Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

New episode where some njf anglers debate the best fw fighting fish, new episode link below:

https://youtu.be/UrhqmkyRYw4?si=bCViMUdLySiFnaaX

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

Not a question as asked anyone can answer. If you're talking about the biggest fight there is you'd have to include sturgeon. If you're talking about pound for pound you'd have to consider smallmouths and hybrids. If you're looking for a bulldog run you have to include carp, flatheads, blue catfish and musky. If you ever hooked a big Atlantic salmon, they're capable of spooling you in a heartbeat. All depends upon how you define best freshwater fighting fish.

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

Freshwater only. I still haven't hooked into a hybrid Bass yet, but I hear that's where the fight is at. That being said, I would say for power and strength would have to be a carp over 15 lb. Pound-pound would be river smallies but your buddy made a good point with the bluegills. And headshakes & aggression I would say a good sized pike. Big Hess put me on ur podcast a couple months ago, pretty cool. You guys might convince me to try for a skillfull angler in the future.

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

I actually change my answer. The best fresh water fighting fish is the one that happens to be on the end of your line at the time:)

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

If they grew to 5#’s or better the ole’ red eyes would really bend a rod !

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

Locally in NJ, hybrids. Pound for pound. Without question.

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

I dont care what anyone says but smallies are the fish that dont quit

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

any reason my first reply got deleted?.. No big deal just wondering. I certainly didn't write anything vulgar or objectionable. In any case, I'll try again - Carp fight as hard as anything else out there, and channel cats might even fight better. I have caught Pacific Salmon in the upstate creeks, and to me they did not fight any better than a similar sized carp or catfish.
LL Atlantics are fast and pull hard, but not sure they fight any better than a river SMB,, Both are leapers, and the Atlantic/LL is a more satisfying catch because they don't come near as easily as a SMB.. Pike and Muskies??? Yeah, they're ok, but no better a fighter than a Carp or Cat.. Still say ounce for ounce, a Bluegill is as tough as any FW fish in the NE, and tougher than most.. If they grew to 3 pounds, thats all I would fish for.. Years ago when I first came here in the early 90's, we would catch Bluegill and Pumpkinseeds of eye popping size all the time in Cayuga Lake,, We're talking 10 inchers maybe more, along with 12 inch Rock Bass and Perch every spring and summer.. just mammoth panfish... We used to get pissed when big SMB used to grab the tiny bits of worm, because we wanted the big fat sunnies to take home and eat! Then the Zebras showed up, and that was the end of that, and those masses of panfish disappeared in just a few short years.. If you've never caught a 1 lb sunnie and find it hard to relate, believe me they are very hard fighters...bob

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

we can't forget any of the migratory fish like American shad. I had one fight itself onto dry land further down the bank from me, then hop back into the water and continue to fight long after without missing a beat!
those fish mentioned that migrate to spawn like the Atlantic salmon etc are crazy strong fighters

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

There was a farm pond I used to frequent with my father up in Addison, NY where my grandparents lived many years ago. Everytime we visited, we'd fish there. The pumpkin seeds and bluegills were gigantic. Biggest I've ever seen! Undoubtedly, they pulled like no other. Hard to imagine a 3 to 4 lb'er.

They also stocked a unquie hybrid catfish species. It's name slips my mind, but they jumped like crazy when hooked. It may have been a cross between channels and blues, but these, too, were absolutely massive. We'd see them cruising around and sitting inside tractor tires on the bottom when he brought the canoe. They were impressive. My father always targeted them. They were ruthless fighters!

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

only argument against hybrids i can think of is they wont ever jump, so if that's important to someone it knocks them down a few notches and thats the only reason i think smallies top hybrids for some people. the poll on our page has smallies in the lead by a handful of votes i think for this reason and also that many guys have never hooked a hybrid striper.... hmmm

you seen some of those gargantuan sunfish from out mid west i think? like 4-5 pound blobs? id love to see how they compare haha

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

Addison's about an hour west of me... for whatever reason, NY state grows truly massive sunfish in some waters even small ones like farm ponds.. the Finger Lakes sunnies were big and full of fight.. When they were abundant, I was perfectly happy just shoreline fishing with a bobber and worm for those big sunnies.. The rock bass were huge as well, with 12 inchers hooking up regularly..

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

True i agree many haven't caught hybrids, but they do jump. I've had them cartwheel across the surface while dumping insane amounts of line after crushing a slow moving subsurface plug. Smallies are acrobatic, esp river strains. But sheer power and explosiveness, gotta tip my cap to hybrids. I don't burn the midnight/late night oil for smallies. I do time and time again for hybrids!

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

I would have to agree with BroadBill with the fish that is on your line.
I have never caught a hybrid so i can not judge that, but i like the smallies battle on light tackle with those jumps. No braided line, 4-6lb mono for me.
but I am happy catching whatever is hitting

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

carp, hybrid, snakehead, shad are the only choices lb for lb

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

I'd love to tell you a musky or a blue cat, but pound for pound nothing fights harder than hybrid striper.

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

For pure power I would go with carp. The only freshwater fish that ever spooled me was a carp at Colonial Lake by the bowling alley pre drawdown. For spirited energy/acrobatics I would go with river Smallies. Honorable mention for large Sunfish.

Re: Best fw fighting fish?? Join the debate
 

Really? I've literally never had one jump ever in 15 years haha. You sure they're not flying out of the water due to a beastly hook set? Hahsha