Quality vs. Quantity

[KYntucky Warmouth]

The lakes in and around my hometown seem to hold a abundance of under-sized fish.  The larger fish are there but are less common.  So would you rather have a day with an abundance of dinks or a slow day with a low number of keepers.  

Personally I would rather have a day full of dinks.  Many of times I've had a slow day with just two small fish that I consider a good day just being out on the water and catching fish.  I'd like to catch just 2-3 keepers in a day but for me it's catching the fish and not how big they are.

[fishfordollars]

Not me. The idea of catching dinks does nothing for me.

[roadwarrior]

Not me. The idea of catching dinks does nothing for me.

X2

Twin brothers from different mothers!

There's two kinds of fish I like: big ole gooduns and good ole bigguns.

8-)

[SONNN]

I use to go for quantity all day long, using things like senkos, spinnerbaits and such, but then I got fed up with catching 20 one pounders all day, still hoping for that bigger one.

Now, basically all I do is throw swimbaits, just cuz I want that big bite. I do throw jigs and big worms at times, but not too often. I feel if I want quality, why not just go for broke? Of course there is times when I get skunked, but at least I have a better chance at the hogs.

In WA, it seems as if a largie is over 5lbs, thats big. I talked with some people who havent got one over 5 thier whole lives up here! I ask what they are throwing, they say rapalas or senkos most of the time. When I show them the normal Hudds, Punkers, yadda yadda, the say Im nuts, but the fishies make up for my "crazyness". This year i have roughly 12 over five and aboot a billion around 4, not to bad for WA, but I blame it all on swimbaits. Doesnt compare to CA, TX, or FL for example, but I feel its good for WA WA.

Ya this is the normal swimbait speech, but I have become a believer! Like I said, if you want quality, why not just go for broke?

Dan

[J Francho]

I live and die by the hunt for the big fish.  Since the club I fish is a team format, I don't change my strategy for TX. either.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Don't get me wrong...I'd rather catch the larger fish but in light of my past fishing year I'm happy catching fish period.  Most of this year was spent in my creek after back surgery catching small bass, bluegill, and rock bass on crappie jigs.  The few times I got to go out were less than productive but the small ones keep me going out.  I have purchased some swimbaits and 7" senkos for the upcoming year in hopes of getting the big bites.

[Catt]

I'm a greedy Cajun I want a quantity of quality fish  

[Tin]

I like big ones, but some 12" fish have made me some money at times as well.

[Quinn]

With my skills and know-how, I'll take ANYTHING  ;D

However, I would love to get the 5 lber to beat my PB.

[mrbassky]

It depends alot of how much you fish. Catching numbers gets old if you fish alot. If you only go once a month then numbers are great. I dont fish some ponds because I know there arent any big fish. People that fish often eventually end up going after the big fish. Numbers get old big fish dont.

[farmpond1]

I prefer somewhere in-between: a fair # of average fish and the chance of a real "big-un" every now and again.   In the past, I would have rather caught many "dinks" then get skunked most of the time.  But that has changed over the years as I've caught more fish.  I still need some immediate gratification, however.

[fathom]

gimme the biggest toad in the lake.

[BassinBoy]

Catching fish is great, but catching dinks gets repetitive.  Eventually you just want that one big bite and that will satisfy you.  On a tough lake, ill be smiling ear to ear with 5, one pounders.  But a farm pond or your best lake, id take those couple bigger fish.

[BassmanDan]

I'll take quality over quantity anyday...but if they're hittin buzzbaits I can forgive the little guys.

[SoFl-native]

Everytime i get on the water i am trying to catch fish.....regardless of size.....once i start doing that then i try to pattern bigger fish.

[Bassboss]

A day of dinks, an ultra light combo with 6lb test, and a day of dinks!  

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

I'll take quality over quantity anyday...but if they're hittin buzzbaits I can forgive the little guys.

x2,but give em the spook!

[Certified Public Angler]

It depends alot of how much you fish. Catching numbers gets old if you fish alot. If you only go once a month then numbers are great. I dont fish some ponds because I know there arent any big fish. People that fish often eventually end up going after the big fish. Numbers get old big fish dont.

I have to agree with this post. When I haven't been out in awhile I just want to set the hook and feel a tight line.  But when I'm getting out 3 times a week I'm begging for a larger fish...problem is it's harder then you think.  ;D

[FD.]

Compared to a lot of these guys I don't catch many fish.  A good day for me would 5-7 fish, but, most of what I catch is in the 2-5 lb range.  I throw big baits and go after big fish.  It's almost like hunting for that trophy buck.  You could shoot a dozen of the smaller ones but to outsmart the wise old one, now that's a challenge.

[BossierBassHunter]

I'm a greedy Cajun I want a quantity of quality fish

Cajuns are on the other side of Toledo Bend

And this year I've decided to only go for the big bass. I have a stocked pond if I want to go catch 30 in a day. This is why the two new combos I'm getting are both going to be 7'6" heavy action, one with a bluegill swimbait on at all time, the other with a jig or 11" worm.

[SimonSays]

Everytime i get on the water i am trying to catch fish.....regardless of size.....once i start doing that then i try to pattern bigger fish.

x2 at first I just wanna get the skunk off, afterwards with my confidence up I'll go for those bigguns

[Fishing Rhino]

The first order of business for me is to catch fish.

I got hooked as a kid with a bamboo pole, no reel, just a line, bobber, hook, and a can of worms.

Catching small paddies (bluegill, sunfish, etc.), yellow perch, hornpout or horned pout, was a big deal to a young lad, and a great way to while away the afternoon.

My experience on the pond I fish most often is that the dinks will not bother with a 4" Storm Wild Eye or similar swim bait. The same with a chatterfrog, and spinnerbait with a larger trailer such as the five inch Mister Twister grub.

Only occasionally do I use the larger size spinnerbaits, opting for the medium size with a larger trailer.

Even Mepps number 4 Black Furies seem to reduce the numbers of dinks. Even the number 3 is ok, but anything smaller and the dinks are the order of the day.

I would make one suggestion, since there are times when smaller seems better. If there are a few fish within range of your lure, the smaller ones seem to beat the larger fish to the bait.

If you haul in a dink, make a few more casts to the same area. Clear the dinks out and who knows, you may find a goodun on the business end of your line.

How many times have you seen on a fishing show that a hooked fish is often followed to the boat by a larger one.

[Catt]

I'm a greedy Cajun I want a quantity of quality fish

Cajuns are on the other side of Toledo Bend

I've tried to straighten these Texans out for 37+ years but they a hard headed bunch

[bassinri]

I think most beginners would rather have dinks but after 25 or so years those dinks are like catching sun fish. Gimme a few keepers any day.

[drmnbig]

I can't shake the need for something on my line when I get to the water so dinks are the first order of business.  After I settle down I get to chasing the bigger bass.

This attitude has cost me money many times in tournaments.  I'll have a 5 bass limit pretty quick then only have time to get 2-3 nice fish and get beat by a couple pounds.  Seems that every tournament I enter that I'm just outside the money.  

This year I'm gonna focus on big bass.  I've got a 9 acre pond with some monsters in it that I'm gonna pick apart this spring.