Surprise!

[george]

So for you folk's that doubt how tough some of our local freshwater species are, check out what's inside this pike

 

[cany]

Cool I wonder if they let the live one go

 

[Roccus7]

Never doubted "tough", especially with Sunnies. I just take exception with the fighting ability of many of the species, especially...

Crappies, the name says it all about their fighting ability: "Hmmm, I've either got some weed or a crappie on the line."

LMB: "OK, there's the third jump, look he's floating, might as well reel in this dead weight now."

 

[Chevy1]

????

 

[george]

Never doubted "tough", especially with Sunnies. I just take exception with the fighting ability of many of the species, especially...

Crappies, the name says it all about their fighting ability: "Hmmm, I've either got some weed or a crappie on the line."

LMB: "OK, there's the third jump, look he's floating, might as well reel in this dead weight now."

Well I take exception of your exception, sir. Matched with the right tackle sir I can name just a few - Smallmouth, Pickerel, Pike, Trout - I jig them is 100-feet of water in Kensico and they fight like a mini tuna, how about a huge carp grabbing your crankbait. There are some tough fighting fish in freshwater. So many people just don't know it's there.

 

[Roccus7]

Well I take exception of your exception, sir. Matched with the right tackle sir I can name just a few - Smallmouth, Pickerel, Pike, Trout - I jig them is 100-feet of water in Kensico and they fight like a mini tuna, how about a huge carp grabbing your crankbait. There are some tough fighting fish in freshwater. So many people just don't know it's there.

Some of those on my list of "reasonable", some "respectable" and there are "fantastic" ones too. Don't forget white sturgeon are fresh water and I'd love to hunt them down in the Pacific Northwest on those boats fitted with fighting chairs and BFT gear.

I daresay on what you would call "correct" tackle I'd match a mackerel with many on your list lb for lb. In the old days of the dependable early April LI Sound mackerel run, I used to use a light freshwater spinning set up w/6 lb test and catch macks on a small spoon. After 50 or so, I was filling the bait freezer, my wrists and arms would be shot. No way a 1 lb trout matches a 1 lb mackerel on that rig, I'm sorry...

 

[george]

No way a 1 lb trout matches a 1 lb mackerel on that rig, I'm sorry...

I going to say you're dead wrong about that. I have done both because I always enjoyed fishing light. I feel like it's more of a challenge and enjoyable. But setting a jig on a cold water lake trout, I don't care of its a pound, is like setting up on a little tuna. Those weak macks just do a lot of flapping. That's why we eat trout and use mackerel for bait

Anyone agree or disagree? Well, I know the @Roccus7 is coming back strong here.

Ironically, my good friend Steve is trying to get me up there. He says they're catching them well right now.

 

[flounderjoe]

Well rite now there is no mackeral ,tuna,bluefish,jacks,tarpon within 500 miles of my house but i can drive a few minutes in any direction and catch weak fighting pan fish ,trout,pickeral ,bass and crappie all day long and have a ball while watching old man winter wither away

 

[george]

Well rite now there is no mackeral ,tuna,bluefish,jacks,tarpon within 500 miles of my house but i can drive a few minutes in any direction and catch weak fighting pan fish ,trout,pickeral ,bass and crappie all day long and have a ball while watching old man winter wither away

I'm with ya flounder!

 

[Matts]

First of all, having fished for many freshwater species, I suspect it is the cold water temps that is damping the fight as it's a lot of fun to catch FW fish on the right tackle. Also, I suspect hatchery fish don't fight as well as natives.
Second, I'm with R7. In the 70's, my dad and I used to take these little tin jigs we had bought to jig macs from the Eastport ME Town Pier, loosen the drag on our spinning rods and those springtime big, fat, LI Sound macks would run like little bonito. Some of my most fun fishing trips ever.

 

[buddha162]

Well I take exception of your exception, sir. Matched with the right tackle sir I can name just a few - Smallmouth, Pickerel, Pike, Trout - I jig them is 100-feet of water in Kensico and they fight like a mini tuna, how about a huge carp grabbing your crankbait. There are some tough fighting fish in freshwater. So many people just don't know it's there.

The word I'd use for smallie fights is dynamic. Every fish has its own personality...and it seems to differ lake to lake as well. Some will go airborne immediately, others bulldog...some of the biggest fish will torpedo from 30ft down and grab 4ft of air, then immediately sound again in a different trajectory, repeatedly.

Usually to get bit in the clear waters I fish I'm using 5 or 6lb leader and very small lures with small hooks. Nothing in saltwater (granted I am limited to inshore species) keep me on my toes as much as a big smallie on light tackle does. One bad rod angle on a jump, wrong drag adjustment after hook set...and your landing % go down the drain.

 

[george]

@buddha162 You sure do know you're smallie fishing! I can't wait for spring.

 

[buddha162]

@buddha162 You sure do know you're smallie fishing! I can't wait for spring.

Definitely not! But having rediscovered my freshwater roots last year...the technical aspects of it vs. my usual saltwater quarries for the past couple decades really stood out to me.