Why such hate for the smallmouth?

[panFried]

Jonboat Jerry » Today, 12:50[/url]"]opcorn:

Exactly Jerry! =D> Im not getting into this debate as I love both species... and there's nothing like catching either fish on fly rod or light weight spinning rod. Both ROCK in my opinion and I'm lucky to have many places/streams near me to fish for both.

Asian Crap, I mean Carp on the other hand suck, and our river ways are getting taken over.

[youtube]5PYq7-XNHwE[/youtube]

 

[DocWatson]

panFried » Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:17 am[/url]"]

Jonboat Jerry » Today, 12:50[/url]"] opcorn:

Exactly Jerry! =D> Im not getting into this debate as I love both species... and there's nothing like catching either fish on fly rod or light weight spinning rod. Both ROCK in my opinion and I'm lucky to have many places/streams near me to fish for both.

Asian Crap, I mean Carp on the other hand suck, and our river ways are getting taken over.

[youtube]5PYq7-XNHwE[/youtube]

My point EXACTLY panFried !!! Both species are fun and always worth catching. Hell, I'd take either one as a by-catch and be happy just to have the pull on my line and all the fight the fish has in it !!! 8)

 

[Captain Ahab]

bcbouy » Wed Sep 18, 2013 5:24 pm[/url]"]i'm a trout purist and Ahab can bite me. come up here and fish trout and you'll never go after the smallmouth garbage ever again.i guarantee it.

I love catching trout - Sea Trout AKA Weakfish!


I like catching all kinds of fish - heck i just like fishing, I trout fish on occasion


Sorry but as far the biting thing - no thanks!

 

[New River Rat]

I love my smallies, and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries say they do too, but the VDGIF precedes to dump unwanted (by a lot of anglers) muskie in the New River. I have caught 6 stunted (5 @30"-34", 1 @40") muskie in 2013 and have caught a LOT more over the years. Muskie are not my target species, but are displacing the smallmouth that have always been an alpha fish species. I fish below Claytor Dam (hydro) and they care less about the flow/release that is vital to the habitat of the river. Claytor now has hydrilla issues, and the powers that be decided to eradicate the vegetation with both mechanical and chemical applications. As the dying growth breaks free and begins to decay, it is swept through the turbines of the power plant and deposited into the New River downstream. Decomposing vegetation depletes oxygen from the river, and a smallmouth needs as much O2 as about any game fish. So here's a grocery list of "hate for the smallmouth", just one persons view.