Large mouth bass

[hotbiggun]

Why arent LMB considered a good eating fish anymore? I know most of you guys will probably eat them but many just catch and release them.
Personally i always seen them as large panfish, flavor is similar.

Do you eat them?

 

[Gator 45/70]

You need to upgrade your friends.

 

[Bolt Head]

I eat LMB sometimes. Catch and release more than I eat but that's because I often am just fishing to fish, and sometimes I don't want to take from a small fishery. I do love eating them.

Their flavor is very similar to various Bream/Sunfish because a "Largemouth Bass" is not a Bass at all; they're in the Bream/Sunfish family and simply share the basic name of Bass but are grouped into the Black Bass family (to the best of my knowledge). I believe Smallmouth are classified in the same family.

True Bass are White Bass, Yellow Bass, Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.
Same with "Peacock Bass". They're also not a Bass at all. They're Cichlids.

 

[3fifty7]

We run in different circles.

 

[Big H]

I eat LMB sometimes. Catch and release more than I eat but that's because I often am just fishing to fish, and sometimes I don't want to take from a small fishery. I do love eating them.

Their flavor is very similar to various Bream/Sunfish because a "Largemouth Bass" is not a Bass at all; they're in the Bream/Sunfish family and simply share the basic name of Bass but are grouped into the Black Bass family (to the best of my knowledge). I believe Smallmouth are classified in the same family.

True Bass are White Bass, Yellow Bass, Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.
Same with "Peacock Bass". They're also not a Bass at all. They're Cichlids.

Very educational---Thanks

 

[Magdump]

I ate a few Kentucky bass last weekend from the Bogue Chitto. Bass are great until they hit about 4-5 pounds. If I catch a big female that or bigger I release.

 

[Gator 45/70]

Why arent LMB considered a good eating fish anymore? I know most of you guys will probably eat them but many just catch and release them.
Personally i always seen them as large panfish, flavor is similar.

Do you eat them?

Yeah those things taste like Bayou Mud
Better filet those for me and pm me an address for pick-up and disposal.

 

[hotbiggun]

Yeah those things taste like Bayou Mud
Better filet those for me and pm me an address for pick-up and disposal.

I will let you know!

 

[davidd]

When I was a teen, a good friend and I spent a LOT of very early mornings fishing in a lake on property owned by LSU. We were out there early because fishing was not publicly allowed. It was hit or miss, but we usually caught a few bass, and sometimes we caught a lot of bass. I have a 5 and a half pounder on the wall of my workshop that came from that lake.

All this to say, yeah, we cleaned and cooked those fish for lunch or dinner every time we came back with some. Bass are in my opinion every bit as good as sacalait and bream and chinquapin for eating.

 

[hotbiggun]

When I was a teen, a good friend and I spent a LOT of very early mornings fishing in a lake on property owned by LSU. We were out there early because fishing was not publicly allowed. It was hit or miss, but we usually caught a few bass, and sometimes we caught a lot of bass. I have a 5 and a half pounder on the wall of my workshop that came from that lake.

All this to say, yeah, we cleaned and cooked those fish for lunch or dinner every time we came back with some. Bass are in my opinion every bit as good as sacalait and bream and chinquapin for eating.

A 51/2lb bass has nice fillets not that ive ever caught one. You guys actually did a good thing by harvesting some of those bass.

 

[davidd]

A 51/2lb bass has nice fillets not that ive ever caught one. You guys actually did a good thing by harvesting some of those bass.

I'd like to think so. The LSU police obviously did not agree...

 

[Bolt Head]

I'll post this since it crossed my mind:

When fishing rivers for LMB we most often beat the banks, targeting structure (bottom contours), visible cover and overhanging trees/bushes.

To target the True Bass, fish away from the banks. While you're casting to just cover water and locate fish; if there is any current present pay particular attention to current breaks and eddies, and always hit any deeper holes. Cover water between those "higher-percentage" areas. Swim Jigs, Swimbaits, and hard Shad/Baitfish imitators will produce once you find the fish.

 

[davidd]

When fishing in that lake, this was my favorite lure. It was not the most productive, and it did not land the one I have mounted, but it was the most fun to fish. I loved to see them hit it on the surface while reeling it slowly.

 

[davidd]

The fish. And a big ole chinquapin I caught in Flat Lake.

 

[Magdump]

When fishing in that lake, this was my favorite lure. It was not the most productive, and it did not land the one I have mounted, but it was the most fun to fish. I loved to see them hit it on the surface while reeling it slowly.

View attachment 174834

We used to call that bait a broke back Rebel….til that stupid gay cowboy movie came out.

 

[Magdump]

I'll post this since it crossed my mind:

When fishing rivers for LMB we most often beat the banks, targeting structure (bottom contours), visible cover and overhanging trees/bushes.

To target the True Bass, fish away from the banks. While you're casting to just cover water and locate fish; if there is any current present pay particular attention to current breaks and eddies, and always hit any deeper holes. Cover water between those "higher-percentage" areas. Swim Jigs, Swimbaits, and hard Shad/Baitfish imitators will produce once you find the fish.

Yeah, any big root ball or break in the current is the best bet. Cast past it and work the bait behind it in the more still water. Don’t forget spinners and crawdad look alike crank baits. Also, I never pass up an eddy. I’ll stop the canoe and make several casts with different baits. Jr caught a 3.5 pounder Saturday jigging a white spinner up and down in a big eddy while I held us in position. That’s a pretty good spotted bass and a hella fight on light tackle. We busted nearly 100 fish in 11 miles that day and only 5 were 3lbs or better. But mostly…

 

[John_]

When fishing in that lake, this was my favorite lure. It was not the most productive, and it did not land the one I have mounted, but it was the most fun to fish. I loved to see them hit it on the surface while reeling it slowly.

View attachment 174834

I used to fish a very similar floating bait in the two main canals of the Bonne Carre Spillway for years. I've had 6 or 8" young largemouth bass hit that bait and get hooked, mostly in their body. I was always amazed how the smaller bass would hit it too. I caught largemouth, specks, and redfish in those waters. The crosscut canal (east/west) ties right into Lake Ponchartrain. The reds were small but pound for pound, they fight hard! Same for the trout, smaller fish. The main canals (run north/south) are deep, like 30 feet. Dug out for the levees I am sure. Some really good times in the spillway; riding 3 and 4 wheelers, fishing, boating, and knee boarding. Had a sand bank on the east canal in one spot. Beach like.

First day with my brand new fly rod, I caught a 4 lb 13 oz largemouth in Reserve Canal. Top water plug. Man I was smiling.