Well, I've been wondering for a while and haven't heard any discussion, so _______, thought I's bring it up. Hope I don't stir up a lot of cntroversy, but maybe that's ok too if it's fun and informative. [
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Anyways, I've been fishing for both now the last 3 yrs. and have caught my share in my tube with Sparky. Just to start it off, I recently caught a 17 in. Largie (have caught several in the 15-16 in category) and just got back from Pineview after catching 9 cookie cutter 14 in. smalies and there is absolutely no comparison in fight!!!!!!! Those 14 in smallies totally out fought any 16,17, 18 in and larger? largie, especially for endurance.[sly]
I will say this, the largies eat better. Just my opinion.
Comments????
Leaky
I REALY NEVER TARGET EITHER BUT HAVE CAUGHT MANY OF BOTH WHILE PURSUING EYE,S. AND I KNOW SMALLIES FIGHT HARDER. BUT THEN AGAIN IVE NEVER HOOKED INTO A LARGE MOUTH OVER 4 POUNDS. UTWALLEYE HAS CAUGHT SEVRAL OVER 9 AND ONE 12. HE MIGHT HAVE SOME SAY ABOUT IT WITH HIS EXPEREANCES. BUT FOR ME NOT EVEN CLOSE.
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[font "Times New Roman"][#ff4040][size 3]I'm going to hafta go with the smallie on this one. I have caught my fair share of big largies in CA, but none of them have fought as hard as a smallie IMO.[/size][/#ff4040][/font]
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Tough call, even a small smb will fight like no other but (in my opinion) a small lmb just can't compare. If you can catch a smb over 5 lbs. you will swear up and down that it was the best fight but I've only done it once...on the other hand I've caught several lmb's over 5 lbs. and must admit I'd rather catch a BIG lmb than a smb. As funny as it sounds I prefer fishing for smb's just because pound for pound they put up a fight....I'm starting to think I may very indecisive, I better go compare-This Sunday WHERE TO FISH???
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[cool][#0000ff]That is a very subjective issue. However, I think most folks who have caught both, of a similar size, would vote in favor of the smallie being the better fighter. I share that opinion. Love those battling bronzebacks.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As far as eating, I think the smallie usually has firmer flesh with less "flavoring" imparted by size, age and water quality. That might be because smallies tend to live in colder and cleaner waters. Largemouths often hang out in the weedier and warmer water and that can affect their table quality. In fact, I have cooked some largies that the smell alone kept me from eating them. When a fish fillet smells like the black mud I wash off my boots, that's where I draw the line.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, like I say, it is all a matter of personal opinion, based upon personal experience. There are no absolutes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Great research topic though. When is the next on-the-water lab session scheduled?[/#0000ff]
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I would also have to say smallies put up the better fight and are better on the table.
With that said, there is still is nothing like lipping a nice 5#+ largemouth. They are just awesome fish.
IMO as far as fight goes, I would say wipers put them both down, but that's another topic! [
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If you take two the same size the smalle will fight harder....
But in most lakes the large mouth will grow to a bigger size and they fish different and fight different and I like them both......
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I hope you choke on the next Bass you eat LOL!!!!
They aint for eating there just for catching.
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[cool][#0000ff]Spoken like a true bassaholic. Not to be confrontational but there are more lakes suffering from insufficient harvest than overharvest. That's what stunting is all about.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Selective harvest is the key. Every water has unique properties and fish populations. Having the same regulations on all lakes causes problems with some and ignores the problems in others.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It's like the old saying "If you have four kids and you treat them all the same, you are treating at least three of them wrong...if not all four."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As we are all aware, Utah does little to watch and manage the warm water fisheries. Supposedly, there are plans in the works to devote more time and attention to the non-trout species. Hopefully that happens and we can all enjoy better bassin'.[/#0000ff]
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Hummmmm, kind of "my way or no way"? "LOL"? Yep, giving ya a hard time. What'd ya expect? "LOL". [sly] Just sticking up for those that enjoy more than just the catching.[
] By the way, I released all of mine ----------, last time.
Leaky
Ok, here it is. Take it or leave it.[
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I say pound for pound smb fight much harder than lmb. Having said that, a 7+# lmb puts up a hell of a fight and smb rarely get that big in the lakes i fish.
But........ Can you imagine catching a 5# bluegill? You wouldn't even know what to do. As far as i am concerned, bluegill ounce for ounce are the hardest fighting fish on the planet. Wipers fight harder than both lmb and smb but i think a gill of comparable size would eat his lunch.
Won't someone find a steroid for bluegill? PLEASE!!!!!
As for taste, i have not eaten a smb and i loved the lmb i did eat. Catfish take the cake in the cooking department.
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Smallies all the way!! Bigger smallies are probably my favorite fish to battle in fresh water. IMO, LMB aren't even in the same league in fighting ability. One day on lake X last year, I caught a 16 in. smallie and a 16 in. LMB back to back in a very short interval of time. There was absolutely no comparison. The identical sized LMB was like dragging in a log compared to the feisty smallie. I have never understood the reverential awe Utah bassers have for LMB when we have such good smallie fisheries close at hand, but hey, to each their own, its all good[
]. I haven't eaten either species in such a long time, I don't know about how they compare in table quality, but back in the day,they both seemed quite delicious.
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Well now let's see ...
Largemouth Bass & Smallmouth Bass are both amazing fish.
1. The "Greenfish" LMB that is, when they are hooked they tend to head towards the surface to shake off the hook. Hence all of the photos that you see of greenfish ... they are jumping and dancing, You haven't caught a LMB until you fight one out of Utah Lake. They fight hard! They will wrap your line around anything they can! The Bigger the fish the harder they fight. It also depends on the time of year. If the water is colder, they are more lethargic. They move much slower.
2. The "Bronzeback" SMB that is, when they are hooked, they point there head down and run like the dickens! Smallmouth are what you call an opportunistic feeder. they feed whenever they can. They also are always looking up. This is why dropshotting works so well. They always have there eyes pointed up to the surface or to the edge of the water & bank. When they fight, the are downward driven which makes for a great time! Very powerful fish! They will jump but only when they are right close to the surface. The colder months make smallies just as lethargic.
3. Spotted Bass ... The same as a LMB.
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I think smallies edge out largies by a hair.
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I agree.... i think that a 4 or 5llb bluegill would be a gnarly fish!!! that would be bustin 14lb test and snapping medium action rods.. hahaha ounce for ouncethey fight the hardest..... and when it comes to the largy smallie thing.. hmmm smallies definitly fight much harder.... but i think like catching big largemouth more than smallmouth... especially if its on a buzz bait or zara spook
.. haha yea...
my two cents...
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All good points.
In the last few years I have fished nothing but bass and trout, nailing the odd other here and there (a ton of unintended chain pickerel).
To me it is unfair to compare LMB to SMB. They both have their strong points.
First of all you have to take into account where you are catching them.
Prime SMB staging/holding area:
Rocks, ledges, stumps, lay-downs, open brake-lines and in direct current or on the edge of an eddy. You will seldom find them in matted lilies, milfoil or in shallow growth tresses.
Here the SMB reigns supreme. He will run you and make you work ... like competing in a basketball game with an opponent who knows his game. He explodes off into the run and keeps up the pace for longer than the LMB, changes direction more often and quicker in his changes and likes to dive deep. He seldom heads for cover or leaps quickly to throw your hook. As long as you can turn its head you can dictate its run - just be quick on the drag.
Prime LMB areas:
Brush piles, lay-downs, stumps shelf, drop-offs ,all types of thick marine vegetation and often shallow (particularly in pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn while the bucks are guarding the fry - or eating them).
Here the LMB reigns supreme.
He is like a 100m sprinter. The moment you set your hook and you have him in slop, you had better be faster than him or if he's over 5lb's, you'd better have at least 15lb or you may well lose it. This is the reason most experienced bass fishermen and pros will use line as heavy as 25lb for fishing LMB and "water-ski" smaller ones to the boat at break-neck speed. Close to cover fishing with an LMB often precludes the luxury of a fight and warrants herculean cranking to get it away from cover. When you set the hook he runs for structure or vegetation - deep or shallow. LMB are made to frustrate you with cover like no other.
When you manage to get him away from cover you then have to pray he doesn't use that ace up his sleeve: the leap and toss. Often even holding your rod tip deep will not stop a feisty LMB from leaping and insolently tossing your lure back at you. Often times the moment you have a hook set they will jump immediately and throw your hook.
I find SMB seldom head for cover, more often opting for a deep water run and on occasion lose it close to the surface on a sudden direction change when the rod is already absorbing the pull to its max.
I NEVER fish with more than 10lb line as I love the challenge and have lost far more LMB (due to cover)than SMB. I have also found (as have others) that the successful landing of a LMB is often decided within the first 30 seconds of the fight.
I love both equally.
However I must state categorically - in rivers lb for lb, the bronzeback takes the trophy as the best fighter - far better than any trout, pickerel or salmon I have caught.
I do love the idea of a 5lb bluegill. I fear we would need great white tackle for that. I love to play them on my 3wt fly rod, floating line and a 1 lb tippet. Amazing little fighters!
-ABT-
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thats a tough question, UTBASS gave a pretty good example. I have caught some way strong lmb and have also caught some real slugs. same goes for smb. alot of things depend on the fish and the mode of the fish, how deep the fish was when hooked, weather and other factors i'm sure. I can't say witch fights harder for sure because I was young when I caught a LMB that I can compare to a SMB of the same size. they both did some out off the water stuff and some good runs. LMB was 6.9 calif. the SMB was 6.2 deer creek. the LMB was caught from shore, the SMB from boat, that also so will play a factor in the fight. sorry, I don't have an answer I like them both. later chuck
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AdicteBassTard and UTBASS - Just got back from Pineview and caught 10 smallies in a half day. 7 from 14-15 in. and the rest smaller. Here's the point every one of em jumped at least twice and I had to pull em downs so's they woulldn't through the lure. I agree, generally, they don't head for the brush, but, they fight twice as hard and 3 times as long!!!!!![sly]
Leaky
If anyone out there is interested in giant bluegills, look up a bluegill called a Georgia Giant. There is a farm in Georgia that raises these hybrid 'gills for maximum size and they are very impressive, much larger than you would think. See Kens-fishfarm.com Hope all of you have a great day!! John R.[
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for me it's as simple as this......i was leaning toward largemouth. i have had some pretty great fights at sand hollow and quail this year. some 6 lbers that gave me a run for my money in my float tube.....yep, leaning toward the bucketmouths. well, i was actually just flat out givin it to the bucketmouths. that is untill i went to jordanelle this weekend and fought some big smallies for the first time in a long time...............i am now leaning towards the bronzebacks, in fact, i'm flat out giving it to the bronzebacks.....
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