Easier up North? 2024

diver_sniper reply :

I stumbled across this video on youtube today and it got me curious. I'd like to hear from some people that have fished both in the north and the south. The video makes it almost seem like catching bass up north is no more difficult than catching sunnies from a dock. I don't want to get defensive right away and argue that it can be just as hard here as anywhere else, but I have a hard time imagining it's as different as they claim.

If I moved to Texas, should I expect to get skunked/struggle twice as much as I do in Minnesota?

wvangler reply :

You should come to WV you will have 80 % of the field not catch a keeper sometimes.

brushhoggin reply :

i wonder how much competition gar are to LM

J Francho reply :

Consider the source.....

CWB reply :

Not sure where he got his info from. I do respect Hannon but I don't think he spends much time up here. Bass are bass. They aint easy to catch no matter where you go, except maybe a private pond or such. There are days where I'm lucky to get a few keepers and days where I can't seem to keep em off my hook. Maybe Doug should come up here in February. ;D

backwater4 reply :

Like anywhere else, sometimes good, sometimes very good and a lot of times very difficult or it seems near impossible.

Jigfishn10 reply :

I have read (in the past) that Northern strain bass are more aggressive than Florida strain bass. I don't know how true that is, I went to FLA about 3 years ago and had a great day on the lake.

bilgerat reply :

We all face the same conditions -good and bad - from time to time. Heat, cold, drought,weather fronts, we all get them and have to adjust.

In my experience up here, a violent aggressive strike usually means a small to average bass. A majority of my larger bass (4 to 5 lbs) were barely noticeable when they took the bait.

Scorcher214 reply :

Never fished in the south, but it is definitely not like catching sunnies from the dock.

Nine Miler reply :

Quote
Never fished in the south, but it is definitely not like catching sunnies from the dock.

Sometimes it can be for SM on St. Clair, but not LM anywhere that I know of.

wisconsin heat reply :

Quote
We all face the same conditions -good and bad - from time to time. Heat, cold, drought,weather fronts, we all get them and have to adjust.
In my experience up here, a violent aggressive strike usually means a small to average bass. A majority of my larger bass (4 to 5 lbs) were barely noticeable when they took the bait.

i'd like to add to this,

the harder, the strike basically means a smaller bass, the smaller bass need to put more effort in catching prey, and since bass dont grow as big up here, i think thats why the assumption is made that northern bass are more aggressive,

but dont quote me on that since ive never fished out of wisconsin

Not_Here reply :

if it were easier up here, this is why i'd think that could be. but its definately not like catchin sunnies off the dock regardless.

i think here in minnesota, the lakes are possibly alot less pressured over all due to the sheer volume of lakes we have here. compared to an area with far less lakes but the same population of bass fisherman.

maybe :-/

diver_sniper reply :

Quote
if it were easier up here, this is why i'd think that could be. but its definately not like catchin sunnies off the dock regardless.
i think here in minnesota, the lakes are possibly alot less pressured over all due to the sheer volume of lakes we have here. compared to an area with far less lakes but the same population of bass fisherman.

maybe :-/

In some cases I think this is correct. There aren't as many people beating up on the bass up here. Especially on smaller lakes that would never have a tournament on them.

I guess now that I think about it, I have a few theories. First, fish up here have a limited growing season. It's to their benefit to take advantage of the little time they get in water warm enough for them to grow. So being more aggressive could have something to do with that.

Also, in natural lakes like we have here, the water doesn't fluctuate very much, if at all. There aren't creeks feeding into them. There's no current. There are no shad. It probably makes things a little more predictable.

It can still be next to impossible though.

It will be really interesting when I get a chance to head south and experience the difference for myself.

grimlin reply :

He's one professor i really dislike......Totally

jeb2 reply :

Quote
if it were easier up here, this is why i'd think that could be. but its definately not like catchin sunnies off the dock regardless.
i think here in minnesota, the lakes are possibly alot less pressured over all due to the sheer volume of lakes we have here. compared to an area with far less lakes but the same population of bass fisherman.

maybe :-/

And the fact that Walleye is the king of fish up in that area. I know when I lived in MN and fished bass hard, very few others were doing the same. If there were others back in the bass waters, they were fishing for sunnies or pike, mostly.

I live in NW Ark now and fish Beaver Lake a LOT. 4 days a week on average. It's a huge lake, but gets a lot of pressure and has a lot of tourney's, several a week often times. I don't fish competitively, and do pretty well on the lake overall, IMO. I catch my fair share of bass most days, and the occasional (stocked) walleye by accident. Caught a 19" walleye yesterday (takes an 18 to be legal here), and a 2 3/4lb Kentucky, or spotted, bass.

I spent 2 months fishing in Wisc this summer on a small lake that was loaded with nice bass. First bass in the boat was 5.1lbs! And, just like down here, I had awesome days and I had days I had to work like crazy to get a fish or two.

Overall, I'm not sure which I'd call "easier". Both usually demand that you put thought and effort into it to consistently catch fish. The quality of the fish I was catching in Wisc was high, though. Many, many 3+ pounders all summer long. But I think the reason for that is I was fishing in the deepest parts of the lake, way off shore. I think most bass fishermen up north are not comfortable doing that and pound the banks. And that describes me well when I lived up there, too. But fishing Beaver has given me a raft of deep water skills and confidence which paid off up north this year.

And it's not that I don't catch big bass here. But it's tougher for me to put a lot of bigger fish in the boat on this lake, especially in the heat of the summer.

Blue Streak reply :

In about 60 years of fishing I have yet to find an easy to catch bass in the state of Ohio. I don't know if there is a state with bass in the waters that is more difficult. I have fished all over the south and it is much, much easier, at times almost like catching fish in a barrel.

Bass Dude reply :

I grew up fishing the Oswego NY area, including Lake Ontario. Then spent 10 years fishing the rest of the Finger Lakes and Oneida lake. About a year ago I moved to the Chattanooga area. I don't think it's easier to catch them in either area. A couple differences down here is figuring out the ledge fishing bite and the lack of weeds in some lakes. I don't think it's harder or easier, just different.

tennsopher reply :

Florida strain are more adversly affected by cold fronts ie staying shutdown longer.Also, I find in the clear,weedy lakes,strong winds can silt them whereas they are normally clear shutting down the bite.I learned to fish in ky and Tn and caught alot out of stained water.That doesn't happen much here.I will agree they can be difficult anywhere.Thats why its called fishing and not catching.

NBR reply :

I have fished for bass in FL, AL, GA, TN, KY, IN, IL, OH, NH, MI, WI, MN and ONT. The fishing is good every day but the catching ranges from terrible to supurb depending on the time of the year and the game plan I put together.

Realistic expectations must vary with the particular piece of water, time of year and weather conditions. A lake I fish reguarly in New Hampshire I think 50 fish a day is not special in mid May but 5 is a great day in late July and August.

OHIO reply :

Quote
In about 60 years of fishing I have yet to find an easy to catch bass in the state of Ohio. I don't know if there is a state with bass in the waters that is more difficult. I have fished all over the south and it is much, much easier, at times almost like catching fish in a barrel.

This except change the 60 years to 2 years.

I hope I have that much experience one day.

.ghoti. reply :

NBR, i need to remember your comment. I like.

The fishing's great every day. The catching may not be. So, so true.

BassThumb reply :

When the lakes are frozen from Nov thru March, it can make fishing difficult.

Big Fish Rice reply :

I don't know if I completely agree with the Professor. I fish almost entirely northern lakes up here in Washington State; I rarely find "packs" of bass.

I don't think either area is more difficult than the other; bass have competition no matter the location. Not all of our lakes are home to muskie and walleye, so I don't agree with splitting the north and south into a dichotomy.

Mr Mojo reply :

fishing up north has its downfalls mainly in the weather at least ohio. one day it can be 90 and the next 60 which can make it tougher. it can be tough anywhere though not making any excuses for north or south.

Olebiker reply :

Quote
Consider the source.....

Yeah, I don't trust much of anything Hannon says. He still won't respond to questions on Youtube about the "pending world record topwater bass."

5bass reply :

This explains why the Lindners catch so many fish.

Yeah right. :

Somebody who posted before said it well....a bass is a bass.

=Matt 5.0= reply :

Doug should come to R.I. and see how easy it is... :

Scorcher214 reply :

Quote
When the lakes are frozen from Nov thru March, it can make fishing difficult.

12450

Easier up North? 2024

related General Bass Fishing Forum topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed General Bass Fishing Forum topic