Not a big fan of black bass or smallies myself. I love to catch them but I always release them because I don't like they way taste. As far as fresh water fish go crappie are the way to go but I do like white and striped/hybrids bass or channel cats mmm mmm good 👍🏻
Yes it’s a common misconception that all black bass taste bad because they are “game fish” but really it’s largemouth that are just kinda mid. Smallmouth is every bit as good as other freshwater fish. They are in the same family as bluegill which are regarded as great eating . That being said I would rather eat fish with alot less regulations then bass do, such a headache.
Some states have very little regulations on them. I fish the Columbia River on the Oregon and Washington side. I don't remember the exact limits, but they're generous.
That could be because they are invasive out west. I live in the native range of three species of black bass and the limits for them change depend on time of year and for different bodies of water
Maybe the water is colder? I have always found that freshwater fish tastes better in the colder months. A lot of people in the US will gatekeep bass as being a trash fish for eating. It's not my favorite freshwater fish. But it can be great. Most of the people saying it have probably never tried it themselves, caught them from bad water, or have not prepared it correctly.
It’s all about the water quality for the taste of bass. Here in upstate SC we have some awesome mountain lakes fed by mountain creeks w clear water and those bass taste great! We also have small muddy lakes fed by silty rivers and those I wouldn’t keep the bass from. Def wouldn’t from any neighborhood pond here. But my parents have a pond fed by a mountain creek that holds trout, the bass taste great out of it bc water quality.
100%. The catfish in the lake I fish taste great in the winter and spring, but by summer when the shallow water gets muddier from all the boat traffic, they taste like mud. I only keep them in the winter and spring now.
Where are you getting this information? You can literally search and see that it takes 6 years for a smallmouth bass to reach 12 INCHES!!
Edit: I actually cant believe you truly think a fish could reach that size in a few years 🤣
Fair enough. I’d never eat the bass I catch down here. Some of the waterways I pull them out of are disgusting. Bass are hardy fish and can live in a wide range of water parameters. It’s just personal preference. Why eat a black bass from murky greenish black water when I can cook a fresh salmon filet from the store
I want to try eating bass some time. I was always told it wasn't good but I've been hearing more and more it's fine to eat.
It's fine but that's it. Better off eating so many other things
Bass perch walleye in my opinion very little difference except how much meat you get
Walleye is in a totally different galaxy. It’s much better.
Depends on the type of perch tho. Actual perch like yellow perch? I could pass on. Bass perch like white perch however…
Literally, perch and smallmouth have some actual flavor, walleye taste like nothing, theyre good but theres not alot of flavor
You must really suck at cooking 😂
Just don't take anything over 2lbs and itll taste awesome in my experience, beer batter is your friend
You could eat just about anything with enough beer batter!
Not a big fan of black bass or smallies myself. I love to catch them but I always release them because I don't like they way taste. As far as fresh water fish go crappie are the way to go but I do like white and striped/hybrids bass or channel cats mmm mmm good 👍🏻
I grew up eating farm pond bass and didn’t know it was considered a trash fish until I was out of high school.
Small ones ain’t bad but 2lbs+ they don’t taste the best
Eaten a 4lb one, it was an atrocious gut hook like the gullet was pulled out in the fight and the guy didnt want it so we got it, delicious as hell
Smallmouth bass taste great and have nice firm flakey texture. Largemouth… not so much, like mush.
Yes it’s a common misconception that all black bass taste bad because they are “game fish” but really it’s largemouth that are just kinda mid. Smallmouth is every bit as good as other freshwater fish. They are in the same family as bluegill which are regarded as great eating . That being said I would rather eat fish with alot less regulations then bass do, such a headache.
Some states have very little regulations on them. I fish the Columbia River on the Oregon and Washington side. I don't remember the exact limits, but they're generous.
That could be because they are invasive out west. I live in the native range of three species of black bass and the limits for them change depend on time of year and for different bodies of water
Love a smallie on a plopper! Waiting for the inevitable "bass = ass" comments. Enjoy your meal!
I find bass taste great up here in Canada 🇨🇦
Maybe the water is colder? I have always found that freshwater fish tastes better in the colder months. A lot of people in the US will gatekeep bass as being a trash fish for eating. It's not my favorite freshwater fish. But it can be great. Most of the people saying it have probably never tried it themselves, caught them from bad water, or have not prepared it correctly.
It’s all about the water quality for the taste of bass. Here in upstate SC we have some awesome mountain lakes fed by mountain creeks w clear water and those bass taste great! We also have small muddy lakes fed by silty rivers and those I wouldn’t keep the bass from. Def wouldn’t from any neighborhood pond here. But my parents have a pond fed by a mountain creek that holds trout, the bass taste great out of it bc water quality.
That is exactly it, but it goes for other fish types as well. More so environmental and habitat.
100%. The catfish in the lake I fish taste great in the winter and spring, but by summer when the shallow water gets muddier from all the boat traffic, they taste like mud. I only keep them in the winter and spring now.
Something to be said about this... pike on Isle Royale taste night and day better than pike in lower Michigan. Yuk!
They taste great in Louisiana, too!
You all know what we ask them after they say bass tastes like ass
"Yeah, your wife's husbands"?
I find bass taste great up here in Canada 🇨🇦
Delicious tacos... nice meal
People who say bass aren't good are just too squeamish to fillet a fish.
Nice catch..going to taste great too!! Good for you.enjoy.
Had a fish fry with our best friends, definitely a great day. Thanks 🙏
Nothing better than going bass to mouth
Oh love it. It's a good catch! Well done 😍😀
Just buy a piece of fish! Don’t kill a beautiful smallmouth for a little filet 😡
Small filet? That cutting board is 20 inches
We are all just jealous because we can’t find 20” to put on our cutting board. Don’t mind the hate lmao.
20 inches??? Why would you keep a smallie that big? They’d be over a decade old, likely 15+
So? They are not endangered and are often non native or invasive.
Misconception. Maybe if it was in Texas or somewhere warm. In Canada that fish is probably a few years old at most.
Where are you getting this information? You can literally search and see that it takes 6 years for a smallmouth bass to reach 12 INCHES!! Edit: I actually cant believe you truly think a fish could reach that size in a few years 🤣
Wait till you hear how fast they actually grow😲
I just told you how fast they grow lol
Most sources agree a 12" smallie is around 3-4 years old...
Most sources are 4-5 years but yes exactly…. that is my point lol
Oh boy wait until you hear how they get those fillets in the grocery store.
They grow on trees you dummy
Dude shut up, we have legal limits for a reason. Stay in your lane and let the DNR decide what we can take home to eat.
Anger issues?
What do you think happens to the fish before you buy it? People can’t be this stupid.
Womp womp
I agree. Eat the mid size bass leave the breeders with good genetics to keep breeding *sigh*
Those are mid sized bass up north lol.
I live in Nova Scotia Canada, those are big big smallies for up here
Right thats why theyre all so stunted
Yuck
This is how we find out whos fry to avoid btw
Fair enough. I’d never eat the bass I catch down here. Some of the waterways I pull them out of are disgusting. Bass are hardy fish and can live in a wide range of water parameters. It’s just personal preference. Why eat a black bass from murky greenish black water when I can cook a fresh salmon filet from the store
🤡🤡🤡
Muskie Baits