Lures v Baits

[billy barbel]

Just wondered what everyone thinks about this question, the yanks reckon 90% of their fishing is done by lure, so why is it we are content to sit behind bite alarms waiting for the fish to come to us?

[Tim Kelly]

Because lure fishing's more fun if virtually everything that swims is predatory! Over here most people fish for things which are only considered predatory by maggots!

[Houseplant]

Because most of our fish are mud-sucking, scum eating bottom dwellers Not that I'm knocking it, I love the variation in fishing and species, but a few more sporty type fish wouldn't go amiss.

[Ken L]

a few more sporty type fish wouldn't go amiss

 

I tend to agree but the reality is that it'd just be another couple of species that the EA and BWB would spend their time electrofishing and turning into pig food - just like they do with zander.

[Neil G]

Good question

 

Same over in Holland and Sweden....those guys fish pretty much all year round on lures and with good results.

 

TBH I'd like to do the same but I just don't have the same confidence fishing with lures than with baits...always seem to go back to deads because it's easy

[zardoz]

I wonder if anyone has considered setting up a private fishery with Largemouth Bass or similar species in the UK. Maybe our climate is too cold? As I understand they are prime freshwater sport fish in the US, are great fighters on the right tackle, and are fished for with both lure and fly.

 

The EA would probably scupper it with concerns that they would escape into the local ecosystem but I don't see the problem as they would mainly eat sick/wounded fish as pike, perch, trout, salmon and zander do already. I don't see the issue when fish farms for barramundi etc are being set up, and everywhere in Scotland is full of salmon farms (a highly predatory fish...)

 

Oh well until then I'll stick to "Sega Bass fishing" on my PS2.

[Ken L]

I seem to remember a trout fishery trying to get permission to stock SMB's a few years ago. Needles to say permission was denied. I think the same was true of tiger muskie and those bad boy are sterile.

It does seem that if it's a predator without an adipose fin, it's barred but you can have any number of orf, carp, koi, sturlets, or whatever without a problem.

[BoldBear]

everywhere in Scotland is full of salmon farms (a highly predatory fish...)

Just a small point: The Salmon does not normally feed in fresh water and only snatches at shrimps/lures etc that are fluttered in front of its nose out of instinct. Salmon do not actively search/hunt for food fish in fresh water. (well thats what I read anyway).

 

The books are full of examples of disastrous effects on native fish/animals that have been introduced in the past by well meaning people who have introduced non-native species into the country.

If you want to fish for LargeMouth Bass then take a fishing holiday to America.

 

I don't see the problem as they would mainly eat sick/wounded fish as pike, perch, trout, salmon and zander do already.

So there would be automatically more sick/wounded fish for this extra population of fish would there? or are you expecting the new species to just push the existing species out of the picture (eg. as the Signal crayfish and Turkish crayfish did to our native crayfish which as been virtually wiped out??)

 

No keep it to our Native fish and don't be tempted to add Non-Native fish which could change the eco-system and put existing fish at danger. Its bad enough with the existing foreign fish species that have been illegally or legally introduced already.

Edited March 4, 2008 by BoldBear

[Anderoo]

Surely after the recent floods it's clear that stocking any non-native fish to a lake is irresponsible. Even overstocking normal carp causes problems, evidenced by all the sickly carp now in the Thames. It'll take a while for the impact the be felt, but it's certainly changed things.

[Stretpegger]

I wonder if anyone has considered setting up a private fishery with Largemouth Bass or similar species in the UK. Maybe our climate is too cold? As I understand they are prime freshwater sport fish in the US, are great fighters on the right tackle, and are fished for with both lure and fly.

 

The EA would probably scupper it with concerns that they would escape into the local ecosystem but I don't see the problem as they would mainly eat sick/wounded fish as pike, perch, trout, salmon and zander do already. I don't see the issue when fish farms for barramundi etc are being set up, and everywhere in Scotland is full of salmon farms (a highly predatory fish...)

 

Oh well until then I'll stick to "Sega Bass fishing" on my PS2.

 

 

I have caught black bass in Cyprus and can confirm that they are scrappy little devils when hooked,having said that i wouldnt like to see them in this country.If you want to broaden your horizons with predatory fish in this country have a dabble at sea fishing.Bass pollack mackeral garfish all take lures.