Question about bass and other freshwater fish: I have lived in coastal New Zealand for my entire life so the only fishing I am occustomed to is saltwater fishing. Recently I have been...

FS Digest

I have lived in coastal New Zealand for my entire life so the only fishing I am occustomed to is saltwater fishing. Recently I have been wondering how hard Bass, and other freshwater fish you guys catch like Carp, Pike, Sturgeon, Bluegill etc fight. Its hard to tell on videos if the fish pull much drag. What type of gear is commonly used? how heavy line?

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by prodigy2_

FS Digest

Bro, I’m an American version of what you guys call a “bogan”. All freshwater fish fight depending on what type of gear you use. And all fish are fun. I use a medium rod with a 2000 reel with a 10lb braid and a 15 lb leader. . My baits: rapala minnow, panther Martin spinners and........ a float with an eagle claw weedless hook 1 with a night crawler. As simple as this set up is, it straight up catches fish and is the most fun I have had even with all my tackle I keep in the garage.

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by beardeddripper

FS Digest

fw is fascinating to me... some fish here dont fight much at all but the pelagics eg. kahawai fight quite hard, same with snapper over 10 pounds. Kingfish (you guys know it as yellowtail i think) can fight so hard it leaves your whole body weak. I really want to try bass fishing or something but the only fw fishery here is trout which are pretty useless when it comes to the fight

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by prodigy2_

FS Digest

Trout dont fight hard? A big steelhead could change your mind.

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by urbanpounder

FS Digest

need to go south to find big ones, biggest i would get where i live (north) is 50cm if im lucky

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by prodigy2_

FS Digest

My large fish setup is set with a bait caster with 65lb braid and 100lb leader. Mostly use it for muskie/pike and catfish but I have used it for sturgeon too. They all still put up fights and can pull line out on me. My line isnt very likely to snap when pulling in a large fish or break when snagged on a rock or underwater branch though. I actually just pulled in a 43in muskie the other day on it. Muskie/pike can be a pretty agressive fight. Small fish like bass walleye and bluegill I use a 20lb line on a spinning reel. Like someone else commented all freshwater fish can put up a fight it really depends on what you are using for gear and what your drag/ tension is set at.

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by M1DN1T33FF3CT

FS Digest

Bass fight insanely hard for their size. I've had 1 pounders that I thought to actually be 6 pounders just from the beginning of the fight alone.

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by jg1114

ver Loc: La Grange, California

FS Digest wrote:

fw is fascinating to me... some fish here dont fight much at all but the pelagics eg. kahawai fight quite hard, same with snapper over 10 pounds. Kingfish (you guys know it as yellowtail i think) can fight so hard it leaves your whole body weak. I really want to try bass fishing or something but the only fw fishery here is trout which are pretty useless when it comes to the fight

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by prodigy2_

If U really WANT to fish Bass (and some Freshwater Fish)...visit the "Continental USA"....U will have the West - from Seattle WA, down to California ....North - Alaska,.....East - Maine,....and South - Florida,.... as your FISHERY !!!, and those are the Boundaries!...Take your pick Man!

kpt Loc: texas

The state of Texas has 11 of the top 25 best Bass lakes in the USA according to Bassmaster, who holds tournaments all over the USA and Canada. Just sayin. If you want to catch lunker bass come to Texas !