IMO hawg hunting and regular bass fishing is not the same. The first few responses to my original statement were off my topic. That usually happens but whatever. Look at the fact that people assumed I was comparing hawgers to tourny guys. I never originally said that. If people want to catch the biggest bass in a lake that is fine with me. Go for it man. Thats not what I am about. I had a pretty good year fishing this year but I didnt post much about it. I am not looking for 'pats on the back' ,but rather to have a nice stringer (catch and release of course) at the end of every day. Not necessarily for tournaments although I will fish a couple this year. I love the challenge of changing seasons, cold fronts, anything that causes me to have to figure out those green backs. Thats my passion. I prefer that to chasing records, BUT that doesnt make my 15 pound stringer of five fish inferior to someone elses 15 pounder in a state that produces those fish.

[fourbizz]

You know there are about a hundred things in this thread that make me crazy, but there is no point in addressing most of them.

Unless my "stringer" is over 25lbs, I couldn't care less. Little fish are fun, but they don't "do it" for me. I haven't caught very many big ones (especially by California standards) but size is what I am after. I don't plan out a trip hoping to catch 5  13inch fish.But the most important thing is what the fish means to an angler.

When my best friend of ten years caught his new PB at under 5lbs, I was just as stoked as I would have been had I caught a double digit.

I've also watched Supermat, get completely giddy over sticking 25 dinks in one of my ponds on a frog.

There are some pretty ignorant views of successful trophy hunters (which I DO NOT consider myself) and this thread proves that wonderfully.

Oh ya " Just my opinion" :

[George Welcome]

My daddy is bigger than your daddy: nyah, nyay.

This thread is absurd.

[Matt Fly]

You say your bad day is when you blank and a good day is when you catch some? There are six months out of the year where a good day was getting a single bite on a swimbait, regardless of whether or not I landed her! Yes, there are awesome days and you see those photos but you don't see the 1, 2, 5, or 30 trips in between where there are no photos to show.

I appreciate your honest opinion, its been debated before on the catch rates when using swimbaits and the number of bites one may get.  

Needemp,

    It takes a special kind of person to be dedicated to throwing a bait that may yield one bass in a month.     Can you imagine a guy who is used to catching 20 bass a day that ties on a swimbait and chunks that puppy for 2 weeks out of a month and gets nothing, yet doesn't wavier or quit his pursuit of lunker largemouths.         It takes a special person, and the right mindset to go weeks without a bass, but when you get that bite, the feeling of accomplishment out weighs the non productive days.

I also agree with part of the statement about 7-8 lbers in Northern waters.  If your state only produced a few of these a year, then that surely is a trophy in your region.     25 years ago in Texas, an 9lb bass was a trophy, but with todays standards, I kinda feel that 12 lbs is the bench mark in TX.

A day of bass fishing of any kind is better than a day at work.    

Matt

[roadwarrior]

Okay...Three pages and we're starting to head downhill. All in all,  I thought (most) of the thread was kind of interesting, but as George notes, it's getting a little absurd. Anyhow, this isn't ending because of anyone's specific post and none have been edited or deleted (to my knowledge), but it's time to move on.

This thread is closed.