Do you have any species that ....

[Newt]

Do you have any species that make you thing, "if these things got really big, they'd be the hardest fighting fish that ever lived"?

 

It is often said of the US bluegill. Half pound is nice, pound is large, 2 pounds is seriously huge. But they will attack large baits and once hooked, will fight all out of proportion to their size. Mostly a stillwater fish so not even current to account for their habits. This is a fish that I suppose all US freshwater anglers have caught at one time or another. Often the first one too. Bite almost anything and have no caution at all. Good thing they are also a prolific breeder and not picky about conditions.

 

[Jeremiah T. Bagwell]

Newt,

 

I would have to say the Rock Bass. Not the one that resembles the bluegill but, the one that looks like a pint sized Smallmouth Bass.

 

These little guys are down right tough.

 

JT Bagwell

[twitchandjerk]

A 3 or 4 pound gudgeon would be nice

[Chris Plumb]

Tis oft said the the humble gudgeon are very game for their size (5oz! would be the British record). Having caught very small barbel in the same session as similar sized gudgeon I'm not so sure - the baby barbs certainly fought harder.

 

A 2lb dace from a fast river would put up SOME scrap and I suspect would put a chub of similar size to shame.

If grayling grew to 10lb they'd be awesome - I just can't imagine how I'd get one in!

 

 

Chris

[Peter Waller]

Flounders without question! Scrappy little beasties! Hook a pound flounder on light freshwater gear and nothing else round the pound seems to fight so hard, ballistic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Burke]

One of our top writers, Fred J. Taylor, reckoned that bluegill were fantastic little fighters. Tasty too!

 

I agree about gudgeon, although I can't compare them with small barbel as I've never caught a juvenile one.

 

Pound for pound though there's no comparison for me. Top dog has to be mullet. Not only do they fight hard, but they never seem to give up! Just when you think it's beaten it gets a second wind and charges off. The fight's usually only half way over then!

[chesters1]

quote:

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A 3 or 4 pound gudgeon would be nice

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you need a carpomatic

[Apache]

10lb wild brown trout on light tackle! Bloody hell!

[craig mason]

i once caught a 15lb mirror carp when i was fishing for roach on 2lb line what a fight i lasted a good hour before i got it in the net.

[Leon Roskilly]

The fight from thick-lipped mullet on coarse tackle has to be experienced to be believed.

 

Tight Lines - leon

Medway Mullet Group

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/medway