Just for fun

[postcard]

For me, it would be a 5 lb carp because I could eat it afterwards. I would nail the fish to a plank, roast it over an open fire, throw away the fish and eat the plank, fondly remembering the sluggish fight of this one ugly son-of-a-fish !

But seriously, I would take the fight of a 5 lb. striper, in current, over any species. This fish has the power and speed of a northern pike and the tenacity of a smallmouth.

Frank
(speaking of carp:
When the bass bite is off, at least monsters like these can tow the boat around the lake for awhile!



Wonder if he ate it or had it mounted.)

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Frank, a 5# striper would put up a great battle, especially in current. I love the way they strike a bait, wide open and hard, like getting hit by a semi.
All jokes aside, a carp is quite a fighter, no jumps or anything thrilling, but once you've landed one you know you've been in a fight. Millions of kids have enjoyed catching carp simply because they are big. My Grandson caught a 4#er yesterday and his eyes really lit up. That is to me what fishing is all about. Johnnie

[LGBASS20LB]

I would like to catch a 5# bluegill, even the little 1/2 pounders fight good, i could only imagine a 5#er. Do you think there is a 5# bluegill out there??

[brendanc]

Cole,

It's possible, the world record Bluegill was 4 pounds, 12 ounces and was caught in Ketona Lake, Alabama, in 1950.

That would make for a nice fight, eh?

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Cole, there certainly is a chance at a 5# bluegill. Most likely it will come from a farm pond or even a pay lake, where anglers keep a lot of smaller fish, giving one or two genetically superior 'gills the chance to feed heavy and grow large. Your area could produce a record of any species except probably smallmouth. Good luck have fun. Johnnie

[Eric]

I catch a couple smallies over 5 pounds every year here on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania and I will say, thay would pull the skin off a 5lb largemouth if you tied them tail to tail.
But the idea of a 5lb bluegill! Wow, now that would be a fight. As hard as them little buggers pull, a 5lber would have to be a great time!

[Eriebronze]

I will admit, for those who don't have smallies, or have smaller stream smallies, a 5# bronze would be a handful. Up here they aren't that scarce. NOW, the 5# gill or 5# rock bass, thats one for a test of light tackle. Would be a riot.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Herb, my largest smallmouth is four pounds, and I'll tell you, I'll never forget catching it. They are a unique fish in every way. I guess I like their unpredictability the most. They are supposed to jump so what do they do? Dive straight down. Then again, just as you're ready to lip or net them, they jump. Great, fun, fish. Wish we had more. Johnnie