Zack, have you caught many smallmouth bass? I think you'd really enjoy them, especially on light tackle. In my opinion they fight even harder then carp, plus all the little tricks people love about largemouth, they jump, swerve and all that good stuff. They've got all the power of a carp, will strip just as much or more drag in a short amount of time, and as scrappy as all hell. Best fighting fish I've ever caught pound for pound. Of course they don't get anywhere near as big as carp, or even largemouth bass, but a 6 pound smallie will far and away outfight even a 6 pound carp, maybe even a larger carp, they're wonderful fish, my favorite.

I think they might even be a bit stronger up north, they're cold water fish after all. Get bigger up there too.

I don't know, I have caught carp upwards of 25lbs and never felt that thrilled about it. Oh sure, when the hookup was made, I was excited, but when I see it's a carp it's almost like hanging an old boot. I just release the fish and try again for my catfish or whatever I am after. I caught a monster carp on Decker one year with a live crawfish, on ultralight tackle. I had to use my trolling motor to go from the dam to the reeds and almost to the powerlines. It took me probably 25 minutes to see the fish when it surfaced about 40 yards out. All along I thought it was a big catfish, then I see the carp and I felt like cutting the line. It probably comes from fishing as a kid and catching carp after carp after carp. Carp and grinnel or gar, we always considered them trashfish. We released the carp and grinnel, but killed the gar. In retrospect, I don't do that anymore, and I have considered going for carp with light tackle, but I have no intention of keeping one, so it's basically a pull on the rod. I much prefer to catfish for meat, and to bass fish when I don't have to use live or dead bait. I have been wanting to catch a carp to use for catfish bait, so I might do that this year. One good carp should last me quite a while.

I heard on bass today that it was because bass fishing is everywhere just about. the availability is just so great on these fish.

I like bass, they are cute. I prefer to fish for Carp, and do so because I am C&R. I don't eat what I catch, so I may as well catch something big that fights. I fish for bass when I'm bored because the constant action keeps me going, but really there's nothing wrong with them

Chad

I think its the fish stories!!!!! You can catch one, release it and swear it was at least 12 pounds.

Then hear your partner tell the same story about it and the fish was only 12 inches long, not 12 pounds.

Some say we worship the gods of our fathers, and likewise I think we worship the fish of our fathers. Others have touched upon those magical memories of that first battle with a largemouth. I was only around four years old when a monster bass broke my cane pole in half and my Dad helped me land that sparkling green bucket mouth. I remember the pride in his face, the shared joy, the feeling that together we'd done good.

As I got older, bass fishing was the constant link between us. Dad was a retired Army Sargent, and all that entails. He could be a very hard man to please, and even harder to talk to. Believe it or not, I had my own headstrong ways too. But when we were in that old aluminum Starcraft, flipping under docks at Cedar Creek, and one of us set the hook, those differences were cast aside and again we were in the moment together, fighting a bass.

When I went off to college and would call back home, I don't remember talking to Dad much about grades, money or whatever. I'd tell him about a five pounder I'd caught in my latest honey hole in Waco, and he'd tell me about that monster that had broke his line yet again in our favorite cove. I'll never forget Dad showing me a photo on the front page of the Cedar Creek Pilot newspaper. The caption under the photo read "the lonely fisherman" it was clearly a silhouette of Dad in the old Starcraft fishing at dusk, but as we all know Dad wasn't really lonely, there's plenty to keep you company on the water.

The Old Man passed away my senior year of college, he gave us so much but the greatest gift was our passion for waters. It just so happened that bass were what he fished for, so that is what I learned to fish for. If we were from Colorado it would have probably been trout, if we were Alaskan maybe salmon, and yes if he fished for carp I probably would even be able to appreciate those ugly critters too. I know there are exceptions, but I think it's not really about bass vs carp, to me it's more about fathers and sons

Ditto - BigLeslie

Yeehaww.
Who Said Striper's!! Well i been fishing on the Sacramento River (delta)And I Cought My Fare Share Of Striper's= and so the same with Large mouth bass

==== but i got burnt out on striper,..but never lost the fever to catch me a BIG OLE BASS
it just makes the blood heat up and when that big ole large mouth strikes... we set the hook and its just like,...a rush cant explane it...


i cought a sale fish and a marlin.. in mexico
and i wasent even that excited like i am when i am bass fishing HEEEH !!..

Them Damn Ole.. Bass Got Me Hook'ed Just like my wife got me by the Jewles!! lol

Plain & simple!

I�m an American & that�s what we do!
Europeans & Asians they love carp & trout fishing!

You saying you�re a Nascar dad? You bet ya!
You own a $50,000 truck & a $50,000 boat? You bet ya!
You from the South? You bet ya!
You voted for a Texan for President? You bet ya!

Play me some Skinard!!
�My hair is turning white, my neck has always been red, & my collar is still blue.�

Cajondaddy, you have a way with words!!!

I have spent my whole life fishing for everything from carp, to trout, to saltwater. But the truth is, bass have always been my favorite!! Like someone said in a previous post, once I had my first explosion on a Heddon chugger back in the 60's, I was hooked!!

There is no right or wrong fish!! Just fish!!

Like I always say when some guy comes up to me and druels all over my Roadking, it doesn't matter what you ride, just that you ride!

I think it is the difference between going out in the woods and sneaking up on the powerful buck with the rack bigger than Dolly's and walking into a field of cows chewing their cud. Yeah, the cow has more meat and is heavier, but nobody mounts a cow head on the wall. If you get into a school of hybrid, striper, sandies or any of those others... yeah, they fight like crazy and about rip you out of the boat, but where is the challenge? Carp and catfish, sure, you need a flatbed to haul them home, but come on, they have no beauty, no gracefulness or character. For whatever reason bass rule the lake, they may not be the biggest but the put on the best show. I'm not knocking all the other fish out there, on any given day I'll fish them all, but my heart belongs to those large mouth beauties. Just my opinion.

BigLeslie ... I was 17 when my dad died ... and your story brings back a lot of memories about fishing, and goose hunting (he was a guide in his younger days and later on, I became one) .. big lump in my throat .. thanx buddy, nicely said !

why large mouth bass???


why not. the thrill of the hunt.the fight. and they are just a good looking fish

You want a tough fight? Try wrestling sheepshead from the barnacle encrusted pilings of a pier down on the coast. Now there's a tackle-buster for sure.

Want a tougher fight? Try mentioning to your wife that she looks like she's put on a few pounds next time she is getting dressed. Fight is one thing, but brut strength fighting doesn't have the same level of excitement that strategic battle has. Yeah, LMB may not fight as hard, but fight isn't everything.