Bass vs. Catfish 2024
Lord Castlereagh reply :
Kept accidentally getting catfish on Goose Creek. So I figured I'd go for them for real. Here's what I found:
I caught 5 in about 4 hours which is pretty good for me
The bait (chicken livers) is as close to free as you can get
They are HUGE, way bigger than the bass I catch
And, of course, fried catfish is way better tasting than bass.
So, why is bass fishing so much more popular than catfishing?
Scott F reply :
Because most of the time, guys spend more time fishing, than catching. FISHING for bass, using a variety of artificial lures, casting and retrieving, throwing at targets, is more fun than throwing out chicken livers and waiting for something to happen.
Tennessee Boy reply :
I agree that catfish is way better
On 7/3/2018 at 4:49 AM, Lord Castlereagh said:And, of course, fried catfish is way better tasting than bass.
I agree there is no comparison on taste.
I don't feel like I've proven anything if I catch a bunch of catfish on chicken livers. The chickens are the ones doing all the work.
Troy85 reply :
I don't really like fried catfish. I'd much prefer fried Speckled Trout, Bass or Redfish over catfish.
I don't like the waiting game, I never have liked throwing out a bait and just letting it sit till I get bit. I'd much rather cast and retrieve. Even when I'm salt water fishing I don't like using dead or live bait, I'd much rather cast and retrieve my artificial bait.
Glaucus reply :
You can catch 5 bass in 15 minutes.
Fishing for bass is more fun than fishing for catfish. Throwing a piece of bloody guts and then sitting and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, is no fun. There's a plethora of ways to fish for bass. Tons of artificial lures for different situations. I haven't accomplished anything by letting a bait sit on the bottom for an unknown amount of time waiting for the scent to catch the attention of something. I have accomplished something by locating the bass and figuring out what they want to hit on and how.
WRB reply :
If you like catfish then fish for them. Join a cat fisherman forum site because there are lots of them and popular.
Channel cats, blue cats, flathead cats are all god sporting fish, strong fighters and sometimes caught on lures, usually fresh cut fish or something smelly (ugh).
My son caught a 26 lb channel cat when he was a youngster on his light tackle using a soft plastic 3" reaper split shot rigged that earned him In-Fishermans award the species. I have caught both channel and blue cats on my bass lures like crankbaits, structure spoons, soft plastics and jigs because they are predator fish.
Nothing wrong targeting cats, some folks even like yellow bullheads!
Whatever gets you out fishing is good.
Tom
Brew City Bass reply :
Because bass fishing isn't about catching the biggest easiest fish in the lake.
I started bass fishing because it's hard. I could just soak live / dead bait and catch bigger bass. I could do that for a multitude of even bigger fish in my state, but to me, that's fish in a barrel. Much like the same reason I don't hunt at a game farm in a treestand that's really a cabin overlooking a feed stand where the deer would come up and let you pet them. Just too d**n easy.
Yes, I admit it's fun catching big easy fish. But hunting down bass on my graphs, studying lake contours and depth lines and then using my knowledge of what artificial bait to use and where at a specific time is half the fun of bass fishing. Catching the actual fish is the other half of the fun.
Also, we get to play with some cool gear and lures because "We're bass anglers" 
None of this is to knock catfishing or any other fishing. I also fish musky because they're even harder and more elusive than bass, and same for pike that are 35"+. I'll look for the occasional walleye as well because they are pretty hard to catch in my local lakes, but some giants are out there.
Bass Fishing - The journey is the destination.
BassWhole! reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 7:22 AM, Brew City Bass said:I started bass fishing because it's hard.
On 7/3/2018 at 8:46 AM, reason said:Really? Bass fishing is some of the easiest fishing there is. They are everywhere, they will eat almost anything, they grow fast, and move predictably through the seasons. Why one could almost set a clock (or calendar) by them......
Wait for it.....
BuzzHudson19c reply :
Some say catching bass is easy, but catching BIG bass ain't easy.
I may have posted this before but oh well...
Brew City Bass reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 9:41 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Some say catching bass is easy, but catching BIG bass ain't easy.
I may have posted this before but oh well...
Exactly. I wasn't talking about catching 1lbers all day. That is easy.
I'm talking NICE bass. Good luck going anywhere but the south and catching 4+ lbers without working your ass off.
soflabasser reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 9:41 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Some say catching bass is easy, but catching BIG bass ain't easy.
I may have posted this before but oh well...
Well said and I agree with this quote from the movie.
Glaucus reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 9:41 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Some say catching bass is easy, but catching BIG bass ain't easy.
I may have posted this before but oh well...
That's what I say too. Catching bass is exceptionally easy. Catching nice bass is not.
Glaucus reply :
When the bass aren't biting
https://youtu.be/838drzqJRIo
Arcs&sparks reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 9:41 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Some say catching bass is easy, but catching BIG bass (on artificial) ain't easy.
Correction ????
BassWhole! reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 11:32 AM, Glaucus said:That's what I say too. Catching bass is exceptionally easy. Catching nice bass is not.
I see how some (or most) may come to this conclusion, but it's just not so. We see this with striped bass as well. There is nothing "more difficult" about catching larger fish. There are fewer caught because there are fewer around, and to a lesser degree because some (or most) folks knowingly or unknowingly fish for smaller fish and end up catching larger fish as by catch.
Hyrule Bass reply :
some of you apparently no nothing about catfishing. it may not be something you like or enjoy, and thats totally fine, but dont pretend to know when you dont know...
scaleface reply :
I dont like the taste of catfish but do bass .
I like catching catfish. I find them easy to pattern during the summer , so much so that I fish for them with lures . Pop a lipless crankbait off the bottom in a school of channel cats and one will pummel it , no little tap like a bass gives .
soflabasser reply :
Forgot to mention earlier that I am one of the few South Florida fishermen in this forum that enjoys fishing for catfish and I have caught well over 10 species of catfish in my travels. Most tend to look down on catfish but I don't since I have a open mind and acknowledge that catfish can present just as much a challenge than a bass can. Many trips I have been humbled by catfish and I have caught a couple double digit bass on public waters.There's always some one looking down on what you fish for such as bass fishermen looking down on catfishing, saltwater fishermen looking down on bass fishermen, rod and reel fishermen looking down on spearfishermen, fly fishermen looking down on just about all types of fishing,etc. I learned long ago to ignore these types of elitist fishermen, not take them fishing with me, and instead enjoy fishing for whatever species of fish I want, whether its for tiny mosquito fish or for sharks bigger than myself that can give me a decent workout while reeling the shark in.
Lord Castlereagh reply :
On 7/4/2018 at 4:52 AM, soflabasser said:Forgot to mention earlier that I am one of the few South Florida fishermen in this forum that enjoys fishing for catfish and I have caught well over 10 species of catfish in my travels. Most tend to look down on catfish but I don't since I have a open mind and acknowledge that catfish can present just as much a challenge than a bass can. Many trips I have been humbled by catfish and I have caught a couple double digit bass on public waters.There's always some one looking down on what you fish for such as bass fishermen looking down on catfishing, saltwater fishermen looking down on bass fishermen, rod and reel fishermen looking down on spearfishermen, fly fishermen looking down on just about all types of fishing,etc. I learned long ago to ignore these types of elitist fishermen, not take them fishing with me, and instead enjoy fishing for whatever species of fish I want, whether its for tiny mosquito fish or for sharks bigger than myself that can give me a decent workout while reeling the shark in.
Very well said...
BuzzHudson19c reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 7:11 PM, reason said:There are fewer caught because there are fewer around, and to a lesser degree because some (or most) folks knowingly or unknowingly fish for smaller fish and end up catching larger fish as by catch.
Well yes, this can be said for any species. The guys who target and consistently catch big bass will tell you it ain't so easy. Everyone runs into a good fish (of any species) by accident from time to time, but are they always doing what it takes to make it a habit?
Arcs&sparks reply :
On 7/4/2018 at 4:52 AM, soflabasser said:Forgot to mention earlier that I am one of the few South Florida fishermen in this forum that enjoys fishing for catfish and I have caught well over 10 species of catfish in my travels. Most tend to look down on catfish but I don't since I have a open mind and acknowledge that catfish can present just as much a challenge than a bass can. Many trips I have been humbled by catfish and I have caught a couple double digit bass on public waters.There's always some one looking down on what you fish for such as bass fishermen looking down on catfishing, saltwater fishermen looking down on bass fishermen, rod and reel fishermen looking down on spearfishermen, fly fishermen looking down on just about all types of fishing,etc. I learned long ago to ignore these types of elitist fishermen, not take them fishing with me, and instead enjoy fishing for whatever species of fish I want, whether its for tiny mosquito fish or for sharks bigger than myself that can give me a decent workout while reeling the shark in.
^I really like this comment. We need more of this attitude in the fishing community(communities?). BTW you left out the elite purist dry-fly-only fly fisherman looking down on those savage wet-fly and streamer-fly fisherman????. ????
“So, why is bass fishing so much more popular than catfishing?“
I think you could ask that about a lot of different species, but it of course depends what is available in different locations. Bass, largemouth in particular, are found in every state, and usually plentiful. Also, TV shows, tournaments, cool lures etc, and how bass are a bit prettier than catfish, make them appealing to the public. Where I live, most casual fisherman target bass, not even knowing that they aren’t even native here, and that there are much bigger fish in some our lakes.
In my state, our only catfish is brown bullhead, with 12” being a big one, and honestly I love targeting those adorable little guys, but if we had some monster cats, you’d bet I’d target them on occasion too.
I just bought a shark fishing combo, also, a second boat specifically to rig up with trolling gear and downriggers for salmon, trout, and lakers.
I think I might get bored only if I only fished for bass.
Bluebasser86 reply :
By the numbers, catfishing is more popular than bass fishing in a lot of states and used to be for the country but I don't think that's the case anymore. I know more hours a spent pursuing catfish than bass in Kansas by a wide margin.
scaleface reply :
A friend of mine showed me his coffee mug that read " catfishing is like bass fishing , except for men "????
FishDewd reply :
Who said you can't work a bait going for catfish? I've caught them on all sorts of bass lures on purpose. Like tubes, plastics, crankbaits... it's fun.
One thing I notice about catfish is that they typically fight harder for their size and are way stronger than bass. A 3+ lb. catfish on fairly light tackle is an absolute blast.
Gkitz reply :
I caught a 15 lb catfish on Ned rig with a ML spinner and 6 lb test. Absolutely great 15 minute fight. I completely trust the drag on my shimano stradic now.
mrmacwvu1 reply :
On 7/4/2018 at 4:52 AM, soflabasser said:Forgot to mention earlier that I am one of the few South Florida fishermen in this forum that enjoys fishing for catfish and I have caught well over 10 species of catfish in my travels. Most tend to look down on catfish but I don't since I have a open mind and acknowledge that catfish can present just as much a challenge than a bass can. Many trips I have been humbled by catfish and I have caught a couple double digit bass on public waters.There's always some one looking down on what you fish for such as bass fishermen looking down on catfishing, saltwater fishermen looking down on bass fishermen, rod and reel fishermen looking down on spearfishermen, fly fishermen looking down on just about all types of fishing,etc. I learned long ago to ignore these types of elitist fishermen, not take them fishing with me, and instead enjoy fishing for whatever species of fish I want, whether its for tiny mosquito fish or for sharks bigger than myself that can give me a decent workout while reeling the shark in.
Had a sailcat poke through my sandal last year. Lost feeling in my big toe for months. That is why I never use live bait when snook or red fishing. d**n cats everywhere down here. BTW the red tide is finally moving out. Had a 50 trout day the other day with 15 over 15 inches and 6 over 20. The largest was 26. All were caught on an 1/8 ounce jig with a mirror lure paddle tail.
soflabasser reply :
On 7/7/2018 at 3:42 AM, mrmacwvu1 said:Had a sailcat poke through my sandal last year. Lost feeling in my big toe for months. That is why I never use live bait when snook or red fishing. d**n cats everywhere down here. BTW the red tide is finally moving out. Had a 50 trout day the other day with 15 over 15 inches and 6 over 20. The largest was 26. All were caught on an 1/8 ounce jig with a mirror lure paddle tail.
I remember you making a post earlier about how the red tide affected your area of the state and how I told you the fish will rebound like they always do after a redtide event.Those gafftopsail catfish are pound for pound better fighters than snook, at least in the areas I have caught them in. Caught one of these saltwater catfish that was close to state record size a couple months ago and I thought I had a +36 inch snook on the line, turned out to be gafftopsail catfish just under 26 inches. As for lure fishing, I have caught multiple snook over 40 inches and bass over 10 pounds on lures and I do not look down on live bait fishermen since I know live bait fishing is a art in itself and know from personal experience that sometimes the reaction bite from a lure can outfish live bait.
soflabasser reply :
On 7/4/2018 at 12:59 PM, Arcs&sparks said:^I really like this comment. We need more of this attitude in the fishing community(communities?). BTW you left out the elite purist dry-fly-only fly fisherman looking down on those savage wet-fly and streamer-fly fisherman????. ????
“So, why is bass fishing so much more popular than catfishing?“
I think you could ask that about a lot of different species, but it of course depends what is available in different locations. Bass, largemouth in particular, are found in every state, and usually plentiful. Also, TV shows, tournaments, cool lures etc, and how bass are a bit prettier than catfish, make them appealing to the public. Where I live, most casual fisherman target bass, not even knowing that they aren’t even native here, and that there are much bigger fish in some our lakes.
In my state, our only catfish is brown bullhead, with 12” being a big one, and honestly I love targeting those adorable little guys, but if we had some monster cats, you’d bet I’d target them on occasion too.
I just bought a shark fishing combo, also, a second boat specifically to rig up with trolling gear and downriggers for salmon, trout, and lakers.
I think I might get bored only if I only fished for bass.
Thank you @Arcs&sparks. I have done some fly fishing and would like to do more of it in the future, maybe for tarpon,snook,bass, peacock bass, or anything that can give a fun fight on flyfishing tackle.I agree with you that bass fishing gets boring quickly if it was the only form of fishing I where to do.
Bluebasser86 reply :
You know who rules the water when you're fishing a normally productive spot for bass that isn't producing for some reason, and then one of these pops your jig.
Bowkill reply :
We gave up our last morning of smallmouth fishing and started slaying the channel cats. My daughter had a blast.
Bankbeater reply :
I don't think bass fishing is more popular. I think it's advertised more.
EGbassing reply :
On 7/3/2018 at 5:02 AM, Troy1985s said:I don't really like fried catfish.
You don't mean that, Mr. Frodo.
Pedigohornet reply :
Like many of you, I've caught channel cat at times on various lures. They get pretty aggressive during spawning time and can be caught along riprap and other spawning areas with crank baits. Earlier this year I fished one of the kinfolk's ponds with a 7 wt fly rod and a Dragon Tail streamer. It was early in the morning, cloudy, foggy and cool. I'd already caught and released two largemouth over six pounds with my fly rod this year and looking forward at another chance for a good bass or two. As I walked down the hill to the pond, what looked like a bass, kept pushing up water around an old stump. It was in easy casting range and after a couple false casts, I shot the streamer past the stump and stripped it back by pretty fast. The water exploded and I was fast to a heavy fish that headed for deeper water. It didn't take long to realize it wasn't a bass and soon I had a three pound channel cat in hand. Maybe ten minutes later I approached a dock that generally held some bass and tossed the streamer past the deep end and allowed it to sink a few feet before stripping it back in. Something jolted it and the power of the fish had my shoulders aching before I had it to hand, another cat, this one pulling the Boga to 5.5 pounds. After releasing the fish I caught another three pounder. I struck out on bass but the three channel cats were worth more than the price of admission. I rank small channel cat, any size flathead and the smaller yellow bullhead, what we call "butter cats" as prime table fare.
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