Monday, April 14, 2014

An Interesting Discussion..

Is going on over at Mel's new blog. It's worth a read , and also a pretty decent discussion to jump into because it is something that can only be measured by anecdotal evidence. Check it out HERE

I'm certainly no expert , but I've done a fair amount of fishing for both bass and trout. Part of what intrigues me so much about Mel's post is that both species have been widely stocked outside of their native range , to the point of naturalization in many waters. There are so many environmental factors that can contribute to a fish's perceived intelligence , and indeed even the fickle nature of fish taking an offered bait is something to ponder.

I associate trout with clear streams , and living on a diet of tiny bugs. That's not entirely fair , I know , just as it's not fair that I think of bass as living in mudholes and eating anything they can catch. However , I do think those are good generalizations for each species , regardless of exceptions , especially when you consider their "Native" ranges and the water those encompass.

I pegged the bass as being more aggressive. They just seem more predatory to me , plus they are prone to being territorial , especially when bedding. I've watched largemouth bass pick up my bait and move it out of their bed before the female had even laid any eggs. The males are very aggressive when fry are present , which is one reason I don't like to fish post spawn unless I'm after the females in deeper water.

As for the trout , I've always been impressed by their eyesight. The difference between 2 and 4 pound line can make or break a day of fishing. Then again , maybe their eyesight isn't as keen as I think , because I've seen days when stocked trout would eat anything , and I do mean anything , that was pink or orange. Wild trout are extremely hard to fool , which is why you'll see the flyfishermen (and women , HI RD!) talk about tiny tippets and size 18 gnats. Hell , i can barely see a size 18 hook , so a trout has to have at least 20/20...

So go check it out , Mel would love to hear your thoughts on it , as would I!

Have a great week my friends!

1 comment:

  1. Thanks, Josh, for the link back to my blog post. Sure appreciate your thoughts in your comment and in this post. Encourage all to stop by and say hello and add their two cents also. That is what BlogBuddies are for!


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