Size Or Numbers?

[Bass_Akwards]

I've asked this before, but it's been a long time.

Deep down, are you a "NUMBERS angler" or are you a "SIZE angler?"

I know your answer might change depending on the situation. For example, if you're fishing with your 6 year old son you're obviously going to answer "NUMBERS" because you want your kid to be on bass for 8 hours straight. This however is NOT what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about deep down, when you think about getting out there on your favorite body of water, what is it you really want? Would you rather go out there and catch 75 "average sized" bass in 8 hours? Or would you rather have an 8 hour day where you catch ONE personal best bass that's considered large for that particular body of water?

Would it make a difference WHEN in the outing you caught the huge bass? For example, what if you caught the monster bass on your first cast of the day and then didn't catch anything else for 8 straight hours? Is that better than catching an average sized bass every 5-10 minutes for 8 hours?

I say YES! How about you?

[Oscar O.]

Would it make a difference WHEN in the outing you caught the huge bass? For example, what if you caught the monster bass on your first cast of the day and then didn't catch anything else for 8 straight hours?

I had that happen to me, but the other way around, my PB came on the very last cast. Best day of fishing to this day. Taught me that patience and perseverance can pay off on the water.

[Avalonjohn44]

Both!

[Grey Wolf]

Bigger is better !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dwight Hottle]

Quality for sure. I have had it both ways on a new PB. One time it came on the first day of a week trip & another time it came as the last cast of a weeks trip. Both scenarios were sweet for me. Not so much for fishing buddies.

[bilgerat]

I guess I'm lucky, I can have it both ways. I have places I can go hammer dinks all night and there's other places where I can fish for 6 hours and be lucky to get 1, but it's usually a nice one.

I learn more fishing for the one than catching dinks. It makes me concentrate on what I'm doing vs feeding Yum Dingers to the little guys.

[Jigfishn10]

I like the mix of the 2. It really depends, if I string some days together and I'm getting numbers then the next day I'll concentrate on size. For me, I get bored just focusing on 1 aspect.

[slonezp]

Deep down? Of course it's size. Every time I set the hook there is always that hope the fish on the line is a monster.

[joshholmes]

it depends. if i am fishing in a tournament i only really care about numbers but for fun when i have free time to waste its definitly size

[Fat-G]

Well, I would rather catch an 8 pounder in a four hour trip than 8 four pounders. I would take the size any day, unless the body of water doesn't hold too big of fish. A five pounder is considered a "good" fish, while an 8 is considered a "big" fish. At least for me.

[Fishmaster10]

it depends. if i am fishing in a tournament i only really care about numbers but for fun when i have free time to waste its definitly size

Shouldn't this be the opposite way around?

As for me I enjoy both aspects.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

I like a mix,but will take both

[SirSnookalot]

As long as I'm enjoying my time fishing it really doesn't matter.

[TheLastRodBender]

I start out the day going for size, then punt it and go for numbers after a certain amount of time with nothing going on. I get impatient

[Sfritr]

Depends if I am with my son or not. He is a numbers kinda kid but would be happy to fish all day for a 5lber. He's 11. Never met a kid who will fish for hours without a bite in hopes of a monster fish(for him) Doesn't complain, doesn't whine, just casts and casts in hopes of hooking "the one"

Go big or go home I always say. The trip is not made by size or the amount of fish caught. The trip is made by the friendships, the scenery, and how well the boat ran, and whether or not your going to get in trouble for fishing too long when you get home......

[ChiCityBasser]

I guess for me long as I'm catching it doesn't matter either way.

[Daniel My Brother]

When I fish alone, I’m more likely to fish bigger baits in search of that one big bite.

But when I’m fishing with a friend and he’s catching bass, the competitive side of me comes out and I just want to catch something…no matter the size.

[senile1]

Deep down, are you a "NUMBERS angler" or are you a "SIZE angler?"

The answer is yes.

[Siebert Outdoors]

depends on my mood. Most of the time its size but not PB's fishing. I like to target quality fish which usually stage a little different then the dinks and giants. But there are times I like to just go dink around.

[BassChump]

I'd like to think I'd take that one big fish but to be honest, my best fishing buddy is my girlfriend but she is wound pretty tightly so if we aren't catching a few every hour or two, she gets bored and is ready to leave.

For me, the fun of the fishing trip is seeing the excitement on her face when she catches something, regardless of me catching anything. Same with my daughter although she isn't a diehard fisherperson like my girlfriend is.

I will say persistence pays off though. Last year, late summer my girlfriend and I were fishing Siltcoos lake in Oregon. We fished hard for 5 hours with just a few dinks being caught. She got bored so we headed in but there were a few docks that I wanted to hit again even though we fished them an hour earlier. She didn't even grab her rod. She said "there's no fish in this lake" as I made one final cast towards a dock as we were passing by. My first words were "I'm gonna need help getting this one in the boat." She thought I was full of crap until she caught sight of a solid 6.5 pounder. She netted it, we took a couple pictures and tossed her back to be caught another day. Unfortunately after that, I couldn't get my girlfriend off the lake. That's her style. All or nothing. ha. We fished for another 4 hours but only got 2 more small ones in the boat.

The best days I have on the water are on the Umpqua River in Oregon. That river ALWAYS produces so I take my girlfriend there quite a bit. That's smallmouth country and we usually have 50 to 70 a day there so she is always excited to try the next hole. She is hunting for the next place she thinks holds fish so it holds her attention well. We don't usually catch anything huge but it's a fun day on the water and that's what it's about for me.

I've never fished for money in a tournament so I'm guessing that would be different because there is money on the line. Right now, for me I would have to say numbers. The only fishing I've done for money so far is bragging rights. Who buys dinner for most fish and/or biggest fish. Usually it's for dinner or drinks and she usually out fishes me and that's what it's about.

Great days on the water with good friends.

[Catt]

The joy of fishing in Texas is I do both

[RoLo]

In my heart, I'm only interested in the heaviest bass in the lake.

Once the number of bass passes '5', I can't be bothered counting bass.

I think it was Roadwarrior who said, "Go Big or Go Home"

Roger

[joshholmes]

Shouldn't this be the opposite way around?

As for me I enjoy both aspects.

actually i think i phrased that weird. in reality for tournaments i like numbers. thats why swimbaits arent used for tournaments because they catch huge fish but dont catch a lot of fish. if i have free time im going to aim for the biggest fish in the lake

[Bass_Fanatic]

actually i think i phrased that weird. in reality for tournaments i like numbers. thats why swimbaits arent used for tournaments because they catch huge fish but dont catch a lot of fish. if i have free time im going to aim for the biggest fish in the lake

I still think you are backwards...5 dinks aint gonna win anything, a couple big girls will. And yes, swimbaits are used in tournaments all the time. Just watch the Elite Series, they throw them everywhere.

[joshholmes]

yes but he said 1 BIG FISH. if you catch a 5 lb for one day of fishing in a tournament you wont win. but if you catch 5 2-3 pound fish youre more likely to win. (by the way i wasnt talking about the smaller soft plastic swimbaits i meant those giant 2-4 ounce ones used in california)