hypothetical new PB!!!

[mattm]

Hypothetically,my friend and I are fishing and we both catch new PB's of 9lbs.  He was using a plastic creature bait and I a live crawfish.  In your opinion does he have bragging rights over me and if so how big would mine have to be before he didn't?

[FL_fisher]

imo his catch would be more impressive but that is just me. I couldnt tell you how much bigger your fish would have to be because to me you cant compare the to. Im sure there are others that feel differently.

[senile1]

In most parts of the country, two people who catch fish around 9 lbs both have the right to brag no matter what they're caught on.  Some of us have the idea that catching fish with live bait is easier, but there are different opinions on this.  Just ask Fish Chris.  

I'm usually competing against myself anyway.  If I catch an 8 lb 8 oz fish and my buddy catches an 8 lb 6 oz fish on whatever, it's really not in my nature to brag about beating my friend.  A little friendly joke between us is all that might possibly occur.  Heck, they're both good fish.  

[alhuff]

I think that no matter what you are using, its a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

I will admitt, live bait does the work but catching a 9lb bass is great, no matter what it was caught on.  

Alfred

[Cajun1977]

both remarkable yes,,      but my feeling on the situation is this

if a fish is caught on live bait,trolling or caught out of a pond especially a private pond then i think it has no bragable rights...this is just my oponion im not discrediting anyone  i just think those three scenarios  take little skill,    especially private ponds...im sure i will hear some criticism  but its just my oponion   so dont anyone take it personal

[mattm]

Wow...private pond, your tough cajun.  What about a senko is that to easy.

[Cajun1977]

no  i just think private ponds are  just that private no fishing pressure the fish never see lures  so i dont consider it a challenge,.but if someones walking the bank at a public lake or resevoir   ,or in a boat finding fish and figuring out fish then i think that is credable.like trolling  put the rod in the rod holder and drive the boat,  fish on    but did it take any effort  nope.  and im not talking about walleye pros going look for fish and trolling them  im just talking about  regular fishing  and catching some fish  all species.

[mattm]

I was just giving you a hard time.  You are allowed to have your own opinion.  I don't agree with you, but I can see where your coming from I suppose.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I'd have to side with cajun and Fl_Fisher.  

[bpm2000]

I think catching big fish like that is difficult enough for either situation, but if all things were equal otherwise I'd have to give it to the guy fishing with plastics.

[linesider7]

We see a lot of big bass caught around here on shiners.  It's not uncommon to see a lot of publicized 14lbers+ around here.  

I don't feel that they are as credible as fish caught on artificials...  just my opinion.  

I don't fish with livebait, never really have.

[eastkybass]

All I have to say is brag away.  It may have been on live bait but you still had to fight it and get it out of the water.  

Live bait or fake the IGFA wouldn't care so I don't see why it should matter.  

[justfishin]

Around here if you would use live bait for bass they would tar and feather you. I personally think that its what you want to use. I have never used live bait for bass but, I realize in some parts of the country its perfectly acceptable. I just don't understand why anyone would use live bait, but, whatever floats your boat, aye?

[grimlin]

Put it this way...i've used live bait for years and never caught a 9 pounder..i still haven't to this day even though i fish artificals now.I have however seen people just drop a worm and a bobber and catch a really nice size fish.Artificals i think depends on more of presentation than taste.

Bragging rights? I don't see why not,it's not easy to catch a lunker.

Even in private ponds you still have to have the right presentation to catch lunker most of the time.

[captbob]

If fishin' was a poker game, a tie would go to the hand with the naturals--live bait being the wild card.

But it ain't so make your "house rules" in advance.

The real challange is putting your $20K bass boat with side scan sonar, temp, depth alarms, $500 tackle box, $3-$4K of Loomis, Stella etc. into a lake you've never seen before, or even read about. And beating the local 12 yr old fishin' from the bank with his $15 Zebco combo and 5 lures in his pocket that knows the Where--What--and How of his backyerd lake. CB

[PILL]

Who cares what they are caught on? Those are both awesome sized bass.

[tbone31]

Where I come from those fish are huge!!!!  Weather it's in a pond on live bait or your in middle of Lake Erie fishing a tube,   YOU ARE FISHING!!!  Catching big ones is even better. Brag away!!!

[Catt]

Where does this belief come from that just because you're throwing live bait you'll automatically catch fish?

Like trolling put the rod in the rod holder and drive the boat, fish on

Ever try it? I have for bass, stripers and in salt water you can spend hours just riding around never catching a thing.

I say you brag all you want