WHO FIGHTS HARDER 2 2025

dodgeguy reply :

i'll really start a debate.i don't think a smallmouth fights any harder than a largemouth up north!!!i just think they usually jump more so everybody gets so excited and thinks they fight harder.a largie will usually take you down deep if it has any size to it where smallies tend to jump more which probably causes us to come unhooked more often.i've had largies take me down after the hookset and they come up when they feel like it and not a second before.and that's if they don't tie palomar knots around the weeds and get off.i have had some battles with largemouths that equal any smallmouth.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

I'll have to disagree, I think they dig harder than a LM but I can totally understand what you are saying. It's a "different" (acrobatic) type of fight more than a stronger vs weaker, but I still think they dig a little better.

JMO

dodgeguy reply :

you could actually put up the arguement that oz for oz a sunfish is the hardest fighting fish.imagine if they grew to 5 lbs.!!!

FALCON reply :

I'D HAVE TO AGREE LBH. THE FIRST SMALLMOUTH BASS I EVER CAUGHT WERE IN THE RIVER AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE CURRENT THAT WAS ADDING TO THE FIGHT. BUT AFTER CATCHING THEM HERE ON THE LAKE THERE IS A BIT OF AN EDGE TO THE SMALLMOUTH.

basser89 reply :

I also have to give my nod to the smallies as well. I was fishing a small tournament a while back in PA, the first two fish I had on both came off. The first one (about 3lbs) decided to take an areal assault

and the second one (slightly smaller than the first) schooled me when it dove deep in a grass bed never to be seen again. Most of the 5# largemouths I've caught haven't put up as much of a fight as some of the smaller smallmouths have. The old wives tale I've been taught from my Dad and uncle that if you would tie a the same size smallie and largemouth tail to tail, the smallie would drown the largemouth.

Shad_Master reply :

It's defenitely a different fight between LM's and SM's. As you said LM's pull you down and this makes the tug seem harder, but SM's tend to stay up (causing them to jump more) and it is more of a finesse fight. Pound for pound, though I go think SM's fight longer, maybe because it is more of a finesse fight. Both get my heart pumping though.

Upnorth reply :

KVD once said, if you tied a smallmouth and largemouth tail to tail, the smallmouth would drown that largemouth. I agree 100%.

senko_77 reply :

i have bream over 5lbs. where i live. there called georgia giants. heres the article on them.

http://www.kens-fishfarm.com/georgia_giant.asp

ENJOY!!!!

Peter E. reply :

Quote
you could actually put up the arguement that oz for oz a sunfish is the hardest fighting fish.imagine if they grew to 5 lbs.!!!

I am in complete agreement with dodgeguy, no fish fishts harder than a bream!

By the way for a minute I thought those bream that Senko 77 showed links to were triple tails!

Although I will say that as far as bass go, I think that a spotted bass fights the hardest.

Peter

Rattletrap reply :

Yep. Ken's fish hatchery is in my neck of the woods. Huge Bream!!!

roadwarrior reply :

dodgeguy,

You see how these hijackings get started? How did we get on bream? One post leads to another and all of a sudden...

So, back on topic. I fish for both largemouth and smallmouth, but usually at separate times and on different water. I often catch largemouth and spots when fishing for smallmouth, but rarely the other way around. Largemouth are not consistant fighters, some are "tough", some are not. It seems to me that much of the "fight" is a function of size, pulling in a large, bulky mass is different than a small, sleek body. Bigger fish feel better, duh?

Smallmouth or largemouth, at around 3 lbs, the bass "fights" better and it's much more common to catch a 3 or 4 lb largemouth than a similar size bronzeback. If you catch mostly largemouth and only an occasional smallie, I think that might contribute to judging them more equally. However, for those who catch smallmouth on a regular basis, I cannot perceive how this comparison can be seriously considered. It's not just jumping, running and digging that favors the smallmouth bass, it is also the length of the fight and the surge at the boat that thrills. At any given EQUAL weight, the smallmouth is a stronger fish and battles more aggressively than its cousin.

Pond-Pro reply :

I think that the smallmouth is obviously a better fighter than the largemouth. They seem to have a stronger will than largemouth. Not to change the topic, but Steelhead also put up an energetic fight! :-X

George Welcome reply :

Just a simple question: what line, rod, and reel to you use to catch smallies? What do you use for LMs?

Bronze12 reply :

I fish for both smallies and LM quite a bit and often use the same gear and, when all is said and done, there is no question in my mind that smallies are the harder fighter. They do have a different fight than a LM but they go hard a don't stop fighting until got your thumb buried under their tongue. I've caught a 3 lb smallie that I swore was 10+ lb pike until I got it up to the boat. I love em. I also agree that the time of year (and a few other factors) might have something to do with the fight in both fish but over all, I say smallies hands down.

roadwarrior reply :

George Welcome,

For the most part, I use the same general equipement: 7' medium power/ fast action spinning tackle and #4 or #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid. That is the basis for my comparison. To be more specific, this is the equipment I generally use for soft plastics and live bait. For other techniques I do use some heavier equipment, but I am comparing largemouth to smallmouth based on EXACTLY the same equipment.

Smallmouth seem to be line shy, but that does not necessarily include reaction lures. I catch smallmouth for example on the Lucky Craft Pointer 128 fished on a heavy baitcaster and 12-15 lb test (diameter) line and I will make the same comparison of both species on the heavier tackle. (The tackle is really more about fishing the lure than landing the fish).

I think I understand the point of the question, and I am comparing apples to apples.

phisher_d reply :

IMO a smallouth fights way harder than a largemouth pound for pound.

George Welcome reply :

As long as there be one on the line,

largemouth or smallie; suits me just fine.

The fight is so different but, and I have to search in my memory because we don't have smallies here, but I think - ah, does it really matter as long as they bite?

bassnleo reply :

There is definately something awesome about a Lake Erie smallie rocketing 4 foot out of the water 3 seconds after you hook them in 20 feet of water. It's incredible how fast they can go from the bottom to airborne in no time.

I have hooked both LM and SM in deep water on a drop shot and in my experience, the SM tend to rise in the water column quicker then dig for the bottom. The LM tend to stay deeper, then rise as they tire out. Of course, there have been exceptions!

5lb SM vs 5lb LM, I would go with the SM as harder fighter.

Madhouse27 reply :

I think if you tied a four pound smallmouth to a four pound largemouth that bronzeback would drag that pour largemouth around until he drowned it. I'm pretty sure the first few seconds would be a toss up but I think the smallmouth would take over because he simply has more strength and definately more stamina. I don't think there are many fish out there that can compete with mr bronzeback in the "truck pull" constest.

RoLo reply :

It's pretty clear to me that a 5-lb smallmouth is more acrobatic than a 5-lb largemouth,

both in the number of jumps and the height of the jump. I love smallmouth bass,

they're so single-minded, as soon as you set the hook, that line heads straight for the surface.

I believe that smallmouth bass are stronger and more muscular than largemouth bass,

and that's the reason why they're more acrobatic.

There may be times when a smallmouth may not seem any stronger than a largemouth.

But then it hits me, I'm comparing a smallmouth bass that just jumped "completely"

out of the water "three or four times", to a largemouth bass that "once or twice"

pushed his head out of the water in slow motion, then rattled his gills.

That's like comparing the runner who just got the baton, to the guy who passed it to him?

Rattletrap reply :

Those Saltwater Spottail Bass. AKA Redfish. Now that's a fighting fish.

Matt Fly reply :

Here in Tx, I have always heard that a smallmouth is the hardest fighting fish pound for pound. There are times in the summer, when the water has been super heated and the oxygen levels are poor, a 9lb LMB doesn't fight as hard, and can be hard to revive in the hot, oxygen poor waters. Take that same 9lber in the fall when water temps have dropped and the oxygen levels are no longer depleated, and you think you got a record fish.

Most smallmouth fishermen use spincast equipment, a smaller lb test line than us baitcasters use. So equipment, drag settings, time of the year, oxygen levels, surface temps, and steady supply of food will all play some part in the fight.

Here in Texas, we have a spot, guadalupe cross, we like to call MEAN MOUTH. Those meanmouths are mean and fiesty, as a Brazos river guide explained it to me, "Texas' answer to smallmouth, one of the fightingest fresh water fish alive".

Whether or not the smallmouth is the hardest fighter, it has always been portrayed to be the hardest fighter. Thats what I've always heard since the 70's.

roadwarrior reply :

Matt_Fly,

I do use some heavier equipment for some techniques, but the majority of my big largemouth have been caught on soft plastics. The rod I use is a 7' medium power/ fast action spinning rod. It is very comparable to my smallmouth gear, although the tip is somewhat firmer. My opinion isn't influenced by the equipment. I agree with you that the "fight" varies a lot from fish to fish, but I would agrue that smallmouth are consistantly stronger.

On the otherhand, I have never caught a 15 lb largemouth and no one will ever catch a smallmouth that size. So, since largemouth can grow to be considerably bigger than their cousin, maybe "Who Fights Harder?" can be answered in another way. Pound for pound I think smallmouth are favored, but without that qualification, perhaps the largemouth could be considered the winner.

guest reply :

there are anatomical differences that favor the smallmouth in terms of fight. The tail on the smallmouth is shaped to give more power to each stroke. Pound for pound they definitly fight harder.

flechero reply :

I have resisted this thread as long as I can. Maybe in some remote waters, in a land far away, a largemouth is equal to or surpasses a smallmouth... but having lived in 5 different states in different parts of the US and also in Canada for two years, and being primarily a largemouth fisherman I have to say I have NEVER caught a largemouth that outfights a smallmouth. I fish the same tackle, day in and day out, I just happen to fish water that holds both and they are in the same areas. So same rod, reel, line, lure and some times on consecutive casts, the smallie always wins. There is no room for debate. Yes the smallies are more acrobatic... but they also hit harder, fight better and last longer when hooked.

There is a God given reason that smallies have red eyes...

mudcatwilly reply :

In the CA delta, we catch largemouth and striped bass. Pound for pound, the striper fights harder. I'd like to see some kind of tug-of-war between a smallie and a striper of equal weight. But then again, I don't really care how hard a fish fights, as long as I get it in the boat. I've spent 45 minutes fighting a fish in the SF bay and when I got it to the boat, it was a stinkin 40 pound bat ray. I would've rather spent 10 minutes fighting a 20 pound king salmon.

bronzeback_NW reply :

How did we get on plastics?

OK back to the topic.When was the last time you had a smallie roll over and give up on you?I do alot of float tubing for both smallies and largies time and time again the largemouth will quit.3lb smallies vs a 6lb largemouth I think the smallie is still much more of a fight IMO.And the battle is about half as long or less catching largemouth over smallmouth.GB...Jim

GobbleDog reply :

Fishing in Florida all my life, I've never caught a smallmouth. I'd like to go up north and catch one someday. I've always heard that they fight harder. I assume that pound for pound, smallmouth probably win.

As for how often fish jump, largemouth bass that are smaller tend to jump a lot more than the bigger largermouth. So it doesn't surprise me that smallmouth bass overall jump more than largemouth.

Peacock bass look like the best fight. Those things seem downright ferocious. I'd like to catch one.

SENKOSAM reply :

Quote
dodgeguy,
Largemouth are not consistant fighters, some are "tough", some are not. It seems to me that much of the "fight" is a function of size, pulling in a large, bulky mass is different than a small, sleek body.

However, for those who catch smallmouth on a regular basis, I cannot perceive how this comparison can be seriously considered. It's not just jumping, running and digging that favors the smallmouth bass, it is also the length of the fight and the surge at the boat that thrills. At any given EQUAL weight, the smallmouth is a stronger fish and battles more aggressively than its cousin.

Couldn't agree more. And the striped bass is even more of a fighter due to it's shape and an anatomy built to live in current.

roadwarrior reply :

GobbleDog,

Actually you have a smallmouth unique to Florida and southern Georgia. It is a suwannee and is only native to the Suwannee River. Micro Munch Tackle uses this very special species of smallmouth for their logo.

GobbleDog reply :

Ok, I've heard of Suwannee Bass before. I didn't know it was related to smallmouth though.

I ain't never caught none.

-Drums- reply :

Hmmm. My personal-best largemouth is a 6-3. My PB smallie was a hair over 3 lbs. There was no comparison, as I remember it. I caught the smallie in a section of the Tennessee River that I was told (by a guide) also had some huge stripers - and no lie, for a second I thought that's what I had. My drag was screaming, and this fish just would not come up. Interestingly enough, it never jumped. An acrobat he (or she) was not. But to this day, that's the fightingest fish I've ever caught.

I can't even IMAGINE what those hogs in RoadWarrior's avatar must have been like. I'm thinking a good analog might be...uh, tarpon?

mjbfsh07 reply :

Smallmouth fight better than Largemouth handsdown. If you think differently you have been living in the south to long! COme up to the Northeast and try and fight one of these pigs. A four pound smallmouth will give you more fight than a 7 pound largemouth.

abelfisher reply :

Smallmouth, Hands down! No question about it.

BassNut reply :

Pound for Pound it's the SMB Hands down.

Man if the LMB fought as hard as a smallie I think

there would be a lot more broken hearts out there for

the one's that would get away.

This one gave me the fight of it's life!

roadwarrior reply :

BassNut,

WOW! That's a beauty...Congrats!

11494

WHO FIGHTS HARDER 2 2025

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