Monster Bass Or Numbers? 2024

Bass_Akwards reply :

Okay guys I hate recycling my old posts but theres a ton of new members, and old members may have changed their minds... It's one of my favotrite topics for some stupid reason so I want to know...

What's a better fishing day?

Fishing your favorite lake in the universe for 10 hours and catching 100+ bass in the 2-6 pound class range? (1-3 pound class SMB)

Fishing your favorite lake in the universe and on your first cast of the day you catch a 14 pound LMB (or a 8 pound SMB), then the rest of the day, you catch NOTHING?

I'll take the latter

Carrington reply :

well tbh, 2-7 pounds where i live is a very good bass, and a 14 lb bass is unheard of, but tbh i just like to go out and have a good day catch some big ones and small ones.

D4u2s0t reply :

14 would be a state record, and I didn't break 5 pounds last year, so those #'s don't apply to me lol.

I would be happy with either day though, as long as I'm catching something.

K_Mac reply :

Either one of those days would be a GREAT day. If forced to choose I would take day two. One monster equals many, many smaller fish IMHO.

The answer to numbers versus size for me is it depends. Most of the time if I'm fishing with someone I would pick numbers. When I'm alone I usually focus on size. Most of my bigger fish this past year came on days I was fishing alone. In my experience most folks don't want to spend a lot of time looking for the big bite.

DINK WHISPERER reply :

Here 2-6lb bass are considered of size!

switch reply :

I'm looking for the 100+ day. No two fish are gonna fight the same way, so your gonna have 100+ new adventures.

Even though the monster would be fun to catch, i think it'd set me up for disapointment catching a hog so fast because then id get frustrated when i wasnt getting hits the rest of the day.

for me, alot of small one over a big one any day.

Goose52 reply :

Tough decision - but I think I would have to take day 1 and get the 100 fish.

I've never had a 100 brim day, let alone a 100 (theoretically) 2-6lb LMB day. Like switch just said, that's 100 adventures. I've caught solitary big fish before, and while it's great at the moment, it's still just one "fish fight." I'll go for the numbers of great fish, and pass on the 1 monster fish. (AND, from what I've been told, sometimes the hawgs don't fight was well as the smaller fish ....I know my 7 3/4 pounder made a couple of runs and that was it - on the bank in about a minute or two...I just got the feeling it was an old fish...)

Now, if you had said, catch a 100 dinks, vs, the 14 pounder - that would be an easier decision ;D

1234567 reply :

Since I am so obsessed with catching a 10+ I will take day 2. After that I'm sure my obsession will grow and be looking for that 12 next and so on!

Team9nine reply :

I'm a numbers guy myself - always have been, so scenario #1 for me.

-T9

Grey Wolf reply :

NUMBERS.

bwillis reply :

Numbers

SoFlaBassAddict reply :

I've never caught 100 bass in a day, I have caught a bunch. I've caught a few large ones...

I have caught over 100 dolphin in a day. I've caught several pushing 50 pounds...

Give me the numbers any day of the week.

b.Lee reply :

If I caught anything over 10lbs it would worth my one fish day, but I suppose numbers would be better

hiker reply :

Well...

Since my biggest bass ever was probably not much bigger than 2 pounds anyway, and I haven't caught 100 bass in my life, let alone in one day...I'm going to have to go with the 100 fish day.

Now if we were talking trout...no doubt, I'll take the 14lb fish.

Brian B reply :

This topic usually comes up every week during tournaments with my partner/cousin. He would rather catch 10 or so 5+ pounders, where as I would rather catch 100 of any size. But when it's tournament time.......i usually change my mind

Big Bait Fishing reply :

i fish big swimbaits so i would rather catch a 14 lb. fish and get skunked the rest of the week !! . i am always going for huge bass , not small ones . i understand people wanting numbers but i want the BIG fish

bassman31783 reply :

I'll take the big one. One huge fish will make a year.

32251 reply :

On a day when you could catch 100 bass....that means the big ones are biting too. I would immediately stop fishing for numbers and put on some big bait.

Captain Shane Procell reply :

Since I never caught a 14'er....i'll take the mega monster one time.

Fishing Rhino reply :

While the 14 pounder would be the fish of a life time, I'd be concerned that there were so few fish in the pond.

But if I'm catching numbers of 2 to 6 pounders, I'd have no such concern.

Maybe for a day now and then, the fourteen pounder would be better. For day in and day out fishing, the action is where it's at.

Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :

choice number 2 for me unless its a touney

zero limit reply :

14lbs. for a bass is a once in a life time catch

noogai13 reply :

FORMER all the way. MORE BASS=MORE FUN!

J Francho reply :

I fish for big fish, rec. or tournament. I never saw anyone win a tournament with a limit of dinks, but I have done well on tough days with 2 or 3 big fish.

bassfisherjk reply :

I like catching big fish but would go for the numbers.

dead eye reply :

One big fish shows I am lucky, numbers of 2 to 3 pounders shows i am skilled in my sport. I would take numbers.

South FLA reply :

Most of the time I am a Monster hunter catching plenty of dinks (under 3lbs) while trying.

Mattlures reply :

My best numbers day was 117 bass from 1.5lbs to 5.5lbs with most fish between 2 and 3 lbs.

My biggest single bass is 17.2lbs

There is no question which day was better or more memerable. To me the numbers day actualy became borring and I started goofing off seeing what else I could catch them on.

The big bass had my knees and hand shaking and I felt like I had arived.

Nope not even close. I'd take the big bass.

Eternal Angler reply :

This one is pretty easy, I'll take the 100+ bass a day, that can be a lot of fun.

Never had a day like that in a long long time!

Paul Roberts reply :

Neither. I'm out there to learn about fish and critters, and fishing. And I'm easily distracted by things most people wouldn't think was immediately related to fishing.

One seeming oddity is, when I find something that works really well someplace, I'm apt to drop it and move on. It's ADDING to my knowledge, not re-hashing past GoTo's, that floats my boat.

That said, I tend to be MORE interested in the mature (bigger) fish in my waters, than the little ones. I will get down on my belly and play with fingerling bass (they behave EXACTLY like large ones but are easy to watch), but usually to learn more about larger bass in general, or the fishing possibilities in that water. When perusing my ponds I am more angler than biologist -the story of my life .

If I were a trophy hunter, I'd be searching the waters that provide the best chance at out-sized bass: They have to exist first, as I'm not one for relying on empty hopes. I'm happy with the mediocre ponds I fish. They have healthy populations of bass, conditions change constantly, and keep me thinking and experimenting. My PBs in each run 18" to 20". They are fairly close by so I can be there quickly and get down to business, whatever that may be on that particular day.

roadwarrior reply :

Size only, always.

8-)

angler1 reply :

I would rather catch the 100 fish.

Bankbeater reply :

For one single day I would rather catch a monster. I'll take numbers if I just can't find any hawgs.

senile1 reply :

A few more choices would clarify where everyone actually draws this line, or if, indeed, a definitive line can be drawn. I think the size of the bass in one's geographic region also plays a part in the decision.

For example:

(1) One 14 lb'er

(2) Five 8 lb'ers

(3) Twenty 5 - 6 lb'ers

(4) Fifty 3 - 4 lb'ers

(5) One hundred 2 - 3 lb'ers

Etc.

Most of us want to catch that huge bass, but this question is too much in the "all or one" category. For instance, it takes quite a bit of time to find and catch a 17 lb'er in California like Matt mentioned, or a 9 lb'er in my state. These trophies don't come every day. I am not willing to go for days not catching much of anything while searching for that elusive monster. I'll exchange a few days of trophy hunting for numbers, and vice-versa. I think it depends on the day and what I have been doing over the past few weeks.

Raul reply :

SIZE !!!

But the kiddo gets bored if he ain 't catchin ' so if lil Rul is comin with da then it 's numbers.

"Paaaapii, ¡ ya pesqu é una !" ... and he shows he 's trophy ( which is smaller than the bait :-? ) but what the heck, that big grin on his face is worth a thousand 10+ pounders in my book.

George Welcome reply :

I've yet to meet anyone that truly was only interested in that big fish. I've met many that claim that exclusive interest up front, but none that within a short period of time aren't looking for any fish. It's nice to have the steak, but the side dishes are what makes the dinner complete.

190sxchamp reply :

I always enjoy catching a big fish for sure but I'll go ahead and take the numbers on this one. I fish because I enjoy it. I love being on the water, spending time on the boat with my boys and enjoying the beautiful country we live in.

Paul Roberts reply :

Quote
A few more choices would clarify where everyone actually draws this line, or if, indeed, a definitive line can be drawn. I think the size of the bass in one's geographic region also plays a part in the decision.
For example:

(1) One 14 lb'er

(2) Five 8 lb'ers

(3) Twenty 5 - 6 lb'ers

(4) Fifty 3 - 4 lb'ers

(5) One hundred 2 - 3 lb'ers

Etc.

Most of us want to catch that huge bass, but this question is too much in the "all or one" category. For instance, it takes quite a bit of time to find and catch a 17 lb'er in California like Matt mentioned, or a 9 lb'er in my state. These trophies don't come every day. I am not willing to go for days not catching much of anything while searching for that elusive monster. I'll exchange a few days of trophy hunting for numbers, and vice-versa. I think it depends on the day and what I have been doing over the past few weeks.

Yes, good point. This is true across all the different ponds I fish too. Some have numbers of smaller fish, and it's really fun to tackle down for them, play with different techniques, or keep track of where they're at. I had a ball a few years ago catching big numbers of ~12"ers from a particular pond on a little buzzbait. This bode well for the future -a pond to keep tabs on. (Alas, it winter-killed. )

Another pond is tougher to catch a bunch in, but at least one or two (sometimes 3 or 4) will be in the 4lb range. Because of the apparent age structure on that pond, I run the highest risk of blanking there too. I have a couple ponds set up perfectly for topwater -but I've yet to break 19inches there.

On a few other ponds I know where the biggest bass in those ponds hang out. The first thing I do when I arrive is see if they are at home. Often they are, but getting them is never certain.

Yep, I love to catch the bigger bass, but there's more to bass fishing than any one place or time can give. I love it all, and am thrilled to have those choices ahead of me on just about every given day.

I think George Welcome's comments are especially interesting too. What people think they want, and are willing to pay for in fishless time, might be two different things. It's easy to say "size is what matters", after we've caught the big one.

Lund Explorer reply :

My answer will be either, and/or neither.

I'm just glad to be on the water, sharing time and knowledge with my wife, a good friend, or perhaps the grandchildren.

If I was going for numbers, I'd fish bluegills. If I was only worried about size, there's all kinds of fish that grow bigger and harder to catch than a bass.

Mattlures reply :

I am actualy suprised that ANYBODY would pick the numbers. You have all done it before, just not in one day. You have all caught a hundred small bass. The only difference is that it took you more then one day. Yes catching a bunch of small/medium bass is fun but when it gets too easy it becomes borring. When I caught 117 bass I had a blast. I went back to the lake about 5 more times trying to beat my 117. I broke a 100 the next 2 trips and that was all I could take. I started fishing for big bluegill and had more fun. You all dont realize that the challenge is what drives us as humans. Take the challenge away and it becomes borring. The lake I was at is lake Barrett and for 2 or 3 years the good sticks could get 100 and a beginner could get 20-30. It was fun for a little while. But it grew old. Now the lake is still easy but not like before. I havent gone back. What makes big bass soo special is how rare they are and how difficult they are to catch.

George Welcome reply :

Quote
I am actualy suprised that ANYBODY would pick the numbers. You have all done it before, just not in one day. You have all caught a hundred small bass. The only difference is that it took you more then one day. Yes catching a bunch of small/medium bass is fun but when it gets too easy it becomes borring. When I caught 117 bass I had a blast. I went back to the lake about 5 more times trying to beat my 117. I broke a 100 the next 2 trips and that was all I could take. I started fishing for big bluegill and had more fun. You all dont realize that the challenge is what drives us as humans. Take the challenge away and it becomes borring. The lake I was at is lake Barrett and for 2 or 3 years the good sticks could get 100 and a beginner could get 20-30. It was fun for a little while. But it grew old. Now the lake is still easy but not like before. I havent gone back. What makes big bass soo special is how rare they are and how difficult they are to catch.

Give it a break.

senile1 reply :

Quote
I am actualy suprised that ANYBODY would pick the numbers. You have all done it before, just not in one day. You have all caught a hundred small bass. The only difference is that it took you more then one day. Yes catching a bunch of small/medium bass is fun but when it gets too easy it becomes borring. When I caught 117 bass I had a blast. I went back to the lake about 5 more times trying to beat my 117. I broke a 100 the next 2 trips and that was all I could take. I started fishing for big bluegill and had more fun. You all dont realize that the challenge is what drives us as humans. Take the challenge away and it becomes borring. The lake I was at is lake Barrett and for 2 or 3 years the good sticks could get 100 and a beginner could get 20-30. It was fun for a little while. But it grew old. Now the lake is still easy but not like before. I havent gone back. What makes big bass soo special is how rare they are and how difficult they are to catch.

In my region, catching 100 bass in a mature lake with a mature population of bass is rare. To catch that many on successive trips to the same lake usually indicates a situation where the lake was restocked recently with young bass. This is obviously a different situation from what you and the the other anglers experience at Lake Barrett. For someone who has never caught more than 10 or 20 in a day, 100 would probably be electrifying. (I know the first time I caught 100 I was high as a kite, though I was in my teens at the time. I don't think that 100 smaller fish would provide the same excitement as 5 to 10 bruisers now.) If that same person were to catch 100 a few days in a row, I'm sure that, like you, he or she would become bored. However, for most anglers, I suspect that catching over 100 is a rare occurrence and boredom would not come into play, especially if he or she had not experienced that many bass before. As you indicate in your post, you went back 5 more times to beat the 117 you caught the first day, so you were still excited about numbers for a few days until it got old.

K_Mac reply :

George you're comment about folks changing their minds when it gets right down to it tickles me. I was one of those guys. My brother and I took a guided trout fishing trip on the White river a number of years ago. I have reached the age where I don't remember exactly how many. : What I do know is that my brother was killed in an accident over ten years ago, so it has been a while...Any way, we told our guide that we wanted to catch big browns. The big browns did not play along, and by mid day we decided to catch a bunch of smaller rainbows. We had a ball the last couple of hours. I don't know how many we caught, but it was a bunch, including a couple of native fish.

I have gone on record as choosing the big fish in this thread. Based on the premise of one day/either/or that would be my choice, but if you were my guide for a once in a lifetime day your water, I would trust your judgement. I would let you know I was an experienced angler who didn't know a thing about your water, and let you do your job. I would fish the whole day anticipating a monster fish. 8-)

Revo_Carrot Stix reply :

With work and family, my fishing opportunities are usually limited to 2-4 hours. So if I could spend an entire day on the water, I would prefer the NUMBERS. When that gets old, I'll get greedy and search for the monsters.

George Welcome reply :

Just got off the lake; 1st fish was maybe 2 pounds - 2nd was 8.5 pounds. If your lucky enough to fish where there are big fish and you keep your lure wet than there is a good shot at a big fish. They are right there with the smaller ones.

Mattlures reply :

The question was not about oportunity. It was about results. Trying for monster is a lot different then catching them. Of course people give up and settle for small fish. The question is, what would you rather catch? Not what would you rather spend your day trying to do.

And yes I went back to beat my number because that is what made it challenging. With out that it was only fun for an hour or two. Also the reason I went back was because you had to buy reservations to fish the lake. Between myself and my friends we had bought a bunch of trips.

microman reply :

number one would be more fun, but number two would be a once in a life time thing

Dwight Hottle reply :

Size matters. I aways say I would rather fish all day or all week for one special trophy than get my string pulled all day long.

Paul Roberts reply :

Sounds a lot like why I got so into fly-fishing for trout. And traditional/primitive archery gear. It's about quality. Quantity pales after you've been there. But quality comes in many ways.

In my ponds, when I find a pod of 12"ers I don't keep casting, I move.

George Welcome reply :

Quote
Okay guys I hate recycling my old posts but theres a ton of new members, and old members may have changed their minds... It's one of my favotrite topics for some stupid reason so I want to know...
What's a better fishing day?

Fishing your favorite lake in the universe for 10 hours and catching 100+ bass in the 2-6 pound class range? (1-3 pound class SMB)

OR

Fishing your favorite lake in the universe and on your first cast of the day you catch a 14 pound LMB (or a 8 pound SMB), then the rest of the day, you catch NOTHING?

I'll take the latter

The original post talked about 100 2-6 pound bass, not 12" bass. I doubt seriously if many have seen a 100 fish day of 2-6 pound bass. I do know that having many days like that I have seen an awful lot of happy fishermen walk away.

Paul Roberts reply :

Quote

Quote
Okay guys I hate recycling my old posts but theres a ton of new members, and old members may have changed their minds... It's one of my favotrite topics for some stupid reason so I want to know...
What's a better fishing day?

Fishing your favorite lake in the universe for 10 hours and catching 100+ bass in the 2-6 pound class range? (1-3 pound class SMB)

OR

Fishing your favorite lake in the universe and on your first cast of the day you catch a 14 pound LMB (or a 8 pound SMB), then the rest of the day, you catch NOTHING?

I'll take the latter

The original post talked about 100 2-6 pound bass, not 12" bass. I doubt seriously if many have seen a 100 fish day of 2-6 pound bass. I do know that having many days like that I have seen an awful lot of happy fishermen walk away.

I stand corrected. I guess I should mind my own. I have no comment about 100 2-6lb bass vs a single 14lber. Can't even relate, except to reiterate what others have said, "that size is relative". Didn't realize this was an exclusive thread.

George Welcome reply :

What's exclusive about it? You have your thoughts and I have mine. Both are only opinions.

Fishing Rhino reply :

It's interesting how a question with no right or wrong answer can fan the flames of passion.

It's just a which do you prefer question. In that case the right answer is yours.

Someone else prefers the opposite, the right answer is theirs.

It's like asking do you prefer blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

Different strokes for different folks.

Now, with that out of the way, which is better, a spinning outfit, or a baitcaster?

farmpond1 reply :

Well, since a 2 lb bass is a respectable fish around here, than I'll definitely take the numbers. Nobody would believe me if I caught a 14 lb fish anyway. They'd say I photoshopped it.

Mattlures reply :

Well George if you read the original post and my post you would see that I caught 100 bass from 1.5 lbs to 5.5lbs thats pretty darn close. You must have mistaken my opinion for bragging. Thats not what I was doing. My whole point was that just about everybody that fishes has caught 100 smaller bass, just not in one day. Most people have not caught a 14lber. If and when you ever catch 100 in a day, I am guessing you would change your opinion. When its too easy it looses its sence of acomplishment. Yes its fun but it gets borring. Most of the other anglers that were catching like we were, had started using fly rods and ultra lights and strange lures to make it challenging again. I have had more of a rewarding day when I disected a lake, established a pattern and worked for 30 smaller bass then when I caught 117.

so maybe you should give it a rest ;D

I have no problem targeting small bass. I do not only fish for big bass. I fish for many different species freash and salt. I would always take a trophy over numbers because numbers are just more of what you normaly do. A trophy is a rarety and more of an acomplishment. But trust me, If I dont feel the big bite then I have no problem catching some small ones.

I think your answering the question as to what your clients would rather try for(becuase one is much easier then the other) not what they would have been happier with after the trip was over.

Smiths.R reply :

In MD, there are no 14 lb bass. A 10 lb'er would make my face melt. That being said, I'd take 100 fish every single time. I got out there for the tug. If what I pull up happens to be a hawg, that's awesome. But for me, it's all about that tug baby. You can't beat that.

George Welcome reply :

Matt, we never go fishing for small bass. The objective is always the big fish. However, I have yet had anyone that came from hundreds, even thousands of miles that wanted to spend the day stalking one fish only in either salt or fresh water.

Mike__D reply :

tough question

but having 100 lmb in the 2-6 pound range would do it for me.

had the 100 fish been 1 pounders I would opt for the 14 pounder.

Dr Pigg reply :

Numbers get old quick if you've ever had some of those days. Over 10 lbs. is a life time memory--(date,temp, bait, how it hit, etc.). I think ANYONE with enough time on the water can eventually catch many bass---to consistantly catch BIG bass --it takes someone alittle different!! My opinion(like elbows-everyones is different! )

WRB reply :

The value of big bass goes far beyond the value of catching numbers. If you are a tournament bass angler and numbers are important to the sport of bass fishing, then the top tournament where the highest number of bass was caught would be well known. The heaviest weight and biggest tournament bass is well known.

We all like to catch bass and nearly every bass angler knows their personal best bass, few remember their highest number of bass caught. I was trying to remember and can't recall ever counting average size bass caught during one day. I do remember every detail when catching several big bass on a given day.

WRB

BenoBreath reply :

I'll take the MONSTER !

BigEbass reply :

If we are talking about a 14 pounder on a given day, I would go with the 14 pounder - there are tons of people that rarely go over 10 pounds (I know my newB a$$ hasnt - biggest for me so far is only 4.5 lbs in the past 2 years so far). Having said that, I would rather more days I fish catch more numbers overall - you get that great thrill time after time - and if they are all quality 2-6 pounders, oh baby I choose numbers!

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