I often get asked why do I run guide trips for bass. I’m mean come on….bass, really? Typically my response is, “You mean the Green Trout” They look at me with a bit of confusion, like when a steelhead is lost at the boat.
Let me start by saying that I enjoy fishing for all species of fish. Each species has its own set of unique challenges and enjoyments. It’s really hard to compare one species of fish to another. The best analogy I can used to express that statement is, as a father I am, I love all my children equally, not one over the other.
Many of our clients want to fish for the migratory species such as salmon and steelhead. These are excellent fish to target, they can put one hell of a bend in your rod, you can hear and feel the drag scream and they can challenge and frustrate even the most seasoned angler. They are the Floyd Mayweather’s of the Great Lakes and her tributaries. Lighting fast, they pack a punch, and they can be difficult to control.
With that said, here is why I run guide trips for bass:
While the salmon and the steelhead may be the Floyd Mayweather’s of the Great Lakes, bass are the Mike Tyson’s. They are the heavyweight gangsters of the bayous, inland lakes and rivers. Trust me when I say there is nothing like reeling in a 5 pound bucketmouth out of the Grand River or one of its bayous. To watch them go airborne and pull like a semi truck has its angling rewards.
Unlike their cold water cousins, their range is pretty much most lakes and rivers of North America and they can tolerate water temperatures up into the 80’s before they move into deeper sections. This make them ideal to target without having to worry too much about their stress levels when water temps are in the 70’s like a trout.
Whether on a fly rod or with light spin gear and tackle, they are just as challenging as trout and can test even the most seasoned angler through all the stages of bass season, the pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn.
Like trout, they have some cool ink. Depending on their environment their colors can range from light green to dark green and even some black with yellow and orange mixed in their fins.
Lastly, there is that gangster look. Their signature underbite where the lower jaw extends beyond their upper jaw, that says don’t mess with me.
I’m sure there are many more opinions why people pursue bass. In the end, however, it comes down to them being the most targeted species in the nation. There are professional bass tournaments through FLW and Bassmaster, not to mention local tournaments all with cash money to win.
Bass are the working man’s brown trout. They are both simple and complex. Easy and difficult to target. They are the green trout and are so popular in our culture that real trout should be green with envy.