Is it just me? I cannot seem to get into freshwater fishing. All my buddies that are bass fisherman give me a hard time that I have to drive a hour and a half to go fishing when they just put their little bass boats in any puddle they can find. I go with them sometimes but the thrill just isnt there for me.

Personally its just you, I love both. You ever hook into a bucket mouth over 6 pounds with equally matched gear? How about hooking into a native rainbow on a ultra lightweight rod.

I have never gotten into it either and I fish rather often. All SW

I use to FW fish all the time. Even after cracking 10 lbs on a LMB i just think that a 40lb bass would swallow that thing whole. Thats why i love the salt. I fiddle around with FW still but its basically a few casts from the dock, haven't put my boat in the water in 5 years now.

if we had some sturgeon or muskys around that would make me freshwater fish more

If you match the rod and reel to what you are targeting it is just as much fun in my opinion. Having a sunfish hit a fly rod popper is still fun to me.

I fished FW tournaments for years, before it became a job and I went back to salt water; never looked back with regret. I would say however that if I lived in Maine, I'd be in fresh water chasing smallies more than I'd be in the salt probably. Nothing like a 5-6 lb smallie on light tackle to get your heart racing.

takes less cash, travel time, preparation, to get there for one.
because there's no tides you have to learn the depths of a particular
pond or lake... and where all the structure is.... to fish it... right.
sometimes it's more challenging trying to figure out what they want
because they don't migrate as much out to sea or along a coast
and you know they're there.

When your choice is FW fish or do chores for your mother in law.... you'll pick up FW fishing fast.

The cash and travel time is a small issue, but I love trying to time the tide and courant and the where will they be factor. Dont get me wrong I started fishing 30 years ago in the fw but once the salt bit me there was no turning back for me. I just like getting out and being able to adjust what im targeting whether its bass,fluke,blues,or blacks to the changing tide or weather. Having said all that I do enjoy me some ice fishing.

its a gift:love:u like this, he likes that... as kids i fished worc county rivers and ponds for trout n lmb, plus shad w/flies or eggs ,or lures. from boat or boots. .it was great. close to home and i had alot of fishing partners,but from june to oct it was the draw to saltwater beachs for striped bass for the money @ 17yrs old i sold my first bass:rotf2: .nov and dec i'm up fishing puliska for steelhead trout:fishin:.then to ice fishing the cape ponds for what ever comes through the hole....who cares if its salt or sweet its being out with fishing friends. its the gift of being outdoors:uhuh:..Sooo if u dont fresh water fish u might be missing out a hole lot of good times n good friends.......

Having said all that I do enjoy me some ice fishing.

we have an ice fishing event coming up soon

we have an ice fishing event coming up soon

Fantastic Ill keep my eyes open for the when and where.

Either your spoiled (like me) and would rather catch nice big fish than things that look like striper bait.

OR....again like me, your time is limited. I rather hop in the boat and be fishing within 30 minutes of leaving my driveway when I have the time, then spending hours getting to some pond and fishing with 8 lb line.
------------
You hardly ever see a picture of a guy holding up 10 trout.
But see plenty of a guy holding up one moby bass.
:biglaugh:

Still both are fun and a good excuse to get out of the house.
I used to do it all.... smelting, ice fishing, trout, LMB/SMB you name it.

Some more cons from the freshwater side; jet skis, bass tournaments, water skiers, crowded ramps making getting out a nightmare (Plymouth harbor on a weekend is similar), summer doldrums, lawn mowers, residents giving you #^&#^&#^&#^& for fishing around their docks, no sea breeze, no salt air, no really good eaters like fluke, sea bass tatog and yes stripers.

Deffinate +1 on the jet skis and water skiers always running you over. Ive invested heavily next year in a slip that is 8 mins from prime fishing grounds,short run to Block Island,and even shorter to Montauk. I should trim close to half my travel time off by not hauling the boat everytime.

I love both and that is a good thing since i live in Vermont. grew up fishing mostly trout in rivers and streams. It's still my first love. But i truly love striper fishing, just harder to get to.
It isn't only about the size of the fish....last year I played a 100 + lb. sailfish for over 2 hrs. on 20 lb test (lost at the side of the boat). That was a blast....but I'd equally welcome a big striper on a plug or a 21" brown trout on a nymph I tied myself and a 3 lb. tippet. I really love it all.

crowded ramps making getting out a nightmare (Plymouth harbor on a weekend is similar.

Sorry to highjack here, but there's a special place in hell for the nitwits that made that ramp but provided no simple access to the dock :fury: :fury: :fury:

Back on topic -

Freshwater fishing is a blast, and if you're near a cranberry bog, I assure you there are bass awaiting in it's feeder pond with little to no crowds. and if you get a live froggy, topwater hits are great, fresh or salt.

FW is methadone fishing. It will still get ya high.. but not quite like the real thing. :buds:

its what floats your boat....

FW is methadone fishing. It will still get ya high.. but not quite like the real thing. :buds:

:uhuh:

FW is methadone fishing. It will still get ya high.. but not quite like the real thing. :buds:

Pretty much what it is for me. I take my son down to a Drainage end of a local lake and he can pop off some sunfish. After the third or fourth he usually asks me when we are going on the boat to catch some real fish? And he is only 5 so pretty sure the salt is in him alredy.