Under / Over rated fish

[Tompton]

In your opinion, what fish is under rated, and which is over rated?

Carp - Under

Walleye - Over

[Spinach]

Hard question........ I would say that in Mn Bass are very under rated, cant think of anything over rated though.

[Lee Borgersen]

 

That's an interesting question since there are so many variables involved depending on the region you fish:

1. Skill levels needed to catch various species on the body of water you fish.

2. Abundance of a species on your specific body of water.

3. Fishing presser and recreational traffic on the lake your targeting.

4. Water clarity clear, stained, or dingy.

5. Lakes with plenty of forage or ones with limited forage.

I feel that the above factors would help dictate if a select species could be over rated or under rated. This is since each body of water has different degrees of difficulty in catching. Thus a walleye or smallmouth may rate high on one lake but not on another.

Disclaimer: 

This does not reflect the eat ability factor in grading one fish over the other.

Lee Borgersen

[Spinach]

I answered the question with the thought that bass fishing in Mn is overall under rated. there are so many good bass lakes, yet not many take advantage. We seem to be a Walleye and crappie state. I know there are some bass guys and gals around but not as many as you would think in this area.

Why is that, maybe because Walleye fishing is what we hear about from the DNR, parents and ancestors.....

Head south or east and bass fishing is what they do.

[kenhuntin]

Forgive me for not catching on But rated as far as what; Being tasty? catchable? Fight factor?plentiful? Useful in the ecosystem? There are too many variables and I feel confused.

[Grute Man]

Im gonna shoot from the hip and say:

Under rated - bass and cat fish

Over rated - Can a fish really be over rated?  I sure can't say eel pout or I'd be drawn and quartered by Camp Y.   I'll go with Northern Pike.

[Spinach]

Forgive me for not catching on But rated as far as what; Being tasty? catchable? Fight factor?plentiful? Useful in the ecosystem? There are too many variables and I feel confused.

I'm confused too, but my answer was given on participation and effort to catch bass only.

Depending on other circumstances my answer could change.

[gds]

Ok ill say it.  Pout are over rated, not to mention UGLY!!   

[Lee Borgersen]

  I think this is one of those trick Yogi Berra question and answer topics.  I may be awake all night trying to figure this out. 

[Mayfly]

I'm thinking what Mr. Tompton means is what fish in the State of Minnesota is Over rated or under-rated as far as over-all pursuit of a specific species.

[kenhuntin]

Ok ill say it.  Pout are over rated, not to mention UGLY!!   

That really hurts.

[Mickbear76]

Overated---Lg. Bass
underated----Sm. Mouth Bass

[Cody Gruchow]

i have to disagree with GRUTE, sorry grute im a northern fisherman mostly lol

overrated-walleye (sorry)
underrated-rock bass jk the states bass fishery is under rated both small and largemouth

[Tompton]

For clarify, I really mean the pursuit.  I am going to spend the day fishing for...


Don't get me wrong, I love catching walleye, but sometimes I wonder why? 

[Mayfly]

I love catching walleye, but sometimes I wonder why? 

I know why...For the challenge. Not every fisherman can go out and target walleyes and be successful. That is what I like about it. Walleye are a somewhat elusive fish and to be successful you need everything to be right in most instances. The wrong size hook and today might not be your day, wrong line and things might not go as planned. That is why I like the pursuit of walleyes. Do I think they are over-rated? Its hard to say. I will revisit this when I have thought about it more.   

And as far as under-rated fish here in Mn, a bunch of fish come to mind but I have not nailed this one down yet either.

Will be back.

[Wagz]

under rated  catfish

overrated  LM bass  I mean grass carp  not a hard fish to catch not great tablefare

[Tompton]

Tim, that explains why "you" like them.  Not why they are popular.  It is hard to believe that the masses fish walleye for the challenge. 

I think that most people fish for meat and the Walleye has always been portrayed as the tastiest fish around.  I think after you dredge them in shore lunch and fry them in fat they all taste pretty similar.

[Wagz]

Not bass ... You can cover it in shore lunch 5x over and it still tastes terrible

[Tompton]

OK maybe not largemouth, but any sunfish family (including smallmouth bass, bluegills, pumpkin seeds, etc.), perch, crappie, pike, etc. 

Also, if I just fished for food then I would always go to Lake Superior for Salmon and Steelhead.

[Spinach]

Not bass ... You can cover it in shore lunch 5x over and it still tastes terrible

Agreed!

[Mayfly]

Tim, that explains why "you" like them.  Not why they are popular.  It is hard to believe that the masses fish walleye for the challenge. 

I think that most people fish for meat and the Walleye has always been portrayed as the tastiest fish around.  I think after you dredge them in shore lunch and fry them in fat they all taste pretty similar.

I agree. But do you think that is why the masses fish for them because they are great on the dinner table? I personally would much rather have a fish fry with sunfish than any other fish we catch in the lakes of Minnesota.

And for all of you that say that bass does not taste good I challenge you a taste test challenge. Put your money where your mouth is!

I will be serving Sunfish, Crappie, Walleye, Perch and Bass. If you can nail them all then you win. Won't happen.

June 7th 2008 2pm Macs Twin Bay. Email me for directions.

[Spinach]

Bass and Northern are easy to tell the difference, both taste like roadkill.

[Mayfly]

Bass and Northern are easy to tell the difference, both taste like roadkill.

I can sit on this forum all day and  too.

Why don't you show up on the 7th and we'll see how much of an expert your taste buds are. 

I will even cook some northern.

[Spinach]

Why would i purposely want to eat something i dont like?

 

[Tompton]

Tim, does have a point.  We went to his uncle's cabin and caught a mess of largemouth.  They were keeping the fish and I wanted no part.  I thought they were nuts.  That is, until his aunt fried them up that night.  They were fantastic.  I could not tell the difference. 

I think we should have a Pepsi challenge to see who can identify various fried fish.

[kenhuntin]

One thing I have found with northern pike is some lakes rear excellent tasting fish. Some lakes rear unpalatable fish. One lake that offers excellent table fare when it comes to them is Minnetonka. Winter fish from there are even better than summer fish. What really helps is when cleaning them keep as much of the stinky slime from the outside from touching the meat. Personally I prefer to unhook them in the net and keep them out of the boat.

[Cody Gruchow]

tim your on, but i can tell the difference, except crappie and sunfish, otherwise i can, bass make me wanna  now northern is were it is at. 

[Spinach]

Good points from a few of you. Winter fish are generally better than summer fish, there are so many variables in fish taste too.

I know for a fact i can tell the difference in Bass or Northern from a Crappie or Walleye though. You will have to doctor them up pretty good to hide the difference in taste, but then that defeats the purpose of eating fresh fish to me. Might as well just eat some batter with Lowrys.....

[JoeFisherman]

I'd have to say bass are over rated.  Catching them is like taking candy from a baby.  However, early season bass are tasty.  Once the water warms, they aren't as good to eat.  Catch and release baby!