What is it about eating bass that drives people nuts?

I can. I disagree. Wholeheartedly. Continue.

This is how it works, this is exactly how it works!

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just think if the natives figure out they can sell a plate of smallies at the casino for $8……

big_g wrote:

yes, taking your ball and going to play somewhere else is an option… since I have a cabin across the Hwy form the lake, I am not going anywhere. The easy thing to do is what you did, some people do that and that’s OK. If everybody did that, you’d just keep moving from one lake to the next until they are all decimated… I choose to not do that, but rather be a thorn and not simply go away.

In the same boat as big G. Couldn’t agree more!

-J.

big_g wrote:

just think if the natives figure out they can sell a plate of smallies at the casino for $8……

Too mushy…..they could only get 6$

Grizper wrote:

big_g wrote:

just think if the natives figure out they can sell a plate of smallies at the casino for $8……

Too mushy…..they could only get 6$

All you can eat for $14.99.

-J.

Well said big g. I’ve always been uncomfortable with fishing as a nonconsumptive sport. It seems a little immoral,sort of like bull fighting or the old time pigeon shoots. When I was in hi-school I learned that conservation is the sustainable “use” of our resources. It seems to me that people applying the same principles of nonuse in other areas are what the conservatives around here
call liberal tree huggers and other less nice names.

People like me who prefer to catch and release fish for bass will fish for other species generally if we are going to catch and keep. There is nothing “immoral” about fishing for fish to be caught and released especially when using artificial lures. We are releasing it so somebody actually has a chance to enjoy catching it, hopefully to be released again and again. Catch and release fishing with artificial lures is among the most moral of all fishing that can be done because the act of releasing a fish is in fact a largely unselfish act. Certainly more unselfish than catching a fish, so one can eat it themselves.

Is it me or does anyone else think morality is a weird word to use when discussing keeping or not keeping fish?

As I understand it some people including yellowdog view catching fish as being in at least a small way a cruel act. The cruelty of it, is why some people view it as immoral if you are just fishing to release the fish and not to eat them. This is usually tied in with being anti- tournament fishing. It doesn’t make sense to me either.

mplspug wrote:

Is it me or does anyone else think morality is a weird word to use when discussing keeping or not keeping fish?

Morality or mortality?

Isn’t fishing supposed to be fun & relaxing?

belletaine wrote:

Isn’t fishing supposed to be fun & relaxing?

Isn’t lion hunting supposed to be the same? Lol

I think I need a break from these forums.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I think I need a break from these forums.

Oh YOU’LL be back…they all come back to see Debbie.

JD Winston wrote:

Morality or mortality?

Morticia

I think it is odd to label things moral and ethical when people aren’t doing anything wrong.

belletaine wrote:

Isn’t fishing supposed to be fun & relaxing?

Fun, Yes! Relaxing, not necessarily. To me, fishing and not catching is often more frustrating than relaxing. Having a poor showing in a tournament can be depressing, not relaxing. Catching big fish is exhilarating, not so much relaxing. The same goes for doing well in a tournament and catching fish on topwater lures.

Do they taste better when caught on top water?

During Ice fishing season I fish on a lake in Wisconsin with a ton of stunted large mouth bass around 12 to 14 inches and ill keep a few for pickling. They taste just like pickled northern. Dang now im excited for ice fishing!

I think bass fishermen as a community are very self-policing when it comes to protecting their resource on any body of water. It’s pretty simple. Catch and release promotes more and bigger fish. The walleye community can’t wrap their head around it. Certainly not just on Mille Lacs, but all lakes. Smallmouth anglers understand just how good Mille Lacs has been for 20 years. It’s hard to watch your favorite species of fish come under fire for social or political reasons.

I’ve been bass fishing Mille Lacs for 15 years. I don’t believe there are any more smallmouth in the lake now than there were 10 years ago. In fact, the fishing has only gotten tougher over time. The mismanagement of the walleye population has allowed smallmouth to occupy more deep offshore structure where walleyes traditionally called home.

If you want to eat a couple bass…have at it. I’m sure they taste like crayfish considering that is what makes up a large portion of their diet. However I do cringe at the sight of launch boats loading up on smallies, and talk of anglers taking home limits of fish out of spite because they feel entitled to large meals. Seems reckless. Native smallmouth bass didn’t destroy walleye fishing on Mille Lacs.

I hope the walleye situation turns around quickly. Resorts and anglers can chase their dinner plate fish again, and the catch and keep focus will shift away from the smallmouth.

Mike Anselmo wrote:

The walleye community can’t wrap their head around it.

I don’t know about that one. Most walleye guys only keep those generally referred to as eater size, generally the 16-22″ fish. They catch and release the other fish. While selective harvest isn’t full C&R, its close enough to foster an appreciation of it.

The main problem with SOME walleye guys is much like other species anglers, only their target quarry matter and the rest don’t command respect.

Mike Anselmo wrote:

I’ve been bass fishing Mille Lacs for 15 years. I don’t believe there are any more smallmouth in the lake now than there were 10 years ago. In fact, the fishing has only gotten tougher over time. The mismanagement of the walleye population has allowed smallmouth to occupy more deep offshore structure where walleyes traditionally called home.

I have to respectfully disagree with this. Next summer will be my 25th year fishing Mille Lacs every weekend in the summer. 10 years ago we never caught a smallmouth while walleye fishing and even targeting smallies we got very few. Now you can throw a boot in the water and catch a smallie. I fish a lot of shallow rocks all summer long, some next to shore some off shore. The amount of smallies I caught this year alone was staggering!

WHAT IS IT ABOUT EATING BASS THAT DRIVES PEOPLE NUTS?

I always figured that once you fillet the “B” out of bass, all you’re left with are 2 fillets of a$$.

Mike Anselmo wrote:

I’m sure they taste like crayfish considering that is what makes up a large portion of their diet.

That’s funny.

Had beef for dinner. Man did that taste like grass and silage!!
Bacon’s tomorrow. That’ll probably taste like corn biproducts. Yuck.

lol

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mike Anselmo wrote:</div>
I’m sure they taste like crayfish considering that is what makes up a large portion of their diet.

That’s funny.

Had beef for dinner. Man did that taste like grass and silage!!
Bacon’s tomorrow. That’ll probably taste like corn biproducts. Yuck.

lol

Every time I have lobster or crab I am remind of decomposing sh*t

DaveB wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mike Anselmo wrote:</div>
I’m sure they taste like crayfish considering that is what makes up a large portion of their diet.

That’s funny.

Had beef for dinner. Man did that taste like grass and silage!!
Bacon’s tomorrow. That’ll probably taste like corn biproducts. Yuck.

lol

Every time I have lobster or crab I am remind of decomposing sh*t

Not sure how anyone knows what decomposing sh*t taste like but If that’s what lobster and crab taste like I need to try some. Lots less expensive and easier to find fresh here in Minnesota.

I’ve keep a few larger bass, just didn’t seem to taste as good as walleye. perch or pike. But that’s me. I have had some smaller bass from small spring fed lakes that were excellent however.

I’ve fished with guys and if you were in their boat you could keep a (5 to 8) pound eye or (8 to 15) pound pike, but heaven help you should you try and keep any sized bass. The bloody critters were sacred, don’t get it but it was their boat so I went with the flow.

The trouble is the bass need to be culled in some lakes there are so many (10 to 15)”ers it’s nuts. They make it hard for a bass to jump up to the next size bracket since there’s a zillion stunted small fish.
I’ve seen this happen if the apex predators are removed such as large pike and musky’s. Many times a big toothy critter attacked a smaller bass while it was being reeled in.

Do bass make as good of flathead bait as walleye?

“Quoted from above”…I think bass fishermen as a community are very self-policing when it comes to protecting their resource on any body of water. It’s pretty simple. Catch and release promotes more and bigger fish. The walleye community can’t wrap their head around it. Certainly not just on Mille Lacs, but all lakes. Smallmouth anglers understand just how good Mille Lacs has been for 20 years. It’s hard to watch your favorite species of fish come under fire for social or political reasons.

This has to be the most arrogant response so far about eating bass…? He calls Bass a “resource” ? Do you know the meaning of the word “resource” ? Look it up… it is not something you catch 100 times over and over… that’s closer to the definition of insanity, look that up too while your at it. I go back to my statement of, watch your bass netted while spawning every spring and then come after me and my “walleye community can’t wrap their head around it” lessons. FWIW, every self proclaimed “Bass fisherman” that has been in my boat in the last 30 years, has the mentality of every walleye they can keep, hits the livewell…. so…. sweep your own steps first.

( I also think he must be talking about another Mille Lacs lake about all the bass that were being caught 10 and 15 years ago ??? Rock bass maybe…? )

My steps are swept and clean. I enjoy fishing for all species. I can say that I’ve caught plenty of slot walleyes in the last two years that all returned to the water.

I don’t think my statement or way of thinking is arrogant. If a group of anglers decides to practice catch and release with the idea that it will provide a future benefit, how can it be misunderstood as arrogant?

I have no problem with people keeping fish. I keep fish when I’m hungry for fish…any fish. I just really believe there is difference in the way anglers treat each species. Bass fishermen practice catch and release on most every body of water across the state and country. There are very few (if any) government funded programs that support large or smallmouth bass. A lake like Mille Lacs sets limits for allowable harvest on walleyes, and many lakes have special regulations and stocking to try and ensure future populations of walleyes. Walleyes are stocked in more lakes than you can count to make sure people have filets for supper. I don’t know of supplemental stocking efforts or widespread programs to ensure quality bass fishing.

As far as smallies in Mille Lacs go…they have been there in big numbers for a very long time. You just weren’t looking for them. I was and they fishing was great. I believe people are catching more fish in different places due to the fact that there aren’t other predator fish (walleyes) presently occupying that structure.