I'm sorry guys, personally I enjoy Saltwater action much more...

My buddies take me along the few Freshwater trips I've had a chance to go on and I just can't get my adrenaline rushing... To them it was an enjoyable day.

Plain & simple... I'd rather be fighting a nice, beautiful Bull Red versus a LMB over an oversized freight train "Carp"

-if you want to get techinical & do a comparison as in tactics of how to fish the different species in different water environments more challenging than the other.... i see that, but just not the same for me. I haven't even touched base on the exotics!

Just random venting....

I dont really understand this part of your post, please restate. Other than that, I guess it is just a matter of opinion.

I live near some of the best saltwater fishing in the world, and have spent most of my life fishing and enjoying the salt. However, I have recently caught the bass bug over the past couple of years and do very little salt fishing now. I have a great lake about an hr away called Choke Canyon, and it produce large numbers of 8,9, and double digit bass.

However, even when catching smallish bass, I still enjoy it more than salt. Bass fishing is just way more technical & challenging for me. There are so many different technique and lures and you encounter a enormous variety of fish habitiat, cover, structure, and terrain. Plus, it is fun for me to just accumalate all the differnet kinds of equipment. There is a differnt rod, reel, lure, and line for every situation. When I go fishing for bass, I take a minimum of 8 different rods ane reels and like 3 different tackle bags. The funny thing is, that you need it all. It really gives me something to spend my money on.

As for the fight of the fish, of course a 20 lb red is going to pull harder than a 5 pound bass, it its simply bigger. But lb for lb, bass have very broad shoulders and put up a good fight. Plus it is a smarter fight. When hooked bass usually head strait for cover and get you all in a mess. For instance, Choke has heavy Drilla and when its bass are hooked, they go strait down to the bottom and stick themselves in the grassy. You must really try to keep em up. Furthermore, bass are very athletic and pull very hard but the fight usually doesnt happen that far from the boat, making it short and seemingly easy. However, I have had more bass break my line and snap my rods than any salt species. How do you fingure that, other than they put up a solid fight

However, I still like and enjoy the salt

you pretty much summed up the rest in your response.. I see how Freshwater can be more complicated, from just viewing all the gear my friends lug around 128372938 rods, new state-of-the-art lures, tackle bags (which takes about 2 hour for airport security to search through), fish finders, now people are putting graphics on their boat so it will blend in with the surroundings (just like camo, not to spook the fish!) so forth... but that can also take away the joy out of it. Worrying about this & that. I just want o simply to hook a nice fish & enjoy a great.... man vs. fish.
again it is "my" opinion. For all the other people who are into gathering all the gadgets & gizmos of todays technology. more power to ya. as long as it catches the fish.. that's the whole point...
today's society is complicated enough... why make your leisure time the same.... what happen to being one with nature.
- cane pole & a bucket of worms...

i live on the beach so its saltwater for me. i never get the chance to fish freshwater,so i can't really say much about it. but i do think you are OPENING a big can of worms with this post??let the fights begin.

i don't think i just opened it.... i smashed it against the wall!

to me fishing isnt just leisure time, I am obsessed and adicted. However, like my fiance said, its better than being hooked on drugs and alcohol.

Tinkering around with all my equipment before the next day's trip, brings almost as much fun to me as actually going. As i build a game plan I work myelf up so much I can barely sleep. And, I do this several times a week.

However, I would take the same approach if going saltwater fishing. The only difference is that it is on a much smaller scale. I only take 3 rods/reels when I go saltwater as oppossed to 8 to 10 when I go freshwater. Likewise, my saltwater tackle bag consist of far fewer lures. Here is an example of my (saltwater rods): 7 foot med. light Popping rod, 6'6 med action spinner bait casting rod, & a 7 foot med. action spinning tackle.

(Freshwater): two 7 ft med. light popping, 7 ft med.hvy. wormin, 7 ft hvy. casting, 6'10 med.heavy Jiggin, 6'10 med. rat.trap. rod, 6'6 med. spinner bait rod , 6'6 me.hvy. spinnerbait rod, two 7 ft mod. med. crankin rod, 7 ft mod. fast med. spinning rod

The reason for the huge difference in amount of rods, are the many different situations and techniques that one uses in freshwater as opposed to the wide open waters of the tx bay systems or any bay for that matter. There is just not as much cover for the fish to hang in while saltwater fishing, therefore you can get away with fishing just a couple versatile rods. A 7 foot me. light popping rod usually does the trick. However, that same rod is regulated to topwater fishing only for me in the freshwater. Plus, it just does not have the backbone necessary for fillip, pitching a jig, crankin in heavy grass, etc. For all of these traditional bass techniques you need differnt rods. Now each rod is also matched with a reel to best suit the situation.

Now Im not saying that there are not situations in which you may find hvy cover in the salt, but dont come back with some anecdotal reply. Bass fishin just calls for more equipent and techniques and thats that. All of this different stuff realy fills my time and interests me. When fishing is slow, I still get plenty of action with the equipment.

Probably the best thing about freshwate fishing is not having to spend time wasshing off all the equipment. You can just put everything strait away and thats it. Its great!!!!

the feeling of hooking onto a monster fish in salt is awesome though you have to admit lol

What do you consider a monster fish? Ive hooked into so many 20 lb plus reds that I cant even spit out a number, catch countless offshore species every year, have landed a large number of trout in the 28" to 30" range, and many more saltwater species.

My point is, that I have caught plenty of "monster" saltwater fish and now I am just not into the size of a fish, but rather I look for the allround package, and Bass seem to take it all in my book. The size and fight come secondary to the actual process of going about and getting that fish hooked to me. I guess for someone who has not had the chance to fight and land a big fish, it might be thrilling to do so, but to me it is just not something I worry too much about.

However, there are two species of saltwater fish that are quite thrilling for me to catch, though they are not widely targeted in TX. These fish are the Spanish Mackeral and Bluefish. Both of these fish are super agressive, hitting a wide variety of lures, and put up a tremendous fight, relative to their size, on lighter tackle. Smacks are like trout on steroids, and the bigger ones will darn near jerk the rod out your hand when they hit a lure. Plus, I think they are one of the tastiest fried fish out there, though many will disagree. Down here, they average between 14" and 28" with fish over 30" not too uncommon. Blues remind me of a saltwater smallmouth bass for their tenacity and a largemout for size and shape. They absolutly destroy lures and will not give up fighting. Their fight is like the pull of a red, and the headshake of a trout, with the speed of a offshore fish. A 20 inch Blue will plum whare you out. They average between 14" and 20" down here with bigger ones not too uncommon. They are not the tastiest fish but will do allright in a coconut batter or other heavy flavored preparation. Both of these species school and can be caught by the 100's making for lots of fun.

So, dont get me wrong, I enjoy all types of fishing, but am in love with bass fishing because of all that it entails. It is extremly challenging and for the thinking fisherman. Though the fight is not like the larger redfish, I think that the acrobatic jumps and thick cover they inhabit make for a great fight.

Obviously you have never stalked a Permit in three feet of water, tried to sneak up on tailing bonefish, or land Tarpon bigger than yourself in shallow water...when you have done that and done it all successfully in the same day on flys that you have tied, then come back and tell me "thats that" and that bass fishing is more technical than salt water fishing. The truth is you won't because it isn't.


My opinion is that its all good...just different. How technical the fishing is does not determine my level of enjoyment, thankfully.

I get as much fun catching my pond raised BG with worms fished under a bobber with my grandchildren as I do in highly technical fly fishing on salt water flats.

Its all good and all should be enjoyed, respected, and protected for future generations to also enjoy.

oh yes, Tarpon fishing. I was raised in alabama & fished mostly gulf shores, dolphin island & biloxi. from time to time went down to florida to specifically target tarpon. So I am familiar with battling it out with ridiculous sized tarpons & razor mouth Macks. Don't forget the snappers.. Most important thing to mention is most of those times I didn't have to get on a boat & go out 10- 50 miles. All of it was on land based! (Piers or Jetties) Clear Blue water! You literally can pick out the fish you want to catch. Texas unfortunately doesn't have the same conditions, but still great fishing! You can't have it all.

"Oh, the memories...."

Currently stuck in Austin... & I can't even go near the lake... Damn those In-Laws! As soon as I get back. I'm hitting the saltwater!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE THIS WEEKEND!
WHETHER YOUR'RE ON SALTWATER OR FRESHWATER!

Your talking about three different species while Im just talking about one and it still calls for more techniques and equipment. You can catch bass on flys too. By the way, your talking about the technicalities of fly fishing not tarpon, bone fish, or permit fishing, two of which are not fish that frequent TX waters in a targetable number. You can apply those fly techniques to fishing for largmouth bass, striper, trout, or any number of freshwater fish in the shallows of any river throughout the county as well.

Regardless, bass fishing is more sophisticated and intrical than any other method of fishing. Believe me, I live on the coast and fish for and have caught all of these fish that you throw out there on what used to be a weekly if not daily basis. I really like saltwater fishing. However, the many challenges and situations brought on by bass fishing has swept me away.

If you said, " Lets go out to the KingRanch shoreline to catch some sow trout" Id be the first one to fire up the boat and get on it. Likewise, I watch the buoys throughout the entire summer, and take by bayboat offshore whenever the seas allow. I love all types of fishing, however, on a daily basis my mind is on catching and fishing for bass. It just presents more of a challenge for me, I mean just look at the casting. If you are not good enough to throw a lure into a coffe cup from 30 feet you could end up loosing a lure or missing that exact location where that fish will be laying.

You can talk about all the ways you love saltwater and I will agree with you but do not try to convince me that it is more of a challenge, because to me it just isnt. I have logged more hours in the salt that 90% of the guys around here, for years I lived on the edge of the laguna shoreline and have always lived within a 5 minute drive of some body of saltwater. It is just my opinion, through experience that I feel bass fishing more of a challenge and I just like it more.

hahaha.. who's trying to convince you about anything.. this is just an open discussion to view others people's opinion.

woah..... simmer down loopty! you'll catch a stroke getting worked up over a simple discussion...

good luck on fishing this weekend! Have fun!

Shrimp Chips

"Obviously you have never stalked a Permit in three feet of water, tried to sneak up on tailing bonefish, or land Tarpon bigger than yourself in shallow water...when you have done that and done it all successfully in the same day on flys that you have tied, then come back and tell me "thats that" and that bass fishing is more technical than salt water fishing. The truth is you won't because it isn't."

(The above is a quote by lark but I messed up the quote button)

[/quote]

How was his post to me any different than the one that I made? To me it seems like yall are the ones that got bent out of shape because I gave my opinion on a post titled, "Saltwater V.S. Freshwater" If you read the previous posts, I was not the one quoting other people and saying things like, "Obviously you havent caught this or that."

Seems like you are swinging from lark's jock and have a little envy towards me. To tell you the truth, an ill temper or a stroke was the last thing I had and didnt get irrated untill I saw your dumbfounded comments. People like you are continuously asking for trouble by talking trash about things other than fishing, but are the first ones to call me a trouble maker or AHole, just because I am a little better at words and have a far more extensive background in fishing and fishing knowledge.

I only argued my point against Lark because he made my opinion the focal point of his own argument first. My opinion was just a generalized statement, not aimed at any individual, but rather on my feelings towards salt and fresh water fishing. However, people like you are just way to hypocritical and closed minded to see this. Instead, you have to throw my name out there and make me the highlight of your words.

Now, in writting everything that I have, I did not come under the least bit of stress. I was a little annoyed with your ridiculous reply but in no way have I became angry or agitated until I came back and saw your dimwitted interpretation. I would hate to see what you would think of me if I every even got remotely angry.

Quick get my stroke medicine!!!!

Personally I am hooked on Saltwater fishing, but 90% of my yearly fishing is done on freshwater.

I grew up in Iowa, and the biggest fish I've ever caught was a catfish. For me it's all about the Man vs Fish fight now, a 30 pound catfish couldn't compare to a 15-20 pound bull red or a 50-70 pound black tip.

When I go to the coast it's about the fight, listening to that drag scream wondering what will pop it's head out of the water when I eventually get it to the boat. Feeling that exhaustion setting in after 30-45 minutes of fighting a fish and still not having a clue what it even is.

I enjoy freshwater fishing too, but to me there is no comparison. When I'm on salt it's about the fight, when I am on fresh water it's about the hunting and stalking....

I will take saltwater fishing over freshwater fishing any day.

The concept of not really knowing what or how big the next thing that bites is appeals to me.

When it comes to freshwater fishing, sand bass/hybrids/stripers, crappie/sunfish/bream and catfish are my favorites.

I caught my first black bass almost 45 years ago, and I would not give a dime for all the black bass that could be stacked in the back of my long bed ford F-250.

To me bass fishing has been ruined just like deer hunting has, simply because of the over commercialization.

My first experience salt water fishing was in 1970, and I still get just as excited now as I was then. JMO.

I think it is great that bass fishing has caught on so well with the mainstream public. Anytime a fishing event is covered on ESPN, like bass masters has been, it is a good thing. Plus, the exposure leads to improvments to the fishery. The same thing with deer hunting, the added acceptance has led to a bigger push for conservation and is helping to save hanitat and improve herds around the country.

Also, this is were the challenge and skill thing comes into play in bass fishing. By this, I mean that it is harder to target a certain species and catch it without just catching any ol' species. However, on occassion, you will run into some different fish unexpectidly while bassin. For instance, I have caught gar, huge cats, striper, hybrids, whites, crappie, perch, gaspbergoo, redfish, carp, walleye, gryndle and many others while bass fishing.

[quote=... when I am on fresh water it's about the hunting and stalking.... [/quote]

for me that is why i love the salt water...
i love wading a flat and seeing a school of reds poke there flat tails through the surface and then slowly stalking them till i can be close enough to throw a fly. then have your drag scream is such a high

salt hands down

[quote=vhs07 i love wading a flat and seeing a school of reds poke there flat tails through the surface and then slowly stalking them till i can be close enough to throw a fly. then have your drag scream is such a high

salt hands down [/quote]

vhs07,

If you like that, then try the same thing on a bonefish flat. Nothing like it!!

Its expensive to go where they are, and it took me most of my life before I could finally afford to go where they are.....but man oh man...nothing compares to the run a bonefish makes. Everyone that loves the stalk of a redfish on a saltwater flat just has to find a way to do the same on a bonefish flat. You won't regret it and may even get hooked on it!!

I love the salt and miss it. I love the freshwater and I am finally starting to understand bass. I have fished the coast for about 10 years and moved up to the hill country for the past 5, and it took that long more me to finally figure out bass...
I love them both...with that said, I am a much, much better saltwater fisherman. IMO, there is no doubt freshwater is harder, at least for the species I target. I have said it several times in the past couple of years "I miss the coast, these bass are just to smart for me" after getting skunked and taking that long walk in the house with no fish...but they are as addictive as any other species, and without a doubt make you put in the time to understand them. I am hopelessly addictive to all bodies of water. I am graduating in a couple months and have to decide where to go...strangely enough (well anywhere but on this forum) fishing is a large deciding factor for me....Stay in the hill country or head back to the coast...

medow, last summer for my senior trip my parents booked a cruise ship out of galveston, we went to cozumel. the engine wasn't working to full speed so we made it to cozumel after lunch as well as the low tide of the am... so the was blind casting (my guide could see them but i couldnt) and i broke down and switched to spinning gear after missing a few bones...



they werent any ten lbs but the still pulled very well for there size

man wouldn't be nice to have bones here on the texas coast

I understand how you feel. I was raised on freshwater fishing until I was about 8 yrs old. Moved to Corpus, and got hooked on the salt. Moved back to Shreveport at 14 and still visited relatives in Corpus and Houston just so I could fish the salt every summer. The along came Toledo Bend's glory days. In 1972 I fished it hard and caught way too many bass and crappie for one man. Left the state ( and country) and came back to fish it again in 1977. ( however, I fished the Chandeluer Islands a lot in 75-76) We still slaughtered the bass on Toledo in 77.. Then about 1979 I fished Cross Lake again in Shreveport, the place where I caught my very first fish with my dad back when I was about 5 yrs old. ( 1958) But in '85 I longed for the salt again. Been going to Lake Calcasieu in LA, Port A, Galveston, Freeport, etc...ever since.

Freshwater fishing bores me now. I'm sorry. You spend too much time under trees, over trees, in the brush, the stickups and moss to enjoy it. Besides, no bass, ( taste-wise or fight -wise) is going to compare to a red, speck, AJ or shark...in my book.
I do love to eat crappie though ! That's about all I go for in Freshwater nowdays.

I'm going to retire somewhere on the coast and I'll probably die sitting in a chair on the beach, breathing that wonderful salt air. ( with a huge red on my surf rod ! )

To each his own, I guess. I've enjoyed both, but I dont care if I ever fish freshwater again. No one on the lakes today seems to be courteous, anyway. My dad would have shot some of the boaters I encounter these days.

SHHHH ! You'll scare the fish !

I dont think anyone is courteous on the water salt or fresh.
Yes, bass fishing is way more complicated than saltwater fishing. When my dad goes bass fishing with me he gets upset because you dont usually catch bass like you do trout or reds. A good day for two people bass fishing may be only 10 fish, while you can sit in the bay and catch a 100 little schoolie trout in an outing. However, this is part of the challenge that makes bassin fun for me. Especially when you get one that goes over 12 lbs. Plus, I have spent the better part of 20 yrs pulling in loads of trout and reds weekly.

If you find stalking shallow saltwater fish challenging, then try your hand at fishing for bedded bass. Seeing a double digit bass on a bed can be awesome, especially because you are only a couple feet away. Plus, it can be the most challenging thing in all of fishing to get her to take. Especially in super clear water that gets a bit of pressure. It can be agonizing to watch a 10 lb bass continuously follow your bait but never enhale it. I have worked on single bass for hours, changing baits and presentations more than 20 times before finally finding the right combonation. Last week, it took me hours to realize that dropshotting a zoom trick worm, bitten in half, was the way to their heart.

Now thats patience, knowledge, and tactical skill. At notime in saltwater have I ever had to encounter such a task. Yes, you most be quiet while wading the flats for tailing fish, and sometimes downsize your lures, but its still usually just chunking and winding and if you can get it to em in an unoffensive manner than they will strike.

Give me a surface walker, soft plastic jerkbait, spinner bait, and a suspending lure, and three rods and reels and I will destroy trout and reds all year long. It is that simple for me. But, I need a full arsanal of lures and at least 8 specialized rods and reels to be prepared for a day on the lake.

The problem I see with your scenario and enthusiasm over bass fishing, and the way it and deer hunting have evolved, is that many average people are pushed out of the sport.

It is all a matter of perception.

For someone that is addicted it is all the peripheral stuff involved with catching a double digit bass, but it has happened with a price.

Look at peoples reactions if eating bass is even mentioned.

Fishing and hunting were both meant to be means of having fun, escaping the reality and pressures of everyday life, and obtaining some really tasty food.

Too many folks want to turn everything into a contest, and in many cases, the folks that just want go catch a few fish for a meal or two, get pushed to the side, just like the folks that just want to shoot A deer, and not a Monster buck.

I like any form of fishing, but as I stated in my original post, I will take catching whiting off of Bob Hall Pier everyday, over trying to catch even one bass anyday.

I guess my real issue with freshwater fishing is that unless you have a boat, there are many good bodies of water that an angler can not fish, which is not the case on the coast. JMO.

Crazyhorse;

your last line summed up how I feel here in Allen. I moved to the Dallas area in 1995 from Des Moines, Iowa. I have fished since age 4, and many of my childhood years my family depended on the fish I brought home to put food on the table.

Back in Iowa there rarely any place you couldn't go to fish, most of the lakes surrounding land was parks, and the grass was almost always mowed to the waterline, not to mention the Des Moines river that through most of downtown has a beautiful concrete walkway all along both shores to fish from.

Anyway when I first moved to the Dallas area I felt very claustrophobic, and started looking for a body of water that I could just go sit by the water's edge and fish for a few hours to escape life. I was absolutely shocked when I pulled up to Lake Lewisville and found that almost all the parks and roads leading to the areas along the water that were mowed to the water required payment to get to the water.

It's like everything in the area has been sold off, and turned into profit centers for people, and there is little or nothing left for the "public" to enjoy.

As I got to know the area I did learn about a lot of places you could go to fish without major costs, but if you want the decent fishing your still going to want a boat.

As for the coast, the Galveston/Port Aransas area doesn't lend it's self too well to fishing from shore without expensive long range casting gear with the exception of the piers and jetties, but with even a modest boat you can fish for some of the best fighting fish I have ever encountered, and I've never even been out for marlin, tuna or even tarpon yet. I cannot wait for the opportunity to hook something like that.

I'm a lot like Oldfrog in the respect my plans for retirement are to move to the coast, and when I die I want it to be with a rod in my hand...

Me !!!! I just like to FISH . Salt , fresh , hell even in a bucket. Just let me fish . I have caught lots of fish both ways large and small . TOO ME FISING IS THE GAME . Not what type of water I fish in .