In my family the whole walleye vs bass thing is generational. Young dudes are runnin and gunnin for bass while the older guys are jigging, back trolling etc. for walleyes. Where we fish in Canada ( remember that ? ) we used to fish bass and lakers for something different, now most of the young guys fish walleyes to do something different. I call it video game fishing.. just glad they like to fish and hang with the older guys.
Another interesting aspect of this is how so many bass tactics have crossed over into the walleye world. Dropshot, spinnerbaits, etc. I was just reading the other day about using Tokyo rigs for walleyes! Huh?! I haven’t even tried them for bass yet.
Muskie Anglers: “eVeRyThInG eLsE iS JuSt BaIt”
Also, they preferred to be called Hunters
If more bass were kept would it help walleye populations?Im sure they compete for available forage as I often catch bass when targeting and catching walleyes.If allmost all the bass are released and a majority of the walleyes are kept that leads to more bass swimming around with a leg up on the remaining walleyes.Kind of like the hammer handle pike I think bass populations get out of control also
I watched a Black Lab catch a bass on a spawning bed once. She did a nice retrieve too…..so anyone can catch bass.
I fish muskies….everything else is just bait…….says the guy with Walleye fillets waiting to be cooked.
If more bass were kept would it help walleye populations?Im sure they compete for available forage as I often catch bass when targeting and catching walleyes.If allmost all the bass are released and a majority of the walleyes are kept that leads to more bass swimming around with a leg up on the remaining walleyes.Kind of like the hammer handle pike I think bass populations get out of control also
You’re missing some vital information though. Most walleyes are not naturally produced. They are in the bigger lakes/rivers, but the vast majority of the small to mid size lakes rely on stocking of walleyes. Whereas bass are never stocked, they are solely naturally reproduced. Maybe its time to start releasing more walleyes. Additionally, warming waters favor bass. Safe to say that their population has definitely moved north in recent years too. It also takes a lot longer for bass to grow this far north than it does for a walleye.
To me bass are like fishing for panfish. I can find them any time pretty much anywhere. Then they bite basically whatever you throw to them.
If you can find and catch them that well. I’d sign up and fish some of the many Bass Tourneys around the state and country each weekend. There is a ton of $ waiting out there for you to collect. Just Give me your last name so that I can keep a eye out for you at the top of the standing !!!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>matt wrote:</div>
If more bass were kept would it help walleye populations?Im sure they compete for available forage as I often catch bass when targeting and catching walleyes.If allmost all the bass are released and a majority of the <em class=”ido-tag-em”>walleyes are kept that leads to more bass swimming around with a leg up on the remaining walleyes.Kind of like the hammer handle <em class=”ido-tag-em”>pike I think bass populations get out of control alsoYou’re missing some vital information though. Most walleyes are not naturally produced. They are in the bigger lakes/rivers, but the vast majority of the small to mid size lakes rely on stocking of walleyes. Whereas bass are never stocked, they are solely naturally reproduced. Maybe its time to start releasing more walleyes. Additionally, warming waters favor bass. Safe to say that their population has definitely moved north in recent years too. It also takes a lot longer for bass to grow this far north than it does for a walleye.
He’s right^. The outlook for walleyes is far from ideal. Warming bodies of water favor bass. Longitudinal data shows most lakes and rivers in MN are warming, or at least have a longer “warm” season.
Bass are predominately caught and released. Walleyes are caught and often kept at a much higher rate. Bodies of water have a certain biomass they can sustain. The larger the percentages are of certain species, the fewer available percentages of that biomass remain for the rest. It’s not as if you can put an infinite amount of fish into a system and expect it to sustain them all regardless of species. Bass are rarely erased from the equation and will reproduce, while walleye routinely are taken out and those that aren’t don’t reproduce in many fisheries.
I may get blasted for this here (as a predominately walleye guy), but within the next couple decades walleye fisheries are going to really be taxed in Minnesota even with substantially lower limits. At the same time, bass populations will continue to expand to fill the void. I’d like to see the MNDNR focus on bodies of water that can sustain walleyes for the long haul rather than throwing stocked fish into every little hot bath pond in MN hoping they swim around for a couple years before being caught.
I enjoy catching fish. The fish I catch the most of are bass. I don’t have the patience to walleye fish in the metro. If I’m up at Mille Lacs or LOTW sure, I’ll do some walleye fishing. But I HATE trolling. I was on the St Croix today and trolled a Dubuque rig for about five minutes before I couldn’t stand it anymore. Bass fishing you’re always doing something and usually catching more fish. That’s why I like it. I can say bass fishing is probably easier but there are so many different ways to catch them that are more fun than any walleye technique. Casting for eyes I’m good with. But I go to catch fish not sit around not doing anything.
But if there’s a hot bite I don’t care what species it is, I’ll be open to give it a shot.
Walleye fishing 70% and panfishing 30% for me but I fish P4 a lot and any given day you can catch 8-12 species.
When I was in my teens I seen how difficult it was to catch this state fish and ever since then, it has been a passion of mine to target eyes mainly.
Here in Southern MN you can catch bass in every ditch and puddle you see, so there is no challenge. That and largies only go 2-4lbs mostly so you’ll rarely catch one as big as those bucketmouths down south.
There is no better feeling than the thump of a hungry walleye on a vertical jig. The kind where they knock the rod out of your hand, nothing else compares.
Casting a thousand times is not my kind of fishing. When I fish, I go to relax and enjoy the day. I fish hard but prefer drifting vertically covering ground. Not much for trolling/dragging fish but might add it to my arsenal this year?
I enjoy catching fish. The fish I catch the most of are bass. I don’t have the patience to walleye fish in the metro. If I’m up at Mille Lacs or LOTW sure, I’ll do some walleye fishing. But I HATE trolling. I was on the St Croix today and trolled a Dubuque rig for about five minutes before I couldn’t stand it anymore. Bass fishing you’re always doing something and usually catching more fish. That’s why I like it. I can say bass fishing is probably easier but there are so many different ways to catch them that are more fun than any walleye technique. Casting for eyes I’m good with. But I go to catch fish not sit around not doing anything.
But if there’s a hot bite I don’t care what species it is, I’ll be open to give it a shot.
This is why the river is the best fishery in the state. Walleye and smallie fishing are synonymous almost year round. Throwing baits, moving a lot, working specific structure, etc.
I rarely walleye fish lakes anymore…too boring. The croix can be a great walleye fishery but it’s cover water with cranks on lead or rigging live bait. No thanks.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>matt wrote:</div>
If more bass were kept would it help walleye populations?Im sure they compete for available forage as I often catch bass when targeting and catching walleyes.If allmost all the bass are released and a majority of the <em class=”ido-tag-em”>walleyes are kept that leads to more bass swimming around with a leg up on the remaining walleyes.Kind of like the hammer handle <em class=”ido-tag-em”>pike I think bass populations get out of control alsoYou’re missing some vital information though. Most walleyes are not naturally produced. They are in the bigger lakes/rivers, but the vast majority of the small to mid size lakes rely on stocking of walleyes. Whereas bass are never stocked, they are solely naturally reproduced. Maybe its time to start releasing more walleyes. Additionally, warming waters favor bass. Safe to say that their population has definitely moved north in recent years too. It also takes a lot longer for bass to grow this far north than it does for a walleye.
Missing the point is he ? Honest question… think if these small stocked walleye lakes you mention, nobody kept walleyes and they were left to reproduce on their own, the masses then targeted and kept bass… how many decades until it becomes necessary to stock bass… and not walleye ?
Matt’s out,someone show him the door.
Missing the point is he ? Honest question… think if these small stocked walleye lakes you mention, nobody kept walleyes and they were left to reproduce on their own, the masses then targeted and kept bass… how many decades until it becomes necessary to stock bass… and not walleye ?
Walleye don’t reproduce in these small bass/panfish lakes, not in any significance anyway. That’s the exact point he was making.
Bass are like that big girl in the bar at 2am
Bass are like that big girl in the bar at 2am
Yep. you know you are going to end up chasing it sooner or later, so you might as well make it sooner !!!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>big_g wrote:</div>
Missing the point is he ? Honest question… think if these small stocked walleye lakes you mention, nobody kept walleyes and they were left to reproduce on their own, the masses then targeted and kept bass… how many decades until it becomes necessary to stock bass… and not walleye ?Walleye don’t reproduce in these small bass/panfish lakes, not in any significance anyway. That’s the exact point he was making.
OK….? So IF and thats a big word for 2 letters…. the Walleye that were put into the lake were spawners, not fingerlings… and left alone.. never put into the livewell… BUT, MOST Bass that were caught, were put under the knife… try to convince me, the scales would not be tipped in favor of Walleye, after years and decades. Then to take it a step further, every year, thousands of bass fingerlings are released in the lake. This takes some forward thinking, it would not be immediate and wouldn’t be in 100% of the lakes, but I would venture most lakes would become depleted of Bass and have more Walleye. Removing a direct competitor of resources and lets face it, predation of young and having a breeder stock in those lakes, the tables would be turned.
OK….? So IF and thats a big word for 2 letters…. the Walleye that were put into the lake were spawners, not fingerlings… and left alone.. never put into the livewell… BUT, MOST Bass that were caught, were put under the knife… try to convince me, the scales would not be tipped in favor of Walleye, after years and decades. Then to take it a step further, every year, thousands of bass fingerlings are released in the lake. This takes some forward thinking, it would not be immediate and wouldn’t be in 100% of the lakes, but I would venture most lakes would become depleted of Bass and have more Walleye. Removing a direct competitor of resources and lets face it, predation of young and having a breeder stock in those lakes, the tables would be turned.
How do those walleye successfully reproduce with no suitable spawning habitat? There’s a reason these lakes are natural bass/panfish lakes and not walleye lakes.
I didn’t say 100%, but alot of the lakes have feeder creeks and water over 10′ deep… and remove the Bass. Again, it is a big IF, but I would like to try it ! 
I didn’t say 100%, but alot of the lakes have feeder creeks and water over 10′ deep… and remove the Bass. Again, it is a big IF, but I would like to try it !
I can see your point on the lakes that have a natural walleye population.
How about improving and protecting, or even creating, walleye spawning habitat?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>DaveB wrote:</div>
Bass are like that big girl in the bar at 2amYep. you know you are going to end up chasing it sooner or later, so you might as well make it sooner !!!
And they’re just as fun!
Removing a direct competitor of resources and lets face it, predation of young and having a breeder stock in those lakes, the tables would be turned.
I read a study on Northern Central Wisconsin walleye lakes and the USGS is saying diet overlap could be the reason the walleye populations are down.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>DaveB wrote:</div>
Bass are like that big girl in the bar at 2amYep. you know you are going to end up chasing it sooner or later, so you might as well make it sooner !!!
Just dangle a hot dog under a bobber in front of either one and it’s on!
Just humor
bass.jpg
I have pretty good luck after a good rain by a creek that dumps into an area lake. I catch ‘em on rapala DT-10’s. It drives my walleye-loving buddy crazy.
Bass are like that big girl in the bar at 2am
Never went to bed with a big girl.
Woke up with a few. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>DaveB wrote:</div>
Bass are like that big girl in the bar at 2amNever went to bed with a big girl.
Woke up with a few.
It happens to all of us.
Facts
A331904B-F66A-4121-98E0-236003213CAF.jpeg
Walleye fishermen pooh-pooh bass. Bass fishermen pooh-pooh walleyes. Musky fishermen pooh-pooh both of them as ‘just bait’. Seems none of this has to do with the fish.
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