kelvarnson Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 In celebration of the muskie opener, and the spectacular pictures of them posted today, let's start a debate. The argument over the world's greatest saltwater fish is a familiar one...black marlin, tarpon, sailfish, great white. It goes on. Not as frequently heard - who's the King of Fresh Water? A lot of contenders, for different reasons. Walleye - popularity and table qualities Chinook (King) Salmon - power, agility, speed Brook Trout - elegance, habitat, intelligence I'm sure others have nominations. But I'll forward the big 2 in my opinion - Muskellunge and Lake Trout. Each have strenghts, the Muskie is a legend...the fish of 10,000 casts. Who hasn't heard stories of water skiers getting bitten, bady ducks getting eaten. I remember the first muskie I ever encountered; it swam by the dock I was swimming from. It wasn't big...I've since caught bigger....but it was the way it moved. Just an incredible animal. It's also great quarry; savy and unpredictable. Explosive strikes...dramatic follows....the 'figure 8'. What a fish!! But the Lake Trout is in this discussion. When you come to these fish, your notions of what the sport is all about kind of change. Especially if you've been able to catch them in the Northern part of Canada. Not necessarily all the way to the NWT, even the provinces have them a bit farther up. But the agressiveness, the diversity (colours, body types, etc) and the sheer POWER they have astonishes. I was piking a few weeks ago at Belmont Lake and got snagged on a rock pile. I was pulling the boat over to the snag (wind was calm), and it felt EXACTLY like fighting a 25-lb laker, I swear. So, let's hear everyone's thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clampet Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 The Maskinonge (Muskelunge). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Sheepshead.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Thorpe Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 (edited) Neither,there just fish Never caught one with a Crown yet Edited May 31, 2007 by marc thorpe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerritt Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 the Mighty RockBass would have to be my hands down winner! Gerritt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 (edited) LOL Marc...go check the floro leader thread..everyone wants to know how and your opinion on the spring loop protector. Edited May 31, 2007 by irishfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbouck Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 The Mighty Sunfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribak Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Sturgeon...i think if it was between a 50 inch musky, a 30 pound laker and a 80 pound sturgeon, it would be a simple decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BITEME Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 CHINOOK HANDS DOWN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daplumma Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 The mighty Blue cat..hands down! Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greencoachdog Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 I'm thinkin' the Mighty Crappie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rizzo Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 mudskipper. How many fish can run away from you after you catch them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carp Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 I love salmon fishing, so the chinook is my choice, but I also love catching the odd laker. Haven't spent nearly enough time fishing skis to be able to compare, but they would have to be near the top of many anglers' list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskieman Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Ford vs. Chevy Lakers grow bigger than Muskies..lakers are usually caught deeper therefore a better fight cause lasts longer.. nowadays people are using more downriggers and lighter tackle to tackle these fish long -gone are the days of an old steel line and a big winch at one end attached to an old blue fishin pole...don't get me wrong steel-lining still works great i still use it on some lakes. I once caught a 35lbs in Schefferville PQ .in 25 feet of water 10 trilene Xt .7' med Berkley Lightnin'Rod very good fight. it pulled hard at first but soon fizzeled out MUSKY: BY FAR WAY MORE EXCITING!!!! CATCH A 35LB RIGHT BY THE BOAT IN 8 FEET OF WATER AND 4 FEET OF WEEDS...SUCCESFULLY LANDED AND RELEASED[photo's taken]' #1 CHECK YOUR PULSE #2 CHECK YOUR SHORTS I PICK THE MUSKY. and oh .. when's the last time a Laker has swam up and stolen a Walleye off your line?? i like Laker fishin i do it alot they're in my top 5 Good Luck on the water . Muskieman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookinforwalleye Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Judging by the number of pictures I see on OFC of the ugly buggers I would say the carp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck2fan Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 I don't know if there is an answer to this one. I fish from shore so I will stick to what I go after. I love fishing for rainbow\steelhead or salmon and from shore in the great lakes with current on light line they are certainly near the top of my list. I also enjoy fishing for smallies for their smaller size they pack the most entertainment IMHO. Amazing tailwalking displays and the speed of their attack in clear water when you can see then nail the bait it is incredible. The difference in tackle, tactics make comparing which is the king of my two favorite species more like comparing donuts to tires than apples to oranges. For eating Perch are the KING though!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishdawg Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 (edited) open water chinook salmon for sure! do muskie instantly peel off hundreds of feet of line in less then a minute? we put a couple dandies in the boat this morning pushing 20 lbs muskie a close second though - i'll be taking the downriggers off the boat for the weekend - making a short trip up to our place on the K-lakes for a coupla days Edited May 31, 2007 by fishdawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danc Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Nice one.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tybo Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 5 pound smallie on the ultra-lite. ENOUGH SAID!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Thorpe Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Fishdawg,I want you top take a calcutta 700 reel,lock it right down and catch a salmon on a 10 inch bait and tell me what kinda fight you had,I am almost certain,on impact you"ll snap the fishes vertabrae,the fight will last no more than 7 minutes To even suggest a species is better than another is relevant to the methods and tactics one uses. to really try and find which species is stronger,one would have to apply the same method for all species To be honest Salmon fight like Romo's,they run and come back,run and come back on 15 to 20 mono line with soft rods,so comparing a 410 gauge to a 303,its really not the way to compare Firearms and fish Like I said,I yet to catch a fish with acrown on it,although I have met people who thought they should wear a crown Tybo,I think a Dodge on Ultra light would beat a a chevy smallie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 my biggest salmon and biggest muskie are exactly 1 lbs apart. the muskie fight, although fun, didn't compare in the slightest to the fight of the salmon.... it is different though. salmon basically spool ya, wrap ya on another line, or simply break ya. muskie will thrash, shake, and wrap ya around anything in sight..... both are fun. but given the choice, i'd take the salmon......you really see the difference in smaller fish....compare a 10lbs salmon with a 10lbs muskie....with equal tackle.....no comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishdawg Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 well said steve ( thanks for the photo edit DanC, fish swam away fine ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunkerbasshunter Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 ok im voting for sturgeon. Untill i see an 80 pound salmon, pike, musky. sturgeon wins. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike the Pike Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 the Mighty RockBass would have to be my hands down winner! Gerritt. I agree Gerritt. MTP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyk Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 My vote is for the muskie! My second place vote is for the mighty pumpkinseed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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