Largemouth vs. Smallmouth 2024
Lord Castlereagh reply :
Caught my first ever big smallmouth today. My did he fight! I was really impressed. Is it my imagination or did he fight a lot harder than his largemouth cousins? Or are they about the same?
Glaucus reply :
Smallmouth are much more ferocious fighters.
Years ago I was told that Smallies fight harder because they spend a lot of time in the current. And then years later I fished a SM pond for my first time, and they fought just as hard in water with no current. Up til then I had only fished for them in rivers and creeks. They're hardcore. Love it.
flyfisher reply :
Smallies definitely fight harder than Largemouth. River largemouth fight pretty hard too but i still think Spotted bass fight harder than both of them.
The Bassman reply :
I agree. Day in and day out smallies are much faster and stronger. That said, I've hooked the occasional largemouth that thinks he's a smallmouth. One thing that largemouth do sometimes that I've never seen with a smallie is that they'll get they're head out of the water and be basically motionless as you bring them in. No fight at all.
Glaucus reply :
Another thing I love about hooking into a SM is that they don't stop fighting. They fight hard til the end. And keep fighting once they've lost. LM run out of gas after a short time and it begins to feel like dead weight.
Still prefer LM fishing, but SM catching is more fun.
jbmaine reply :
Generally speaking SM fight much better than LM, kind of like sedan VS sports car.
813basstard reply :
Never caught a smallie..but if they fight anything like Hybrids they gotta be fun!
Lord Castlereagh reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 3:52 AM, Glaucus said:Another thing I love about hooking into a SM is that they don't stop fighting. They fight hard til the end. And keep fighting once they've lost. LM run out of gas after a short time and it begins to feel like dead weight.
Still prefer LM fishing, but SM catching is more fun.
SM is more fun, and fight harder, but you prefer LMs??? Why?
J.Vincent reply :
Smallmouth Bass are, by nature , slightly more aerodynamic and they are pound for pound a more formidable opponent then Largemouth bass. The Peacock Bass (although not a member of the Black Bass family of fish) are even more formidable.
Glaucus reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 4:18 AM, Lord Castlereagh said:SM is more fun, and fight harder, but you prefer LMs??? Why?
I prefer ponds to rivers and prefer techniques for LM rather than techniques for SM, and I like bigger fish.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On a scale from 1-10
the smallie fights like a 10
the largemouth fights like a 6-7
Lake Baccarac bass fight like a 9
A-Jay reply :
In my mind, Bigger Bass, both Green & Brown are challenging to hook, fight & land.
However, as the size of the bass get smaller, the brown bass do seem to retain quite a bit more vigor(comparatively speaking) than some of the green ones I've caught.
Not always the case, but generally.
However, if I'm fortunate enough to ever hook a new personal best of either type, I would have no problem at all if it were to calmly swim right into my net - no problem at all.
A-Jay
moguy1973 reply :
Several times I’ve hooked a 12” smallmouth and thought it was a much bigger fish because of the way they fight. Definitely one of the best fighting fish pound for pound. Once you hook one you’ll want to catch many more.
MassYak85 reply :
Pound for pound I'll take catching smallmouths over largemouths every time. But the lakes I frequent the odds of hooking into a 5lb largemouth are much greater than hooking into a 5lb smallmouth so I'm generally not targeting them. I've always felt smallmouth fight like it's their first time getting hooked, they are fighting for their lives. Largemouth almost seem conceded to the idea of being caught.
soflabasser reply :
The smallmouths I have caught fought harder than a equal sized largemouth bass, but both of these bass fight less than a equal sized Suwannee bass. Peacock bass fight much harder than any black bass species I have caught and they are a species of fish worth adding to one's bucketlist.
islandbass reply :
Smallest imho definitely fight harder than their largie counterparts and I love that about them. To me, the large lmbs I’ve might fight hard in the beginning but taper off quickly and almost seem like they’re playing dead. And that is fine because it makes them easier to lip, lol.
I think another reason smallies might seem to fight harder is that we tend to use lighter powered rods.
One story about my dad hooking into a smallie. He got my attention and pointed to his rod tip. Something was nibbling and the tip was bobbing and the slam! The rod tip bent down so hard I thought he might have had 30lb catfish or salmon on. My heart was pumping with excitement as I waited for him to land it. Forget me, me dad was holding on for dear life. Man, it was a smallmouth that was just a little longer than the size of my hand, lol.
We were both laughing so hard and wondered how such a small fish put up a fight like that.
Pound for pound smallies kick phanny over the lmb counterparts in general.
greentrout reply :
River & marsh bass fight hard...our marsh bass are small little football shaped fellas who are pugnacious and attack their prey hard...they are at times competing with specks and reds for the food chain with a changing tide and current...
As a side, in the 70's when the Florida strain bass was being considered to be introduced in TX. waters it was not unanimous amongst the fishermen and powers in charge to stock Fla. strain. The northern strain was said to be more aggressive and easier to catch...
good fishing...
WRB reply :
Smallmouth bass put up a longer harder fight that includes high acrobatic jumps then either spotted or LMB. Spots are stronger pulling for their size then LMB, FLBM grow 2 times heavier then both Smallmouth and spots. Pound for pound Smallmouth are king for fighting skills.
Tom
greentrout reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 10:41 AM, WRB said:Smallmouth bass put up a longer harder fight that includes high acrobatic jumps then either spotted or LMB. Spots are stronger pulling for their size then LMB, FLBM grow 2 times heavier then both Smallmouth and spots. Pound for pound Smallmouth are king for fighting skills.
Tom
so says you...opinion only...
WRB reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 10:49 AM, greentrout said:so says you...opinion only...
Smallmouth can jump 4' out of the water, no other bass comes close.
Tom
greentrout reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 10:51 AM, WRB said:Smallmouth can jump 4' out of the water, no other bass comes close.
Tom
that's all you got...
BuzzHudson19c reply :
For me, nothing beats river smallies. Hard fighters. It never stops amazing me their ability to get loose. You can have both trebles firmly in their mouths and after a good jump they spit the darn thing right out. Frustrating sometimes, but a challenge for sure.
soflabasser reply :
Smallmouth bass fight good for their size but there are plenty of fish that fight harder pound for pound. Peacock bass destroy smallmouth bass and all black bass species I have caught when it comes to overall pound for pound power, endurance, and acrobatic ability. Tarpon are even better fighters than peacock bass and give a skilled fishermen a hard time to land. Tarpon fishing days are classified in the following ways; number of follows you get, number of jumps you get, and the ones you actually land. Sailfish are another species of powerful,acrobatic fish but they are not as acrobatic or strong as a tarpon is pound for pound. Jacks and tunas are other species of fish I have caught that are extremely powerful for their size and they will give anyone a decent mini workout, especially when they are over 20 pounds.
NHBull reply :
99% of the fish I catch are SM and if you cast a country mile and hook them on the fall, your in for a treat. A day of catching 3 pounders can exhaust you. This year we have caught a few more LM than normal, and while it is fun to get a larger fish, you can usually tell immediately that it isn't a SM.........it's a totally different fight. The only fish in my lake that fights harder is large pickerel........and they are becoming more abundant
jbmaine reply :
The last SM I caught was on a ned rig in about 25 feet of water. He bent my medium rod over more than I thought it would go, took about 20FT. of line, and when he finally decided to come up, shot out of the water like a rocket. When I got him in the boat he weighted 1.12. Have yet to catch a LM that size that was anywhere near that feisty.
ww2farmer reply :
It will vary by lake, but around here, yes, generally smallmouth are much harder fighters and will jump enough to make your heart stop, especially when it's a big one.
That being said, in reference to my "it vary's by lake" comment, on the two lake's I fish most often...Silver and Conesus, which are full of BIG northern strain largemouth, until you get a look at the fish, it's often not clear which one of the two you have, as the largemouth on those lake are hard fighters. Silver lake smallmouth tend to fight more like largemouth, bull-dogging, and running into the weeds rather than taking to the air, but they are still prone to going airborne more than largemouth. One of my favorite things in the summer is catching smallmouth flipping weeds and grass with not a lot of line out. They are MAD, and a 4 or 5lber will often come 4 foot out of the water an arms length away, and even though it's on stout tackle and heavy line, there is nothing like it. It's the closest thing in bass fishing to grabbing a wild cat by the tail...you just hold on, and hope it doesn't hurt you, or destroy your equipment LOL.
B-Dozer reply :
just like people, big mouths usually can't fight ????
TnRiver46 reply :
Smallmouth fight great but I have caught 3 different 8lb class largemouth that about sank the boat they were fighting so hard. Maybe one day I will feel how hard 8 Lb class smallmouth fights
RyneB reply :
River largies fight like a smallmouth. The thing I notice most about smallies is they dont give up as easily. A 4lb largie is a hell of a fight, but it doesnt have the stamina. A 2.5 lb smallie on spinning gear will be several runs just when you think they're done.
rejesterd reply :
I think largemouth give up earlier in the fight, but they feel heavier on the line.
Smallmouth are more ferocious and come unbuttoned more.
Spankey reply :
On 7/23/2018 at 8:56 AM, RyneB said:River largies fight like a smallmouth. The thing I notice most about smallies is they dont give up as easily. A 4lb largie is a hell of a fight, but it doesnt have the stamina. A 2.5 lb smallie on spinning gear will be several runs just when you think they're done.
I'm with you 100%. My experiences on the river have produced Largemouths in the same holes, current and structure as smallmouths. I like the unexpected catch of one. More then once I've caught a smallie on the outer edge of a laydown only to pick off a largemouth or a couple of largemouths as I work my way back to the bank side of the laydown. The river largemouths and smallies are generally leaner than their lake cousins but they deal with current their whole life.
J Francho reply :
I don't fish for river smallies, so I cannot comment on them. Pound for pound, the common argument that smallies fight harder is true. Fight, is the key word. Not pull. After about 4 lbs. though, they start to even out, but even then there are exceptions. My PB LMB was like reeling in a soggy boot. My PB smallie just hung on the bottom, and took some convincing to come to the surface. My #2 LMB made three drag screaming runs on my braid to leader finesse setup. First run was around 20 yards, and they each got shorter. That fish did not jump either. I also wonder if the bigger fight has more to do with being evenly matched with the fish, using lighter gear for smallmouth. That said, they definitely are "squirrelier" than their largemouth cousins.
RyneB reply :
On 8/2/2018 at 10:45 PM, J Francho said:I don't fish for river smallies, so I cannot comment on them. Pound for pound, the common argument that smallies fight harder is true. Fight, is the key word. Not pull. After about 4 lbs. though, they start to even out, but even then there are exceptions. My PB LMB was like reeling in a soggy boot. My PB smallie just hung on the bottom, and took some convincing to come to the surface. My #2 LMB made three drag screaming runs on my braid to leader finesse setup. First run was around 20 yards, and they each got shorter. That fish did not jump either. I also wonder if the bigger fight has more to do with being evenly matched with the fish, using lighter gear for smallmouth. That said, they definitely are "squirrelier" than their largemouth cousins.
I also agree with this. Conditions play a huge factor. I can jack a 6 lb largie in a mat and it's just a heavy resistance. I can also hook into a 2 lb smallie with 6lb line on spinning tackle and have it jump several times and take drag. We can all agree both are a lot of fun and I'm lucky enough to live within a 6 hour drive of Traverse city and 1 hour drive of the Mississippi river.
LxVE Bassin reply :
My hardest black bass fight to date was a 3 pound Smallie I caught out of the White River. I caught it out of 10 feet of water on casting gear with 15 pound flouro. It pulled harder than any largemouth I have ever hooked into. I thought it was at least a 6 pounder or atleast that is what I imagined a 6 pounder would feel like.
Further North reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 12:24 PM, soflabasser said:Smallmouth bass fight good for their size but there are plenty of fish that fight harder pound for pound. Peacock bass destroy smallmouth bass and all black bass species I have caught when it comes to overall pound for pound power, endurance, and acrobatic ability. Tarpon are even better fighters than peacock bass and give a skilled fishermen a hard time to land. Tarpon fishing days are classified in the following ways; number of follows you get, number of jumps you get, and the ones you actually land. Sailfish are another species of powerful,acrobatic fish but they are not as acrobatic or strong as a tarpon is pound for pound. Jacks and tunas are other species of fish I have caught that are extremely powerful for their size and they will give anyone a decent mini workout, especially when they are over 20 pounds.
Interesting and all...but none of those other fish live in our water...
I've fished for and caught several...but it's like comparing Miller Lite to Cragganmore...
I'll leave you with this:
Pound for pound...yeah, a smallie beats an Esox. Problem is...that thing eats seven pound fish...and still comes after your lure...'cuz it's not full yet..
Pound for pound, a sunfish kicks bass butt...Imagine an 8 lb. bluegill...I'd be 'fraid to skinny dip in water that held fish like that...
soflabasser reply :
On 8/5/2018 at 6:48 AM, Further North said:Interesting and all...but none of those other fish live in our water...
I've fished for and caught several...but it's like comparing Miller Lite to Cragganmore...
I'll leave you with this:
Pound for pound...yeah, a smallie beats an Esox. Problem is...that thing eats seven pound fish...and still comes after your lure...'cuz it's not full yet..
Pound for pound, a sunfish kicks bass butt...Imagine an 8 lb. bluegill...I'd be 'fraid to skinny dip in water that held fish like that...
That muskie is a beauty, did you catch it and how long was it? I have caught a couple pure strain muskies while on vacation up north, so I know how they fight. Muskie are good fighting fish for freshwater fish standards but they are nothing compared to most equal sized saltwater fish. I caught a 43 inch muskie and it barely fought compared to a equal sized barracuda. Have caught several +50 inch barracudas and I am certain no muskie compares to a barracuda of that size. With that said muskies are still my favorite northern freshwater fish to catch and I plan on traveling to fish for them again. Bluegills are definitely stronger pound for pound than a largemouth or smallmouth bass of equal size but these sunfish do not compare to some of the exotic freshwater fish we have in South Florida, like the pacu which fight reminds me of a permit, one of the toughest pound for pound fish in the keys.
Further North reply :
On 8/5/2018 at 11:12 AM, soflabasser said:That muskie is a beauty, did you catch it and how long was it? I have caught a couple pure strain muskies while on vacation up north, so I know how they fight. Muskie are good fighting fish for freshwater fish standards but they are nothing compared to most equal sized saltwater fish. I caught a 43 inch muskie and it barely fought compared to a equal sized barracuda. Have caught several +50 inch barracudas and I am certain no muskie compares to a barracuda of that size. With that said muskies are still my favorite northern freshwater fish to catch and I plan on traveling to fish for them again. Bluegills are definitely stronger pound for pound than a largemouth or smallmouth bass of equal size but these sunfish do not compare to some of the exotic freshwater fish we have in South Florida, like the pacu which fight reminds me of a permit, one of the toughest pound for pound fish in the keys.
A friend caught that fish - I just love the picture.
gimruis reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 10:59 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:For me, nothing beats river smallies. Hard fighters. It never stops amazing me their ability to get loose. You can have both trebles firmly in their mouths and after a good jump they spit the darn thing right out. Frustrating sometimes, but a challenge for sure.
I have been told that river smallmouths are harder fighting than their lake cousins because they have to be in order to survive the constant current and flowing water. I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.
Further North reply :
On 8/6/2018 at 8:39 AM, gimruis said:I have been told that river smallmouths are harder fighting than their lake cousins because they have to be in order to survive the constant current and flowing water. I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.
That seems to be the case. Without a way to measure it, we'll just have to accept it. I certainly believe it to be the case.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 8/6/2018 at 8:39 AM, gimruis said:
J Francho reply :
On 8/6/2018 at 8:39 AM, gimruis said:I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.
This part isn't true.
FryDog62 reply :
I’ve always believed that pound for pound the best freshwater fighting fish is the smallmouth. But the one fish I would like to compare it to is a Wiper... although that’s technically a partial saltwater breed... correct??
Scott F reply :
On 8/7/2018 at 7:35 AM, FryDog62 said:I’ve always believed that pound for pound the best freshwater fighting fish is the smallmouth. But the one fish I would like to compare it to is a Wiper... although that’s technically a partial saltwater breed... correct??
A wiper is a hybrid between a striped bass and a white bass, and are raised in a hatchery so they never see saltwater. They are then stocked in lakes. None of the ones I’ve ever caught will jump but they are a lot of fun to catch. They hit so hard, they will rip the rod right out of your hands if you aren’t paying attention.
J Francho reply :
I’ve caught a few wipers in VA, and they do whack a bait hard. Reminds of the big brown trout up here.
soflabasser reply :
Hybrid stripers have many names such as sunshine bass, wiper, palmetto bass,etc. They fight much harder than a equal sized largemouth or smallmouth bass, at least the ones I have caught.
Further North reply :
So..."Largemouth vs. Smallmouth"...do they...like...fight an' stuff?
Can we bet on the winner?
Who gets to eat the loser?
FryDog62 reply :
On 8/7/2018 at 11:43 AM, Further North said:So..."Largemouth vs. Smallmouth"...do they...like...fight an' stuff?
Can we bet on the winner?
Who gets to eat the loser?
Both can hit like a freight train, but the largemouth can lose steam at the end - where the smallmouth never does. Likem both but my vote is bronze.
Vilas15 reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 10:46 PM, ww2farmer said:One of my favorite things in the summer is catching smallmouth flipping weeds and grass with not a lot of line out. They are MAD, and a 4 or 5lber will often come 4 foot out of the water an arms length away, and even though it's on stout tackle and heavy line, there is nothing like it. It's the closest thing in bass fishing to grabbing a wild cat by the tail...you just hold on, and hope it doesn't hurt you, or destroy your equipment LOL.
Sounds awesome. I imagine it would be like catching a Musky at the boat on a figure 8 but with more aerial acrobatics. You're right about just hanging on, thats when you hope your drag wasn't locked down too tight.
Further North reply :
On 8/8/2018 at 6:15 AM, Vilas15 said:Sounds awesome. I imagine it would be like catching a Musky at the boat on a figure 8 but with more aerial acrobatics. You're right about just hanging on, thats when you hope your drag wasn't locked down too tight.
A musky (or a pike) at the boat'll stop your heart...or start it. 'Specially if they're 40" or better, and it's topwater...
BuzzHudson19c reply :
On 8/6/2018 at 8:39 AM, gimruis said:I have been told that river smallmouths are harder fighting than their lake cousins because they have to be in order to survive the constant current and flowing water. I have also heard that smallmouth bass originated in rivers and that they are not native to lakes.
They are wild. There is a particular stretch of river that I fish, a tailrace out of a powerplant. I get my kayak right on the edge of the shale/rock ledge and run baits parallel to it. The smallmouth sit in holes and hangovers in the ledge and come flying out to destroy your bait. The definition of reaction bite. There have been multiple times where I have had the bait just out of the water on a retrieve only to have a smallie jump out and grab it. Scares you to death.
Glaucus reply :
Already know Smallmouth fight harder than Largemouth. Consensus and experience tells us all this. Recent experience tells me this again. Caught a big SM yesterday. Took me 5 minutes to safely land it. Peeled drag like a boss. Did some cool air stunts. Caught a big LM today. Took me a minute to safely land it. Bout the same size fish. Larry hit harder but gave up. Smallie wanted to drown me.
GeekFisher reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 3:42 AM, Glaucus said:Smallmouth are much more ferocious fighters.
Years ago I was told that Smallies fight harder because they spend a lot of time in the current. And then years later I fished a SM pond for my first time, and they fought just as hard in water with no current. Up til then I had only fished for them in rivers and creeks. They're hardcore. Love it.
In rivers, they tend to fight like larger specimens from other BOW with no current. I put it on the fact they need muscles to cope with that current 
joru100 reply :
Largemouth are great because they always surprise me where I find them, but smallmouth are way more fun.
Largemouth give you a large surface strike or a strong tug straight down, but turn into wet boots after 5 seconds. I've never fought with a largemouth for more than a full minute. I've had true 5+ minute fights with 18+ inch smallmouth.
Russ E reply :
even though the smallmouth pound for pound fights harder than the largemouth, I still spend 90% of my time pursuing largemouth bass. I personally catch much larger largemouth bass.
Here in Kansas there are several lakes that have both.
there are certain times of the year that i can catch quality smallmouths, but most of the time I get smaller fish.
the state record smallmouth is 6.88 lbs.
I have been fortunate enough to catch 6 Largemouth bass over 5 lbs. this year(that doesn't count the 4 I lost at the boat) . 2 were bigger than the smallmouth state record.
my personal best smallmouth is only 4.5 lbs.
Zackopi reply :
When I first moved to Eastern South Dakota I was bummed that most of the bass here are smallmouth. Before then I had never caught one, and I’d heard they were a little more difficult to fish (at times they can be). Then I caught my first smallmouth and was blown away by how they fight. I still have an easier time locating and catching LM consistently, but I’d rather battle a Smallie any day.
NHBull reply :
Yesterday I caught this years first 5+ SM, and lost a bigger LM. It's rare to get a 5 pounder on my lake, neve mind a SM. Both we caught in 2-3 feet of water, but my boat was in 20'. Both had great horizontal fights, but when it became a vertical fight, the SM kicked the LM butt and was taking line for minutes more. The LM was like dragging boot.
Heron reply :
I’ll go ahead and be the odd one out.....
while a hard fighting fish fish is lots of fun, I think over the years I’ve come to the conclusion, that I like a fish that doesn’t fight quite so much.
Why? Well because all to often, we have those fish that fight like a 5lber, but when it gets to the boat, we pull up a 2lber.
ShenandoahAngler reply :
I am one that loves that fight. Hell, I prefer river largemouth over lake fish any day. I just find it so much more fun.
islandbass reply :
Love this topic!
One thought that comes to mind that we might overlook is that we tend to use “lighter” gear (generally) and so does this contribute to the sensation and perception of the smallie to fight “harder”? Even a 1.5 blue gill on a UL rig feels like a freight train, lol.
I do not mean to diminish the smallie fight.
A-Jay reply :
Largemouth vs Smallmouth ~
I say yes to both.
A-Jay
soflabasser reply :
I came back from a fishing vacation in the north. I caught lots of river smallmouth bass which was fun.These smallmouth bass fought good for their size but they do not compare to a peacock bass. Peacock bass are far more powerful with more endurance.
ShenandoahAngler reply :
On 10/8/2018 at 11:36 AM, islandbass said:Love this topic!
One thought that comes to mind that we might overlook is that we tend to use “lighter” gear (generally) and so does this contribute to the sensation and perception of the smallie to fight “harder”? Even a 1.5 blue gill on a UL rig feels like a freight train, lol.
I do not mean to diminish the smallie fight.
So, I'm someone with limited tackle and gear. I use the same gear for smallies, largies, cats, everything. The only exception is an UL setup for trout and gills. I can definitely say that a 1.5 lbs smallie fights harder than a 5 lbs largemouth on the exact same setup.
Russ E reply :
On 10/10/2018 at 8:03 AM, VirginiaBureaucrat said:So, I'm someone with limited tackle and gear. I use the same gear for smallies, largies, cats, everything. The only exception is an UL setup for trout and gills. I can definitely say that a 1.5 lbs smallie fights harder than a 5 lbs largemouth on the exact same setup.
pound for pound a smallie usually fights with more vigor, but a 1.5lb smallie is nothing like catching a 5lb largemouth.
ShenandoahAngler reply :
On 10/10/2018 at 8:22 AM, Russ E said:pound for pound a smallie usually fights with more vigor, but a 1.5lb smallie is nothing like catching a 5lb largemouth.
Was for me. My 5 pounder was just like pulling in a log.
Russ E reply :
On 10/10/2018 at 8:34 AM, VirginiaBureaucrat said:Was for me. My 5 pounder was just like pulling in a log.
I have caught 4-4.5 lb smallmouths that did not fight at all.
Bigger fish pull harder, but don't always fight with as much energy as smaller fish.
islandbass reply :
On 10/10/2018 at 8:03 AM, VirginiaBureaucrat said:So, I'm someone with limited tackle and gear. I use the same gear for smallies, largies, cats, everything. The only exception is an UL setup for trout and gills. I can definitely say that a 1.5 lbs smallie fights harder than a 5 lbs largemouth on the exact same setup.
Gear wise, we are pretty much the same, including a UL rig. ????????
bowhunter63 reply :
River Smallies are hard to beat.They never give up.
bostonsox2904 reply :
On 10/9/2018 at 1:03 AM, soflabasser said:I came back from a fishing vacation in the north. I caught lots of river smallmouth bass which was fun.These smallmouth bass fought good for their size but they do not compare to a peacock bass. Peacock bass are far more powerful with more endurance.
Leave it to the Florida resident to bring up exotics and saltwater fish species ???? You just need to mention sharks and /thread
soflabasser reply :
On 10/11/2018 at 11:11 PM, bostonsox2904 said:Leave it to the Florida resident to bring up exotics and saltwater fish species ???? You just need to mention sharks and /thread
Forgot to mention that I also caught muskie (''fish of 10,000 cast''), walleye, northern strain largemouth bass, and other species of northern fish. No guide needed just me and my better half fishing together. None of those northern fish could compare to how strong South Florida exotics and saltwater fish are. These northern fish where fun to catch and I still feel that every bass fisherman should add as many bass species to their species of fish caught.
On 10/11/2018 at 11:02 AM, bowhunter63 said:River Smallies are hard to beat.They never give up.
Yes smallies are very fun to catch in rivers but fighting a tarpon in running water will quickly change you mind on a smallies fighting ability.
On 10/10/2018 at 8:22 AM, Russ E said:pound for pound a smallie usually fights with more vigor, but a 1.5lb smallie is nothing like catching a 5lb largemouth.
A 10 pound or better largemouth bass tends to fight better than a sub 5 pound smallie as well.
J Francho reply :
On 10/12/2018 at 6:08 AM, soflabasser said:Forgot to mention that I also caught muskie (''fish of 10,000 cast''), walleye, northern strain largemouth bass, and other species of northern fish. No guide needed just me and my better half fishing together. None of those northern fish could compare to how strong South Florida exotics and saltwater fish are. These northern fish where fun to catch and I still feel that every bass fisherman should add as many bass species to their species of fish caught.
That's nice, but the discussion is specifically LMB vs. SMB, so let's stay on topic. My belief is that if you're in it for a fight, bass is not the species to chase. The reason I fish for bass is the chess match that catching them regularly, and of larger size, presents. If I want a fight, I have northern pike, muskie, salmon, trout, steelhead, carp, etc. all available in the same waters I fish for bass.
soflabasser reply :
If I had to choose between a smallmouth bass vs largemouth bass I will choose a Florida strain largemouth bass since Florida strain largemouth bass have a larger average size compared to smallmouth bass. A 6 pound or better smallmouth bass is considered a trophy and a 6 pound Florida strain largemouth bass is common enough where you can expect to catch several of them in a month if you wanted to in many parts of Florida.
J Francho reply :
We generally fish for what's in our locale. I'll take the variety of species, variety of waters, lack of hurricanes and gators, and the harsh winters over Florida any day of the week. I like catching big smallmouth, but I prefer power fishing for largemouth. I have been to Florida many times, and fished, every February, after the strawberry festivals, and it's nice to visit.
senile1 reply :
On 10/12/2018 at 9:11 PM, J Francho said:The reason I fish for bass is the chess match that catching them regularly, and of larger size, presents.
On occasion they make me feel like I have nothing but pawns on my side of the chessboard. 
A-Jay reply :
On 10/13/2018 at 6:41 AM, senile1 said:On occasion they make me feel like I have nothing but pawns on my side of the chessboard.
Some trips I can't even find the BOARD !
A-Jay
portiabrat reply :
On 10/12/2018 at 10:41 PM, soflabasser said:If I had to choose between a smallmouth bass vs largemouth bass I will choose a Florida strain largemouth bass since Florida strain largemouth bass have a larger average size compared to smallmouth bass. A 6 pound or better smallmouth bass is considered a trophy and a 6 pound Florida strain largemouth bass is common enough where you can expect to catch several of them in a month if you wanted to in many parts of Florida.
Where I fish, a 6 lb smallie isn't a trophy.
I don't follow professional fishing much, but you'd probably have to average around 5 lbs per fish on smallmouth waters like the Great Lakes or Mille Lacs to do well in a tournament. From what I've seen, that average is a lot lower on most southern lakes.
roadwarrior reply :
Southern states produce larger smallmouth, including the World Record. What we don't
have are the fantastic numbers and NEVER a 100 fish day. Most guys consider a 6 lb bass
a "trophy" class fish and probably a Personal Best for 95% of all fishermen.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 10/13/2018 at 5:48 PM, portiabrat said:Where I fish, a 6 lb smallie isn't a trophy.
I don't follow professional fishing much, but you'd probably have to average around 5 lbs per fish on smallmouth waters like the Great Lakes or Mille Lacs to do well in a tournament. From what I've seen, that average is a lot lower on most southern lakes.
I have fished Lake Erie PA waters for about 15 years. Around here guys strive to catch 6lb smallies as a PB or trophy. 6lb-8oz through 6lb-15oz are definitely considered trophy class as to their rarity by the hard core bass fisherman. My consensus is a 6lb smallie from the great lakes is a trophy for most fisherman. 5lb smallies are great fish but just below the trophy classification for the great lakes because of the sheer numbers of them in the system. Smallies above 7lbs are rare as 11lb-12lb largemouth elsewhere.
portiabrat reply :
On 10/13/2018 at 10:10 PM, Dwight Hottle said:I have fished Lake Erie PA waters for about 15 years. Around here guys strive to catch 6lb smallies as a PB or trophy. 6lb-8oz through 6lb-15oz are definitely considered trophy class as to their rarity by the hard core bass fisherman. My consensus is a 6lb smallie from the great lakes is a trophy for most fisherman. 5lb smallies are great fish but just below the trophy classification for the great lakes because of the sheer numbers of them in the system. Smallies above 7lbs are rare as 11lb-12lb largemouth elsewhere.
On the WI side of Lake Michigan, I don't think it's difficult to catch 6 lb smallies in the spring. I can, and I'm not a good fisherman by any means. I agree that 6.5+ lbs is very rare.
Further North reply :
On 10/13/2018 at 5:48 PM, portiabrat said:Where I fish, a 6 lb smallie isn't a trophy.
Man...since we're both in WI, I'd sure like to know where you fish...
A six pounder up here is a heck of a fish...the only places where that's going to get exceeded...and it's going to be rare...is maybe Door County, or Lake Superior near Ashland.
soflabasser reply :
On 10/13/2018 at 5:48 PM, portiabrat said:Where I fish, a 6 lb smallie isn't a trophy.
The official word record smallmouth bass is only 11 pounds,15 ounces which means a 6 pound smallmouth bass is at least 50% of the current world record smallmouth bass. I am sure the vast majority of smallmouth bass fishermen consider a 6 pound smallmouth bass a trophy, just like most consider a 10 pound largemouth bass a trophy or a 5 pound butterfly peacock bass a trophy fish.
A-Jay reply :
On 10/14/2018 at 8:14 AM, portiabrat said:On the WI side of Lake Michigan, I don't think it's difficult to catch 6 lb smallies in the spring. I can, and I'm not a good fisherman by any means. I agree that 6.5+ lbs is very rare.
I'm in the camp that believes that regardless of where they are caught, a true on the scale 6 lb smallmouth is certainly a trophy class fish.
Just as a 10 lb Largemouth is a trophy.
And even in "the best fisheries on this planet" both are rare fish.
Hope you can get some 6 lb plus smallies this spring and will be willing to share the pics here.
A-Jay
portiabrat reply :
On 10/17/2018 at 4:39 AM, soflabasser said:The official word record smallmouth bass is only 11 pounds,15 ounces which means a 6 pound smallmouth bass is at least 50% of the current world record smallmouth bass. I am sure the vast majority of smallmouth bass fishermen consider a 6 pound smallmouth bass a trophy, just like most consider a 10 pound largemouth bass a trophy or a 5 pound butterfly peacock bass a trophy fish.
Check some smallmouth tournament weights in the spring at some of the famous locations. There have been some tournaments where it takes more than 6 lbs per fish to win. I'm pretty sure nobody's every had to average 10 lbs per fish to win a largemouth tournament.
I'm done trying to debate the distribution of bass weights by species across various lakes in the US.
J Francho reply :
I have not caught a 6 lb. smallie, and I would not call it a trophy. I’m very proud of my 5-12 and the dozens over 5 lbs I’ve caught. That said, right after I scaled that PB, my buddy scaled a 6-1. I’d say over 7, and maybe. I’ve seen a few 7+ in my days. They’re pretty magnificent. Biggest LMB I’ve seen was a near DD FLS LMB. Biggest northern LMB, 8-5. I’d call that a trophy up here.
At at any rate, I love my smallies, but most of the big green fish (over 6) fought as well as any smallmouth, save my PB NY fish.
King salmon still rank rank the highest for fight. Bass don’t even compare, regardless of species. But like I said, I’m not in it for the fight when it comes to bass. Kings are easy if you know when and where, which is also easy.
ww2farmer reply :
On 10/17/2018 at 8:05 AM, J Francho said:I have not caught a 6 lb. smallie, and I would not call it a trophy.
Maybe not on the Great Lakes, or attached bodies of water.
But on our inland bodies of water a 6lb smallmouth most certainly is a trophy....especially from the mud puddle I fish.
Instead of saying "this size fish is/isn't a trophy"...I look at it as body of water dependent.
for example:
In 25+ years of bass fishing I have seen exactly, and have knowledge of TWO legit 6lb smallmouth from my home lake, and I have caught them both, almost 10 years to the day apart. And that's after seeing a lot of tournaments here won with 20+lb bags ofall smallmouth, none of which contained a 6+ lber.
I'll say the same about a 7+ largemouth, at least from this body of water. I know of two legit 7's that have been caught (neither by me) And for 3/4 of decade my tournament PB stood as the biggest fish anyone has ever caught, in ANY tournament, not just the ones I run, on this lake. That was recently eclipsed by a 7-1 another guy caught this summer, one of the two known 7lber I have seen come out of this lake.....ever. I am still hunting for my first 7+ on this lake, and have dozens of 6's. Now move one lake over to the east on my other "home" lake, and it's a different story.....at least with largemouth.
I can only view this through the filter of a tournament and/or serious recreational bass angler, as that is who I am/what I do, and who I hang around and keep track of as far as other people's catches. Is there any unknown to me trophy hunter on this lake who is fishing for and catching 7's, 8's, or 9's........maybe. Or how about a crappie, or a perch, or a walleye, or a pike fisherman who has tussled with a couple huge largemouth and/or smallmouth and no one knows about it? Again a "maybe"
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/17/2018 at 5:01 AM, A-Jay said:I'm in the camp that believes that regardless of where they are caught, a true on the scale 6 lb smallmouth is certainly a trophy class fish.
Just as a 10 lb Largemouth is a trophy.
And even in "the best fisheries on this planet" both are rare fish.
Hope you can get some 6 lb plus smallies this spring and will be willing to share the pics here.
A-Jay
Ditto. I have been fishing smallies since about age 2 in the state where the world record came from and I don’t know if I have ever gotten a 6. Closest I have come was probably this 21.5 inch prespawn . 6 is a trophy anywhere in My book. Now I think my girlfriend did get a true 6 maybe 6.5 jigging up white bass with a 5’ ultra light and 4 lb line. 22.5 inches also prespawn in March. Methinks that fish was eating white bass
J Francho reply :
I'd agree with body of water, to a point. It's the same reason I don't count any of the big LMB I've caught outside of NY. I think of it more as a locale thing. Silver Lake isn't that far from Erie. So, if you're hunting trophies, you should fish Erie. Same for LMB. There are bodies closer that hold bigger fish, but I still fish the City Dump. I mean, it's 2 minutes to the launch. It's an oddity that my PB comes from the dump. It's not known for kicking out monsters.
ww2farmer reply :
On 10/17/2018 at 7:45 PM, J Francho said:Silver Lake isn't that far from Erie. So, if you're hunting trophies, you should fish Erie.
Not my game... besides, I have a 16.5 foot, 25hp problem that keeps me off big water.
The big water is a special place right now, and I would never call it "easy" fishing, as that would degrade the truly good fisherman who spend a lot of time out there and excel. But I also know a whole bunch of local idiots who can go out there and have the days off their lives who can't catch limits on Silver and Conesus.
J Francho reply :
By easy, I was referring to kings during the run, not bass. You pick the right time, and it's a huge window, the fishing is easy. Anyone can catch.
Steven Yeun reply :
Size of fish is always great, especially during tournaments. But if I have to pick. To me, river smallies are un-beatable when it comes to “fun”. They can be 12” and fight great! I grew up next to the fox river and chased smallies often.
Further North reply :
Getting back on track...and keeping in mind that I believe the smallies fight harder than largemouth...
Do we have any objective data to support that? Or is it all subjective?
I guess what I'm asking is: Has anyone developed an objective measurement for how a fish fights? I can't find one, but my Google Fu is weak.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/19/2018 at 12:50 PM, Further North said:Getting back on track...and keeping in mind that I believe the smallies fight harder than largemouth...
Do we have any objective data to support that? Or is it all subjective?
I guess what I'm asking is: Has anyone developed an objective measurement for how a fish fights? I can't find one, but my Google Fu is weak.
As a wildlife/fisheries biologist that has read through thousands of scientific experiments that really don’t mean anything, I feel as though this is a non quantifiable entity. Unless of course you tie a string to each species tail and shoot off a pistol!!! Hahaha
Further North reply :
On 10/19/2018 at 3:59 PM, TnRiver46 said:As a wildlife/fisheries biologist that has read through thousands of scientific experiments that really don’t mean anything, I feel as though this is a non quantifiable entity. Unless of course you tie a string to each species tail and shoot off a pistol!!! Hahaha
That's kinda where I was heading...
Our experience is so tainted by preconceived ideas that there's little hope for objectivity.
Not that we need it, it's OK to just have fun catching fish.
stratoliner92 reply :
Spent 2 months in Minnesota this Summer fishing. First thing i noticed about smallmouth is they never give up compared to largemouth even after getting in boat, trying to get a treblehook out of them is always an adventure. I fish lots of texas rig soft plastics for largemouth and noticed when fishing tubes for smallmouth they seldom hammer it like largemouth usually do. Fished only lakes no rivers, also noticed was way more largemouth in South get airborne than the smallies which really surprised me from what I had heard. Best thing about smallmouth to me is how aggresive they are if you put a topwater around them. I wore out a LC Sammy on them 80% of the time no matter time of day????Can't wait to get North again!!
RHuff reply :
A 5lb smallmouth will outfight a 10lb largemouth
Jleebesaw reply :
On 10/13/2018 at 5:48 PM, portiabrat said:Where I fish, a 6 lb smallie isn't a trophy.
I don't follow professional fishing much, but you'd probably have to average around 5 lbs per fish on smallmouth waters like the Great Lakes or Mille Lacs to do well in a tournament. From what I've seen, that average is a lot lower on most southern lakes.
Absolutely. Bassmaster elites on the st lawrence river had 50 25+ pound bags on the first day of the event last year.
billmac reply :
Not sure if it's true because it's hard to compare, but I've read that for their size, bluegills are more ferocious fighters than their larger cousins.
J Francho reply :
I guess, if spinning in circles is "fighting."
TOXIC reply :
Personally, I think a smalljaw fights harder than a green bass. River fish of both species fight harder because of their environment. As for a trophy, I have -0- replicas on my wall right now because my goal for a trophy is a smallmouth 7lbs minimum and a largemouth 12 minimum. I have been close but no cigar. It's the chase that keeps me coming back and when I retire this year I plan on putting in some serious time on the water, all over the country.
J Francho reply :
I've seen two smallies over 7 at weigh ins. One, a 7-6 wasn't even the biggest fish in the guy's bag! There was also an 8-5 largemouth. Over 7 is my target as well. Once they get over 5, they're incredible animals.
TOXIC reply :
I have had a 6lb smallie on St Clair and my fishing partner did catch a 7 in the St Clair river pre fishing for a tournament. He was so quick to put it back, they weighed it and didn't take any measurements. That one would have been a replica on my wall for sure. The pic is a 5 and change.
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