panfish versus bass

**ChrisCarter** · 02-12-2012, 09:51 PM

To really give my opinion on this, you gotta know more about me.

Our family used to fish a local lake every summer, sometimes 3 - 6 times a season. Always caught bluegill, some kind of white fish that i think were white perch and catfish, and thats pretty much it. The lake was full of all kids of fish, bass, buffalo, carp, the big' uns and that stuff but we never seem to catch them.

May be it has something to do with the way my grandmother fryed them, deep fried and crusty with very little meat and tons of little bones that would stab the roof of my mouth. So i grew up wanting to catch the big guy in the lake.

Now, a few years ago, i would tell you i prefer bass and large fish over bluegill and crappie, but today, i think after coming here to crappie.com and meeting EB and fishing with him, its grown on me to enjoy fishing in general.

I'm more into the fight of the big fish, but if i wanna go for quantity and being able to hook something, I'll take panfish any day. I have yet to catch my BIG fish to take home and cook em for dinner, but im sure that day will come.

Also looking forward to enjoying one of EB's fish frys this year, just to see how good panfish will taste to me after years of my grandmother's cooking.

**heavyfoot** · 02-16-2012, 06:51 PM

Excellent topic, everyone is really opening up on this one. I've read most of the posts it's raining here thats why and couldn't get out fishing.

For me I'm migrating to panfish as I get older. I agree with you don't have to get to the lake at sunrise, I like using UL or fly rod, yes the tap you feel or the action of the bobber. Also the fight from a gill as it turn 90 degrees to the pull as your reeling them in. Like making poppers for fly fishing and tear drop lures for ice fishing and following the technology changes with panfishing lures.. Also like the taste of bream and
crappies. It probably also goes back to a gill is the first fish I caught with my dad as 6 year old.

But also theres alot of excitement bass fishing that bewitching hour when the water is like glass. You cast that top water lure out and bring it back and you notice a V waking coming behind and Bam that bass crashes that lure.

**Kentucky Lake** · 02-16-2012, 07:59 PM

I live by Kentucky Lake.

I love to catch all fish species, Bass, Crappie, Redear etc.

**Wildcatter** · 02-16-2012, 09:30 PM

When I was younger ,I enjoyed bass fishing. I never could understand the tournament fishing. It looks like that takes all of the fun out of fishing. Now that I'm older 50+ I enjoy the peaceful time on the lake fishing with bobbers and spending time with God. He created all of this for us, and I want to enjoy it while I'm here. Theres no rushing when I'm crappie fishin. Just complete satisfaction of doing what I like.

**huls1** · 02-17-2012, 08:52 PM

i enjoy fishing period. my first choice is crappie, i love it i also enjoy catfishing, stripe fishing and some bass fishing. i don't bass fish as much anymore because of all the tornments and the attitude of a lot of the bass fisherman

**T-roy 120** · 02-18-2012, 12:05 PM

I fished for gills as a kid almost every day. I got older and started bass fishing. I did the tournament thing and done good at it, but I got sick of the price of bass tackle going from 5 bucks for a crankbait to the new spro and others at 15 to 20 dollars! Stupid greed! Almost all of it is made in china too. The tournaments have gotten plain ol stupid here in east TN. On the weekends you cant even hardly find a place to park because of 10 different tournaments. And there is tons of unsportsman like guys on the water.
After buying a 5' UL a few years ago I took my canoe and went to a creek and threw a tinny beetle spin in the late spring. WOW, I caught tons of huge gills. I remembered the fishing I had done as a kid and how much fun it was. No stressing about a big limit, or if Im gonna make my entry fee back (which I almost always did) or dealing with some jerk cutting me off and going up the strech of bank in front of me forcing me to fish used water. Just peace and fun the way God intended it for me.
Now I do it all gills, crappie, bass, and even go trout fishing on occation. I love catching spotted bass on hand tied jigs in the fall, (good eating) Sometimes I wade the creeks for redeyes too. I have even taught myself to flyfish. Im more of an oppertunist nowadays. Whats bitting the best is what Im after. But gills on spinning and fly tackle and wading redeys in a creek with UL tackle is my favorite. Exept maybe when the crappies are big and hungry. Maybe your friends have never fished southern resivours, a limit of crappie is ALOT harder to catch than a limit of bass. I bet they wouldnt turn there nose up at them after a day on the water in the summer months in Tennessee, they would take there hat off. My 2 cents on the matter.

**crappiemandan** · 02-18-2012, 03:47 PM

i target mostly crappie and bluegill. every once in while, i'll change thing up and go for catfish. but mostly crappie and bluegill.

**skunked again** · 02-18-2012, 06:19 PM

Was out fishing, some guys asked what i was fishing for, told them crappie. They replied with, "that doesn't count." I wished them good luck as they went on their way. All the more for me!

**deathb4disco** · 02-18-2012, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by skunked again

Was out fishing, some guys asked what i was fishing for, told them crappie. They replied with, "that doesn't count."

I (kind of) feel sorry for people like that. They don't know what they're missing.

**QUAKEnSHAKE** · 02-19-2012, 05:46 PM

I go after gills and bass. Times I go for gills like little 3" ones and then hook it on another set-up toss out and catch a bass.

I read a lot of coments about not liking bass fishing cause of the way tournament anglers fish, I dont get this reasoning. A person is not forced to fish the same way as they do. I have a relaxing time throwing a nightcrawler on a weightless hook out of my inflatable boat waiting for a bass. Too another lake Ill walk from spot to spot toss a rubber worm out slowing twitch/drag it back while sitting on a rock. There is no reason to make bass fishing as expensive cut throat as the tournament guy makes it appear to be.

Also with a number of replies I feel the attitude is just as bad with the negativity thrown (by panfishers) towards bass folks the same attitude panfishers say bassfisher throw towards them. Why bother one way or the other just fish and be happy you're not working.

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