Sensitive subject

[jerkw8nonajerk01]

Today I had a somewhat heated discussion with a fishing buddy during a trip...now..I am not opposed fishing live bait sometimes..I  have a 9 yr old and he'd much rather let a minnow do the work...understanable. being the competitive natured person I am I took offense to his smug attitude about catching bigger fish on minnows...me on the other hand struggled to find a bait that consistently caught fish. I tried to explain that part of the experience is to learn the pattern of the condition and exploit it. this to me is where I find enjoyment. Does anyone share my feelings or should I just throw a bobber and minna and shut up?? lol

[ksboy]

I'm with you!!

[Dan:]

do a search for a thread called "is live bait cheating" or something like that. It wasn't too long ago and it was several pages long.

[Carrington]

for freshwater i would rather use artificial lures, but in saltwater i use live bait almost all the time.

[rookiesmallmouther]

i told a friend in a argument about having our own contest. whose the best fishermen

he said alright who can catch the most wins

i said "hey i can sit and catch literally 50 LMB tomorrow or i can catch one Giant to prove I'm the better angler"

he simply shrugged and called off the bet

same can be said about live bait

i said to my noob fishermen uncle "i can catch bottom feeders all day or i can catch real game fish"

i said to my live bait using friends "i can let the live bait do the fishing for me or i can have a challenge using LURES"

when I'm having fun with friends socializing i will tie a drift rig hook a worm or minnow and just sit relax and stuff and stuff chat

when I'm fishing for the game fish i use strictly lures because i want the knowledge i possess to work the lure and entice the fish to bite... otherwise it wouldn't be a challenge

teach your son how to work lures and what it really means to fish maybe he might like it. show him what it means to catch a honest fish

teach him live bait rigs teach him all the fishing factors!

but maybe shut up as well because he still young i didnt learn about the factors and conditions to fishing and how to work lures until i was 13 and it was all self taught from YOUTUBE!

[Daniel My Brother]

To each his own.

8-)

[5bass]

To each his own.

8-)

Thats it. 

[basspro215]

i agree with you i cant stand sitting there watching the tip of my pole wen i can feel the slam my line its much more fun

[RippinLips86]

Today I had a somewhat heated discussion with a fishing buddy during a trip...now..I am not opposed fishing live bait sometimes..I have a 9 yr old and he'd much rather let a minnow do the work...understanable. being the competitive natured person I am I took offense to his smug attitude about catching bigger fish on minnows...me on the other hand struggled to find a bait that consistently caught fish. I tried to explain that part of the experience is to learn the pattern of the condition and exploit it. this to me is where I find enjoyment. Does anyone share my feelings or should I just throw a bobber and minna and shut up?? lol

i have found this worm works in Virginia and here in SoCal to consistently catch fish year round. just a side note.

[Grey Wolf]

Why take it personal , every one is allowed to use what they want as long as it's legal.

[newriverfisherman1953]

Bass Brat has it right.....you use what you want to use, let other folks use what they want to use.  As long as it's legal, both groups can have fun fishing and not argue about it.   

[Matt Fly]

I seem to remember the first two BR road trips to Lake Fork, both times, I slipped off and bought a couple pounds of minnows.

Seems like after most had finished supper, we ended up on the big dock soaking some minnows for some crappie and whatever else decided to play.

We had great time, and every one there was big time basser.

I'm sorry, you put 10-20 guys on a forty foot dock casting and then you get another thread,

How I hooked my buddy in the ear while casting in close quarters. lol

When I was a little kid, I learned my trade by drowning worms and minnows, got start somewhere.

Its amazing, guys travelled along ways to fish one of the US is best bass lakes, and guess what shows up to the dock party at night?

Some of the parents busted out the kids snoopy poles and I don't remember any kids on the trip, yet the snoopy poles made the trip and soaked a shiner or two.

Its all good.

[Quinte bass]

One method requires, thought, consideration and a modicum of water craft. The other much less so...

Whatever floats your boat...enjoy!

[D4u2s0t]

I would never knock someone for using live bait, that's their choice. I only use live bait for panfish and trout, I never use it for bass or other species (except through the ice) But if someone wants to use live bait, that's their choice, just like it's my choice to use artificials. Everyone is at a different level of knowledge, and everyone wants to catch fish, especially when they're just starting out. When I take out people that haven't been on the water too many times, I pick up a pack of night crawlers. Why? It's easier to catch fish. I'm ok sitting on the water all day and not getting a bite. My 15 year old brother, or nephews, are not. We went out 2 weekends ago, and caught about 70 panfish in maybe 2 hours... this past weekend, we got about 30-40. Better believe my brother had fun! We were getting big perch, they were pulling drag on the ultra lights. Thats alot of fun for someone just starting out. If my brother keeps coming out, eventually he'll want the challenge of using artificials. But, until he gets to that point, I see nothing wrong with him going out and catching a ton of fish on worms, which makes the whole experience fun.

I think most people will naturally progress away from live bait as their experience builds, but if they don't, that's their choice.  I think it's similar to how most people starting out are more concerned with #'s as opposed to size.  I don't want to catch 100 10" dinks... no thanks.  I'd gladly catch one quality fish a week and not have a single bite the rest of the time.  My brother (keeping the example) doesn't really know the difference in sizes yet, especially with panfish.  I caught a HUGE perch the other day, looked like a small bass.  Biggest i've ever seen.  I was real excited about it, always great to catch a pb regardless of species.  But, to someone who doesn't now about perch, they'd look and think it was a small fish.  So, it all comes in time.  But ultimately what, how, when or where someone decides to try to catch fish is up to them, as long as they're within their legal right to do so.

[zero limit]

How about jigin a minnow under a slip float? your still working the bait.

For prech,trout and crappie i always have better luck w/live bait

[tyrius.]

Great, another "My way is better than your's" thread.

:

Just go out and fish how you want to fish and be done with it.

[Drewhop]

Just depends on my mood. Most of the time I use artificial. If I am feeling lazy and want to relax and let me son do some fishing as well. I will get bait and enjoy a nice calm sit down.

[D4u2s0t]

Great, another "My way is better than your's" thread.

:

Just go out and fish how you want to fish and be done with it.

you're the only person that said anything like that.  if you want to keep that stuff out of the thread, don't bring it up.   8-)

[chromedog]

My buddies and I have talked about this many times.  My brother and I cut our teeth with Zebco 33's with worms and minnows.  My dad, to this day, rarely throws any kind of lure other than maybe a Mister twister tail, lol.  Now as I got older and smarter (I like to think at least) the excitement of choosing the right lure, the right location and the right presentation is unparalleled.....to me.  When I take the kids, if they want a lure, I give them something that they can keep reeling, but mostly I set them up with live bait and bobbers.  When I am out with my brother and father, or buddies, I use nothing but artificial, they use a mixture of live and artificial.  I like the challenge and satisfaction that comes with "getting it right".  But which one is better?  Well, that is up to each person, fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing (lol, for the most part) and whatever gets you there, have at it.  On a side note, we have bets all the time when there are three of us on the boat about who will get the most weight for the day, and between me and my artificial only, my one buddy who is all live and my other buddy who will use both.....I usually win, hehehehe).

[tyrius.]

you're the only person that said anything like that. if you want to keep that stuff out of the thread, don't bring it up. 8-)

really?

being the competitive natured person I am I took offense to his smug attitude about catching bigger fish on minnows.

[D4u2s0t]

you're the only person that said anything like that. if you want to keep that stuff out of the thread, don't bring it up. 8-)

really?

being the competitive natured person I am I took offense to his smug attitude about catching bigger fish on minnows.

Forget to read the rest??  Nobody in this thread said you're wrong to use one over the other, so let's keep that out and actually have a civilized discussion about it.

Does anyone share my feelings or should I just throw a bobber and minna and shut up??

[tyrius.]

so let's keep that out and actually have a civilized discussion about it.

Good luck with that.

[Fishing Rhino]

Baitcasters vs. spinners.  Fiberglass vs. aluminum.  Live vs. artificial.  Mercury vs. Johnson vs. Yamaha, etc.

Fish what you like, the way you like, and when you like.  As long as it's legal, no problems mate.

Insecurity is a terrible thing. 

I've never understood why so many feel so threatened by those who are different or do things differently, and seek comfort by criticizing what others do.

[D4u2s0t]

so let's keep that out and actually have a civilized discussion about it.

Good luck with that.

If you want to argue, take it to pm.  problem solved.  everyone else is talking like big boys so far.

[D4u2s0t]

Baitcasters vs. spinners. Fiberglass vs. aluminum. Live vs. artificial. Mercury vs. Johnson vs. Yamaha, etc.

Fish what you like, the way you like, and when you like. As long as it's legal, no problems mate.

Insecurity is a terrible thing.

I've never understood why so many feel so threatened by those who are different or do things differently, and seek comfort by criticizing what others do.

x2.  too many people get caught up in what others are doing, and forget to just enjoy the experience.