What Motivates You To Fish For Bass? 2024
Thad reply :
What motivates you to fish for bass?
If you fish for multiple species, why do you choose to fish for bass that day over something else?
jbsoonerfan reply :
For me, it is time of year and amount of energy I want to put out. During late April/May I love to sit on the boat with a few dozen minnows and try to slay the Crappie. During the summer I like to night fish for big ol cats while drinking a few cold ones. However, if I want to go out for a challenge, I target bass. It can be frustrating, but rewarding at the same time. For me, I think it is more fun to try to figure out how to catch bass, while in the other case of Crappie/Catfish, it is pretty much sit and wait.
mjseverson24 reply :
because it is the premier sport fish throughout the entire US. Bass and bass tournaments are in almost every state in the country, walleye/muskie/pike/crappie dont compare especially in competitive sport fishing at least not in my book...
Mitch
Hyrule Bass reply :
it depends where i fish. and time of day. im a multispecies guy.
if i hit up a pond, im using artificial baits for bass 99% of the time. every now and then i will tie on a small bait or have a box of nightcrawlers and catch some nice bluegill for fun if the bass arent cooperating. the night crawlers usually get the bass going too.
at the river its 50/50 night crawlers and artificial. usually dont have much luck there to be honest. its loaded with fish though.
if im at smith mtn lake for the weekend i will bass fish in the morning and various times throughout the day with various lures. and then ill toss a few more lures around while the sun is setting. after awhile of that i will start tying up my catfish/live bait rigs for the night on 5 or 6 rods and reels. then i will tie up a couple of lures i want to try that night if the live bait fishing is slow, usually a noisy top water and a shallow diving crank. ill toss them around shallow if i get bored or something gets my attention. but usually ill be focused on my nightcrawlers, chicken livers, shrimp, minnows or cut bait i may have out on the live bait rods. while drinking on a cooler full of beer and classic rock on the radio. just sitting back watching my rods, taking everything in. the moon, stars, mountains, trees and water and nature sounds. yeah thats why i fish, its just relaxing for me. it clears my mind for awhile and its like the rest of the world disappears. doesnt matter if im bass fishing, catfishing, pan fishing, whatever, its just great for the mental state of mind...
Catt reply :
I like to hunt...bassing fishing is the eltimate hunt...you can not see what you are hunting!
FishinDaddy reply :
I love puzzles. I always have. Bass fishing is the ultimate puzzle.
BassThumbAddict reply :
I love all the techniques you can catch bass on. Where other species have successful but limited ways to catch them. I also find it interesting that I can throw a bait for 3 hours and not get bites, but I throw in a different bait and get bit in 5 casts.
Crappiebasser reply :
Why choose? I throw a couple minnows on the rods in my rod holders for crappie while I bass fish.
macmichael reply :
I fish for and eat crappie and blue gill. I fish for big blues and only keep some under 10 pounds for eating.
Bass. Oh my.
The bass is the biggest challenge, the premier fresh water fish. The tournaments are excellent, the pros are well worth watching. I just love the fight and the thrill. It's like deer hunting. You've got to figure out their feeding patterns, what they hit on, their cover, deep or shallow water, retrieve speed, color of bait, and of course I just love telling people I have a bass boat. 
One other reason is that you can catch and release so someone else can have a chance to catch one. I absolutely love it.
AK-Jax86 reply :
That my trophy bass could be caught on the next cast!!!
Happened to me TWICE today on a KVD 1.5. Hooked two big females within 10 mins of eachother, think they were guarding their young, both fish shook hook on the jump and only got half their body out the water!! Would have been the best 15min span of my life, fishing wise because the birth of my son would be #1
lmbfisherman reply :
That feeling you get when a bass tugs on your line.
NathanW reply :
Great question. Around my parts Salmon, Steelheading and Sturgeon fishing previals and I find myslef trying to explain myself constantly. Most people dont get it.
I fish for bass. Thats it. I will even go as far as saying that I do not enjoy fishing for those other fish. Beats a day in the office right? Not really because I would be wasting time away from the office that I could be tracking down schools of bass.
I think its a lot to do with the casting and reeling as opposed to sitting there anchored or trolling. I also love the search and finding new spots, and I love finding fish that nobody else know about. The idea that I can get better and better every year drives me, and the idea of fishing the same crowded waters year after year for salmon/steelhead wouldn't.
I also love fishing around cover and structure, especially grass.
WIGuide reply :
The fact that every day is different and it's always a challenge. Sure there are times you can just go out and catch without putting much effort in, but in most cases they challenge you. It's also the most rewarding in my opinion.
NEjitterbugger reply :
I want my career to be intertwined with the bass fishing world, going pro is my dream and always will. But a job in marketing or managing some of these companies or even creating my own is a dream of mine. I have people who believe I can do it and others who think otherwise, and yes it'll be tough but I'm extremely motivated. I'm a Junior in High School and play 4 varsity sports, bass fishing, soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I started the bass fishing team when I was a sophomore and finished 3rd and 6th in the tournaments last fall. I take Honors classes and some A level classes in school, I plan on challenging myself my senior year with AP We the People class (learn about the Constitution, founding fathers, and compete with other schools. My school has gone to nationals in D.C the past few years) and AP Statistics, along with my required English class and other academic electives.
Everything I do in school and out is driven by my love of bass fishing, it's truly more than a hobby...
P.S. - I'm on Bassresource at midnight on a school night (homework is all done), gotta have the Bassresource time or the day is not complete! 
flyingmonkie reply :
Growing up, our family spent every summer weekend at the lake. We fished a lot for white bass and catfish, but LMB were foreign to me. I knew what they were (thanks to all the old fishing mags my uncle would give to me), but catching them was a mystery. I remember being mind-blown the first time I saw a bass tournament boat takeoff... all these grown-ass men trying so hard to catch these silly fish with big mouths. There was an immediate aura!
I was in awe the first time I ever purposely caught a bass, and felt so accomplished. To this day, I'll catch myself driving by a piece of water and thinking innocently childlike "I wonder if that has any bass in it?!", or lifting one out of the water and saying to myself "wow, that's a largemouth bass!"
It's wierd. I hold these silly green fish with big mouths in such high regard. Now I'm just obsessed with trying to figure out how they think.
flyingmonkie reply :
On 3/19/2014 at 12:05 PM, NEjitterbugger said:I want my career to be intertwined with the bass fishing world, going pro is my dream and always will. But a job in marketing or managing some of these companies or even creating my own is a dream of mine. I have people who believe I can do it and others who think otherwise, and yes it'll be tough but I'm extremely motivated. I'm a Junior in High School and play 4 varsity sports, bass fishing, soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I started the bass fishing team when I was a sophomore and finished 3rd and 6th in the tournaments last fall. I take Honors classes and some A level classes in school, I plan on challenging myself my senior year with AP We the People class (learn about the Constitution, founding fathers, and compete with other schools. My school has gone to nationals in D.C the past few years) and AP Statistics, along with my required English class and other academic electives.
Everything I do in school and out is driven by my love of bass fishing, it's truly more than a hobby...
P.S. - I'm on Bassresource at midnight on a school night (homework is all done), gotta have the Bassresource time or the day is not complete!
Keep up the hard work! It'll assuredly pay off in one way or another.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 3/19/2014 at 8:26 AM, mjseverson24 said:because it is the premier sport fish throughout the entire US. Bass and bass tournaments are in almost every state in the country, walleye/muskie/pike/crappie dont compare especially in competitive sport fishing at least not in my book...
Mitch
My book is a little different. I bass fish for 2 reasons, 1 because I like to fish and 2 because it gets me out of the house in the afternoon. I do enjoy bass fishing but it never comes before or instead of saltwater fishing. I do understand people fish what's regionally available to them, where I'm at other than me I don't know any bass fishermen. I fish about 340 days a year.
fishva reply :
Because it's fun and better for my health than going to the bar each time I get bored at home...
J Francho reply :
Competition, the hunt, a new place with promise of a trophy. Last year I all but abandoned chasing green fish to figure out the south shore of Lake Ontario. Had quite a few slow days, but also had some great success locating smallmouth that are supposedly "not there anymore."
jeremyryanwebb reply :
Depends on if the reds are biting. Bass fishing is more fun as far as being a puzzle tho. But I love catchin a bunch of redfish and havin a good dinner too, just usually have to spend so much on gas to hit all the spots in a day.
bigbill reply :
My mentor was my older brother he took me first fishing in the pouring rain. I was just 6yo and In my yellow rain coat. This was 1956. Since then we fished together all the time. Then at 14yo he took me bird hunting. This was 1964. Then we were trout fishing every spring. But as the trout season ran down by the time the hotter weather hit we fished for anything that would bite. My cousin who is also an avid fisherman took me to a lake here and we went bass fishing. The average was three pounds on split shot rigged black worms. This was 1973. My cousin also introduced me to Vermont and bear hunting. I purchased seven acres up there in 1986. I took my mentor with me bass fishing, deer and bear hunting. We had a very tight bond. After all we were brothers. Sorry he passed away on April 1st he will be gone for 20 years. I will never forget him. I lost two older brothers at a young age. God does pick his angels first. They were two great guys. My mentor could press 175lb barbell set with one arm. He was awesome to have for a big brother if trouble started. My other older brother was just as strong too. Trust me I lost my two best friends. But bass fishing with my mentor started it all.
My mentor taught me to stay fishing and sooner or later they will turn on. One night at a crowded local spot they turned on for me only. I caught around ten nice bass. The people were staring at me. I looked up and told my mentor to knock it off these people were going to throw me in the water. No one else was catching anything. I know my brother had something to do with it.
I was hooked on bass fishing. I fished for three months straight 24/7 every spring till I got burned out. Up at 3:30am everyday.
In bed by 7pm every night. After a few years of this I caught my PB 10#. Now it's the carrot that's held in front of me. I lost two bigger bass and seen bigger swim by me. My mentor is teasing me.
I still fish for the fun of it wether it's a school of drinks to a few decent sized bass. There is no pleasure than watching the night turn to day as the sun comes up. What an awesome world we live in. I love bass fishing.
My older brother was a saltwater fisherman too. He showed up one morning with two 60" strippers. He fished from shore but found a hole near the train station in the river. It was very productive. God bless, bigbill
Master Bait'r reply :
I wouldn't say so much Bass specifically, but I fish because I love being outside and it gives me something I can relax AND concentrate on all at the same time. It just gives me that space I need from humanity in general, that connection to the outdoors I crave and of course the tug is a drug- once you start reeling in big'uns there's no going back. It's just such an awesome usage of the beautiful summer times- nothing quite like paddling around on a beautiful lake, fishing or no fishing!
5dollarsplash reply :
Because pike and muskie get expensive lol. Walleye are really popular up here for eating, but I'm not one to troll with 3 lines out and drive around the lake.
Bass fishing is more engaging to me than any other type. Your actively seeking out the fish, and its your skill in casting and presentation that put them on the line(not saying this doesn't apply to other fish). I enjoy the chucking and winding, pausing when you think your close, feeling the strike, and of course the retrieve as you say to your self "Hang on baby, stay stuck"
Now if the ice would just melt....
Ratherbfishing reply :
Bass are my "go to" fish probably 75 percent of the time however at certain times or in certain conditions I am not at all opposed to fish for other species. Ice fishing being one good example. In the spring when the crappie move shallow I HAVE to tie on a marabou jig and float it under a bobber. There is nothing more beautiful than a black crappie glistening like an emerald in the sunlight. Likewise, when the bluegill are spawning, I have to break out my fly rod and pursue those big brutes. Sometimes, when the bass aren't biting but something else is, I will change tactics. I'd rather catch 20 or 30 small(er) bluegill or crappie than get skunked or (maybe) one bass. It may not make me a better bass fisherman but so what.
But to actually answer your question, during the 75 percent of the time when I'm not fishing for other species, bass are just so much fun. You can (often) use so many tactics to catch them and they are (often) such willing participants. I like the challenge of finding and tricking them and, of course, fighting them once I have tricked them. Although I'm still somewhat "suspicious" of tournaments (life is already too complicated for my taste), I otherwise like the culture and the paraphanalia that goes with it.
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
The hunt, learning new pieces of the puzzlee. Relaxing, peace and quite the outdoors.
geo g reply :
What motivates me to fish.
1). Fun
2). Social interaction with a number of friends.
3). Relaxation
4). Execution of skills
5). Anticipation of rewards
6). Being with nature.
7). Teaching others.
bigbill reply :
Fishing as a kid got me through the bad times too. I was fishing at a time my friends were doing drugs. I had a choice of drugs or fishing I only had money for fishing. I have no need for drugs. Fishing gives me time to think sometimes too.
long island basser reply :
The hunt for my next PB. On my boat taking in nature and great weather. The peace and quiet of long islands small lakes (no gas motors on any).
aharris reply :
I like feeling that "tick" and then jerking so hard that if he's small, he flies over the boat. You know...jerking them cross eyed as Iaconelli calls it. But that's just me.
OK Bass Hunter reply :
I want to bend nature to my will by fooling the wily largemouth bass with a variety of techniques and tackle. That and the fact I want other fishermen to *** my skill and catch.
SirSnookalot reply :
As of yesterday my motivation is gone. Fishing for peas I see another moccasin sunning itself exactly where I like to fish this spot, glad I spotted it when I was about 10' away. I'm seeing too many of them lately...........NO MAS !
Maico1 reply :
Just getting out on the water motivates me as well as catching that 10 lber. that I know is there........
FrogFreak reply :
No idea why I love it so much but I do. It's really hard to articulate.
RB 77 reply :
For me personally it’s putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Establishing a productive pattern on a highly pressured local reservoir is what motivates me to fish for bass.
Dyerbassman reply :
Wife and 3 crazy boys
TorqueConverter reply :
I think I'm in it, at least partially, for the tackle. I love the science, art, design and the sheer amount of variety in bass tackle. Bass as a species inhabit the type of water I have near me and I enjoy the shallow water mobile and aggressive nature of bass fishing. I only walleye and pike fish with a bass fishing style of shallow water (less than 20') casting as I move with one foot on the trolling motor. You couldn't pay me to troll live bait on the back of some walleye rig in 40' of water.
FlipnLimits reply :
The skill of casting and the art of presentation. The all-out hooksets and the hunt. The gamble of tournaments and quieting the club loudmouth. The precision equipment and the ride in a rocket ship. There are many reasons!
FL
fishinthedacks reply :
To be honest bass fishing is what I prefer but if I have the kids with me I will fish for what is biting the best and around that area. When it comes to younger kids they just want a TON of fish. So I will fish for what's available. For me to fish alone it's because of the fight, that top water blow up. What other fish around here jumps 3 feet in air tries to throw my bait as I masterfully make sure it doesnt? Bass is the best catch in fresh water IMO. But I will fish for anything honestly.
wrat reply :
I can never really describe why bass fishing calls to me but the force is strong
David D. reply :
For me bass fishing is relaxing, frustrating, challenging, and most of all rewarding. I love finishing with classes for the day (or just getting a 2 hour break between classes) and getting out to the local ponds and lakes. It is relaxing to get away from the stresses of studies whether I am catching fish or not. It is frustrating when I get a good fish on and then it breaks free at the last second. It is challenging to figure out what lure will trigger that bite. And it is rewarding to bring in that good fish!
A better question to ask me is what about bass fishing wouldn't motivate me to do it?
gulfcaptain reply :
I'm like most, I love the challenge of trying to figure them out. Once you do then it's game on. I know all of us who bass fish love getting on a pattern where we are catching just a few more fish then others. It's the challenge to get a big bass to eat a piece of plastic/wood. The excitement of hooking one once you have presented you lure just right to get the bite. But also, while you are in a mental game with the bass, and as hard as you are working, it's an escape from the outside world and at that point nothing else really matters but you and the fish. That and the fact that all bass anglers are addicted and obsessed with fishing tackle.
PotomacBassin reply :
The next catch... there will always be one.
porkleaker reply :
Motivation here is seasonal. I'm in Canada and you fish for what you can, when you can really. Early spring, crappie, later in spring pike, summer bass...Winter - hibernate. lol
basscatcher8 reply :
My two main targets are Walleye/Sauger and Lm/Sm bass. I will settle down and do some crappie fishing if the gettin is good and have some fun frying em up. Walleye and Bass both require mastering the art of feel. You have to be able to feel what a tiny piece of lead on the end of a line is doing and where it is in relation to the fish. Walleye's love to use stunner hits on their prey they hit it and hope that it falls dead so they can pick it up. It happens to fast you just have to know when it happens to try to coax him into coming back to pick it up. Bass you sometimes have to go into his home and feel around with the same piece of lead and try to get him to either decide hes hungry and tick him off enough he wants it gone. Not to mention nothing beats a buzzbait coming across the water on a summer evening when the suns about to go down and that big bass thats been hanging out next to her laydown waiting finally decides its had enough of the noisey PITA in her area.
Tacklemaking is another thing that always keeps me going after these fish. I love making jigs and spinnerbaits and crawler harnesses and soft plastics then going out and catching a bass on a lead head I made with a grub I poured on it. Its a cool feeling when you know you fooled em totally on your stuff.
AQUA VELVA reply :
It's like Christmas morning on the end of your line. I fish for musky because I evidently like being punished.
atpns1234 reply :
For me it's the peace and quiet I get. I work indoors and love to be outdoors so this is my chance. Also because saltwater is really getting expensive. Nothing like sunrise with steam coming off the lake in the spring. Throw in a thermos of coffee and life is good!
SENKOSAM reply :
A personal yearly tradition keeps me coming back to the water to cast and retrieve over and over in the search for any species fish that will bite & fight.
Until I see what is on my hook, the mystery is kind of exciting not knowing what or how big. (One time I had on what I thought was a panfish turned out to be a five pound bass!)
The excitement and anticipation of casting to specific areas hoping active fish are there and the feeling of being the lucky one when I do.
The reward of catching fish on lures I make or on presentations or lures tried for the first time.
Being alone with my thoughts - at least until a fish strikes.
Trying to discover patterns is a challenge; finding them is a welcome relief!
Experiencing that which I would have thought impossible (catching a tiny bass on a large grub or a white perch on a 3.5" bass tube) and shaking my head still in disbelief.
DirtyDeuceGoose reply :
I like to think about how they're going to react in certain situations. I love trying to think like a fish and making my lure do what I think the fish want. And the anticipation of that THUMP! Really gets my blood going.
SmokeRise1 reply :
The chicks!
ColdSVT reply :
Because it is my favorite passtime...i love the thrill, unknown, puzzle, the strike and the fight
And it is cheaper than racing lol
Salamander12 reply :
That splash when walking or popping a topwaterbait.
Bankbeater reply :
For me it's just not one thing. It is the whole experience of getting out for the day.
basscatcher8 reply :
On 3/28/2014 at 9:13 AM, ColdSVT said:Because it is my favorite passtime...i love the thrill, unknown, puzzle, the strike and the fight
And it is cheaper than racing lol
Agreed. I just got out of stock car racing bought a fishing boat and am relaxing now lol
OkobojiEagle reply :
Purely enjoyment!
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