The Five Percent Or The Other Ninety-Five Percent

[tomustang]

5%, 95%... I dont care, catchin is catchin

[SirSnookalot]

Statistics are misleading, not everyone fishes the areas where any records are kept. 5% does seem low, being in Florida 5# bass can become a reality quite easy. As cited in the OP " bass are easy to catch", a debate for another day, we have lots of bass in the south and the likelyhood of a 5 pounder is excellent. I don't think there is any question, at least in my mind, that location is the overwhelming factor in catching quality of any species. I fish but a few techniques with very basic equipment and have notched on my belt quite a few 5-10# bass and I'm not primarily bass fisherman, I'm just in a good area.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

ya 5% # is bunk.

Ignoring all else, even that study doesn't give a complete story. Tournament fishing, (esecially with weeknight series events) isn't really fishing for size. It is, but catching 5 fish is the first priority. Take the catch of all those who DO NOT tournament fish, PLUS the guys who DO tournament fish-but the catches they have when not tournament fishing; You will end up with a much higher number.

[Lund Explorer]

http://www.outdooral...rvoirs/quality/

2,666,546 hours of fishing = 473 5 lb+ bass in this study.

That's 5,637 hours per fish. If you divide that into 8 hour

days, it's 704 days per fish.

Note too, this study was conducted on waters considered

to be the most productive in the country in terms of

numbers of 5 lb bass!

That's an interesting study, and while I wouldn't argue against those numbers, I would respectfully say that the original post was somewhat misleading. Based on this study, the 5% rule may be true for tournament anglers in that region of the country . But I don't think the statement would hold true across all of the different regions or across the wider spectrum of fishermen's experiences.

It would be interesting to hear what Catt's take on this 5lb bass per/angler hour average given his home waters. I know from my old tournament logs that we fall well below the average of 148 hours per/5lber. IMHO the magic number of 5lb's is slightly skewed the farther north or south you travel from the Tennessee River. I also don't think you can compare the results of tournament angling with fishermen targeting stocked and/or private lakes and ponds.

More importantly to me would be a study that determined how much effort (angler hours) was needed to catch that specific region's definition of a quality fish. The study should include all angling hours spent on public waters across an entire fishing season, and include data regarding the type of tackle/baits used.

The data from such a study could be a valuable tool for the traveling angler to provide him/her with a goal for that region during a specific time of the year. Perhaps you folks that will be attending this year's road trip could keep track your results to compare to the attached study, and report back to the rest of us how it turns out.

[tomustang]

I also don't think you can compare the results of tournament angling with fishermen targeting stocked and/or private lakes and ponds.

I would hope no comparison would be done with private water holes

[South FLA]

I wonder what Big O is, like .00001%?

[00 mod]

The data from such a study could be a valuable tool for the traveling angler to provide him/her with a goal for that region during a specific time of the year. Perhaps you folks that will be attending this year's road trip could keep track your results to compare to the attached study, and report back to the rest of us how it turns out.

I will certainly do my best to keep up with numbers of hours spent and numbers of 5+lb fish I catch while on the road trip!

Jeff

[Dwight Hottle]

I wonder what Big O is, like .00001%?

Big O is more like .000000001%

[Blue Streak]

I have caught five pound largemouth and smallmouth, but here in the Ohio waters it seems that at least 95 per cent of the 5 pounders are caught in the spring and the rest in the fall. Five pound bass are very rare in Ohio.

[Sam]

I am part of the 5% crowd.

In a tournament we have to decide to go for the five bass limit first and then try for the big ones or start trying for the big ladies right away.

Depends on the season, body of water, weather conditions and where you are in your tournament standings.

it is always nice to catch a big lady now and then, even at a pond.

[scrutch]

Already a part of the 5% club... Going for the 1% now.

There have been many days I would have settled for the 95% though!

[Bobby Dale Viverette]

I have caught 2 five pounders so I am in the 5%. Looking to get in the 1% if i can get me a good worm rod!

[RiverFisher13]

im in the 5% club for LM, trying to get there for small mouth.

[flippin and pitchin]

If I read you Kent, your motive for the question is to help you answer member's questions in a context that fit's their goals or expectations. I like that. I read once upon a time that bass anglers go through a transition of goals. Catch a bass, catch a limit of bass, catch a big bass, catch a limit of big bass, catch a trophy bass, help other anglers achieve their goals. It might not be in exact order, but that's about it. It was kind of like that for me. The 8lb largemouth eludes me to this day. Had em' on, several, but cannot put one in my hand. Same for a 6 lb. smallmouth. That is still my goal. I guess I am the 5% but strive to be, maybe the 2% group.

[Bigbarge50]

I am part of the 5%... happily and luckily.

I aim for the 5lbers but am very happy to catch fish.

RW this was a great bit of REAL info, as you mentioned when look at it, is some of the best big fish water in the WOLRD..... and tells a telling picture of the challenges of catching large fish. I was impressed with the 13 8lb+ fish caught. Really tells a story.

I also love when we discuss such things how many some guys are "catching" huge fish every trip, and yet are passing on making millions on the tournament trail. Somehow guys are falling all over 5lb fish every trip out. Think we need some scales checked out there, because they would dominate KVD every day of the week.

[.ghoti.]

It pays to think of Mark Twain when one encounters statistics.

He said, "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

For those of you who believe that the 5% figure is low, I submit the following statistic.

97% of all 5 pound bass aren't.

[slonezp]

It pays to think of Mark Twain when one encounters statistics.

He said, "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

For those of you who believe that the 5% figure is low, I submit the following statistic.

97% of all 5 pound bass aren't.

Party pooper.

[telmomarques]

i prefer going for .001% for world record bass

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Only caught two in 25 yrs of living in Ohio but a couple hundred since living in florida and 3 10lb or greater. This isn't a bragging thread,it is saying how I obviously take for granted where I live. That said I am going to miss these ladies when and if I move back to Ohio and am going to greatly appreciate the occasional 3lber! Or I could just take up cartfish and carp fishing again!!!

[Nitrofreak]

It pays to think of Mark Twain when one encounters statistics.

He said, "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

For those of you who believe that the 5% figure is low, I submit the following statistic.

97% of all 5 pound bass aren't.

LMAO!! I know a few people like that too!!!

So where did that statistic come from ?

Since it too is a statistic does it make that one a lie or a damned lie...lol

Cool post I like it...even though it did make it seem as if you are a party pooper as slonezp so eloquently put it.

[Alpster]

Maybe another way to considder the statistics..... I too, have caught a 1/2 dozen 5lb + bass and my PB is 6.5. As I look at my personal statistics (and they are only estimates as I haven't documented every fish) I have spent 45 or so years fishing and have caught a lot of fish in that time, the number of 5+ bass are almost none as a percentage of total bass caught. I grew up in the South (Louisiana) where all but two of my 5lbers were caught. I have been in New Jersey for 26 years and have one 5lber and my PB. So for me, I have caught one 5+ bass on average, every 7 1/2 years. As to RW's question, small bass are relatively easy to catch and 95% catch them. Larger bass are not so plentiful and I don't find the 5% statistic hard to believe. I have known and fished with tounament pros, and some of the best bass fishermen in the country, including many members here. Methinks some of the guys who claim to catch dozens of 5+ fish a year would not if a good scale were involved (see Ghotti's post above). JMHO

Ronnie

[K_Mac]

Living in So. Illinois, 5 pound fish are not too unusual, but since buying a good scale my 5# plus fish numbers are down a bit. I suspect .ghoti."s 97% statistic is not far off. I have seen "7" and "8" pound fish that probably wouldn't go 5 lb.

I wonder what the percentage is for those who consistently catch the bigger fish on public water in their locale? I am guessing that is a small number.

[Bankbeater]

Something else to consider. How many people were actually going out and serious about catching a 5+ pounder vs. just going out to drown worms.

[.ghoti.]

I do like RW's original post. It sums up his attitude very well. I've fished with him several times. and can tell you he is a great guy to share a boat with. He truly wants to help others advance their knowledge of this game. My post about stats came off a bit snotty. Some of my posts just seem to do that. I'm not really a snotty bastage, but I will admit to being a wise-*** from time to time.

My approach to statistics varies from a healthy skepticism down to outright disdain. That was what my first post in this thread was intended to convey. Then I got into wise-*** mode and made the 97% statement. A little BS with a large grain of truth in it.

I've caught two bass a little over 8, three 7 pounders, six 6 pounders and maybe ten 5 pounders. Those are fish that made it onto a scale, not eyeballed. About twenty trophy sized fish for the areas I frequent. And that's over a thirty+ year period. Way less than one trophy per year. I couldn't tell you how many days fishing that is, much less how many hours.

So, put me in the 5% group through sheer perseverance.

[FD.]

14 fish over 5 pounds in the boat in the last 2 years. I only caught about half of them. It's more fun to help others catch them.

<==== Taylor, boated 3 this year including this 7 pounder.

Living in central Florida and having access to many "not so public" lakes certainly helps. It think it also helps that we target larger fish both in tactics and location. Even if the little ones are biting we always wind up with a flippin stick in our hands punching the really thick crap trying to get a big one.