Why would anyone look down their nose at fishing for pan fish?

I belong to a fish & game club that holds about 12 tournaments a year and only one is a panfish tournament to (supposedly) prevent panfish overpopulation in our local lake. Many don't have a clue what is needed (light lures and tackle) and rarely catch even a full limit of crappie much less other panfish species.

I've caught many trophy bass and pickerel in the last 35 years but have come to enjoy catching more fish on any outing and panfish are the way to do that. Sure, a seven pound bass or five pound pickerel are trophies I'm proud of, but I feel bad about stressing those ol' timers and worry about delayed mortality, which is one of the reasons I don't tournament fish for bass or pickerel. Keeping fish in a crowded livewell and roughly handling them at weigh-in ups the odd 20% will die after release especially in warm water. (The yokels in my club don't run tournaments like the big boys such as B.A.S.S.)

NYS crappie limit is 25 - not really putting much of a dent in a prolific species population when a tournament is held in April. Sad that so many fish are killed and disposed of so someone can collect a small pay check. Note - I'm not against fishing tournaments, but do value wild life and for hundreds of fish to die for no good reason rubs me the wrong way. The glory days of being in the top five for the year was exciting in my younger days, but those days are long gone.

As far as I'm concerned, a fish is a fish regardless whether it's a 20 carp (caught one last year) or 15" crappie (which really make me happy) - the tug & pull are the instant mysteries I fish for along with trophy size; the rest is just confirmation that it is a fish on the end of the line and not a snapping turtle (caught one in the tail that weighed over eight pounds).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

As far as I'm concerned, a fish is a fish regardless whether it's a 20 carp (caught one last year) or 15" crappie (which really make me happy) - the tug & pull are the instant mysteries I fish for along with trophy size; the rest is just confirmation that it is a fish on the end of the line and not a snapping turtle (caught one in the tail that weighed over eight pounds).

---

Amen!

Couldnt agree more.

I agree

With ya there!! But then again I see the same thing in SOME fly fisherman with attitudes towards anyone fishing spinning gear in THEIR river. They always seem to forget that we all the same exise tax's and buy the same license, and to get shut out of any stretch of river to make it fly only is BS.

To each their own i say just wish everyone thought that way......some folks just feel the need to feel better than others regardless,sad little people.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fatman

With ya there!! But then again I see the same thing in SOME fly fisherman with attitudes towards anyone fishing spinning gear in THEIR river. They always seem to forget that we all the same exise tax's and buy the same license, and to get shut out of any stretch of river to make it fly only is BS.

---

Agreed.

Snobbery is unfortunate regardless of who's looking down on whom.

It's all just fishin'.

I agree

I agree as well. Yet that seems to be the way of the world today. Instead of self respect people have become self important.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Agreed.

Snobbery is unfortunate regardless of who's looking down on whom.

It's all just fishin'.

---

This kinda says it all. I could begin a rant of opinion and examples but that just gives them space they don't deserve. We're to help one another in what we enjoy,whether in a ranger or on the bank.

I am not ashamed of loving to fish for Crappie and Bluegill. It puts food on the table and relaxes my soul. God is good.

I hate snobs too!! I respect fishermen that respect other fishermen regardless of how or where they fish! I can't stand when someone thinks they are a better fisherman than others and either brags about it or puts the other fishermen down. Even the 4 year old kid fishing from the bank with his Dad is a fisherman! I give them ALL the same respect they give to me. I like helping others. That is what fishing is all about. If we all had to fish to live and eat to survive then I can tell you it would be a different story and it would be every man for himself as the survival mode for humans is high! I don't EVER want to see that! As for tournaments they can be fun. It is a competition so calm heads sometimes do not prevail. Just have to be courteous and hope the others are as well. If I run into someone that feels they are better than other fisherman and don't help out others I avoid them like the plague. They always get whats coming to them in the end.

I look down my nose at fishes. But, that 'cause I wears trifocals and I gotta see the hook.

Not to take away from the bass fisherman, but not everybody can catch panfish year round. I started like most with blue gill , worked up to catfish, then jumped on the bass band wagon lol Had a bad case of green carp syndrome for yrs. Got into walleye fishing about 4 yrs ago and spent a good deal of time trying to figure them out on our lakes. That brings me back to the crappie, it was always a thrill to get into some crappie. The walleye would frustrate me and I'd go back to fishing for bass. Well I decided I would stick with trying to figure out these walleye, I've caught 4 in the last 4 yrs , you might think that is pretty bad results not really because this whole time not catching eyes I was pounding crappies . Now I'll help anyone in need and like to share what I've learned, Crappie.com is full of great people willing to share and willing to learn We might razz one another but most on this site are the type of people we all want to be ,Proud, respectful , polite , and eager to help. I don't look down at other fisherman I look up to them you never know who you'll meet or what they will share with you. God Bless and good fishing

I don't understand this question. It should be obvious to anybody that a bass fisherman is superior to a crappie fisherman or a bream fishermen.

A bass fisherman spends tens of thousands of dollars for high power boats with big engines so he can run up and down the lake at high speed searching for his quarry. He is willing to mortgage his house and his first born to buy a high power fishing machine.

A crappie fisherman fishes from the bank, from a fishing barge, from a rowboat or low powered boat and spends much of his time anchored at bridges, brush piles or slowly spider rigging up and down the lake. A bream fisherman fishes from banks and fishing barges and doesn't move about very much when he locates a bream hole.

A bass fisherman spends hundreds of dollars for his fishing rod and then that amount again for his reel. And he must have several of each, since he needs to have different lures rigged up to catch his elusive prey. He can't take the time to change lures when he fishes so he must have several rod/reels with a different lure on each. Plus he must spend hundreds more for lures to ensure he has the latest lure he sees promoted on the bass show infomercials on his T.V.

A crappie fisherman spends less than $100 for his rod/reel combo and seldom uses more than two unless he is spider rigging. A bream fisherman uses a cane pole or a cheap $20 Walmart combo for his fishing gear.

A crappie fisherman uses minnows or cheap jigs for his bait. He does not rush out to buy the latest lure shown on a crappie fishing show (which are hard to find). A bream fisherman users worms or even pieces of hot dog for his bait.

A bass fisherman must spend hundreds of dollars to have two fish finders on his boat. His fish finders must be the latest and greatest if he is to show his face to other bass fishermen. In the past he could get by with an SI with GPS, now he must have a 360 to stay in the game.

A crappie fisherman doesn't need a fish finder but will often buy a low end fish finder if he wants one to aid his fishing. A bream fisherman doesn't know what a fish finder is or does.

Finally it takes a dedicated fisherman, who spends hours and hours of his time, day after day, to learn enough to catch a few bass a day. Anybody can catch crappie the first time they try and can catch dozens in a day. A four year child can catch bream.

I hope these facts clear up the confusion as to why Bass Fishermen are superior to crappie fishermen and bream fishermen. :Rofl

PS: I'm talking about the normal crappie fisherman, not those who switched from bass fishing to crappie fishing and brought many of their bass fishing attitudes with them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ezgoing

I don't understand this question. It should be obvious to anybody that a bass fisherman is superior to a crappie fisherman or a bream fishermen.

A bass fisherman spends tens of thousands of dollars for high power boats with big engines so he can run up and down the lake at high speed searching for his quarry. He is willing to mortgage his house and his first born to buy a high power fishing machine.

A crappie fisherman fishes from the bank, from a fishing barge, from a rowboat or low powered boat and spends much of his time anchored at bridges, brush piles or slowly spider rigging up and down the lake. A bream fisherman fishes from banks and fishing barges and doesn't move about very much when he locates a bream hole.

A bass fisherman spends hundreds of dollars for his fishing rod and then that amount again for his reel. And he must have several of each, since he needs to have different lures rigged up to catch his elusive prey. He can't take the time to change lures when he fishes so he must have several rod/reels with a different lure on each. Plus he must spend hundreds more for lures to ensure he has the latest lure he sees promoted on the bass show infomercials on his T.V.

A crappie fisherman spends less than $100 for his rod/reel combo and seldom uses more than two unless he is spider rigging. A bream fisherman uses a cane pole or a cheap $20 Walmart combo for his fishing gear.

A crappie fisherman uses minnows or cheap jigs for his bait. He does not rush out to buy the latest lure shown on a crappie fishing show (which are hard to find). A bream fisherman users worms or even pieces of hot dog for his bait.

A bass fisherman must spend hundreds of dollars to have two fish finders on his boat. His fish finders must be the latest and greatest if he is to show his face to other bass fishermen. In the past he could get by with an SI with GPS, now he must have a 360 to stay in the game.

A crappie fisherman doesn't need a fish finder but will often buy a low end fish finder if he wants one to aid his fishing. A bream fisherman doesn't know what a fish finder is or does.

Finally it takes a dedicated fisherman, who spends hours and hours of his time, day after day, to learn enough to catch a few bass a day. Anybody can catch crappie the first time they try and can catch dozens in a day. A four year child can catch bream.

I hope these facts clear up the confusion as to why Bass Fishermen are superior to crappie fishermen and bream fishermen. :Rofl

PS: I'm talking about the normal crappie fisherman, not those who switched from bass fishing to crappie fishing and brought many of their bass fishing attitudes with them.

---

Who cares what other people think. I was raised on crappie fishing, and got a four lber on the wall. I'm just as proud of that as my 9lb bass. I love bass fishing always will. I also like to crappie fish all winter. And when I take my kids we crappie fish. It's a real accomplishment to find em. I'm always intrigued by other fisherman and species. Not real interested in salt water though, and there are too many salt water shows on tv

I love fishing for panfish. I put up the catfish and bass pole just for the smaller fish. They may not be big but it sure feels good to get catch after catch while everyone else get's nothing

I'm just a fisherman. Crappie is my favorite but I will fish for anything even saltwater if you've never caught a red fish your missing out.I think fishing is fishing I'm not going to look down on anyone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by toomanycasts

Who cares what other people think. I was raised on crappie fishing, and got a four lber on the wall. I'm just as proud of that as my 9lb bass. I love bass fishing always will. I also like to crappie fish all winter. And when I take my kids we crappie fish. It's a real accomplishment to find em. I'm always intrigued by other fisherman and species. Not real interested in salt water though, and there are too many salt water shows on tv

---

Sorry you didn't see any humor in my post.

I have fished for fresh water and salt water fish and loved it all.

But I no longer have the strength to fish for the larger fish so I now only fish for crappie and blue gill. I find a bull blue gill on a ultra lite rod and reel will fight just as hard as the bull reds, Jack's and sharks I have caught in the past.

I sold my center console with twin 250's and bought a Bass Buggy 18 DLX which I use for crappie fishing. I keep a ultra lite rod on hand to fish for bluegill when the crappie aren't co-operating and have as much fun catching them as I do crappie.

I agree 100% I love gills to. Just making the point don't knock it till you try it. I think it takes the same skill to fish for gills as it does to fish for black marlin.so do what you enjoy who cares what people think.

I'm an equal opportunity fisherman,it bites my hook,I catch it,not complicated at all.A wise fisherman once said," A fish in the hand,is a fish in the pan".... C. Chew on that a while.:fish

" To have fished is not to have caught.But to caught is to have fished". Have fished from North to south east to west.Have been on the biggest stage in fishing,TV shows ect.Have fly fished to deep sea fishing.But to see my Grandkids catching or any kid catching and the smile on their face is the greatest thrill pleasure!!!! You cannot put a price or trophy!!!

Great thread! :>}