Hello,

What is "bucket fishing"? I first ran into this term here.

I gather it refers to catching fish, but how does it differ from, say, using a stringer?

Thanks!

Josh

I believe "bucket fishermen" (or "the bucket brigade") refers to bank fishermen who keep every fish they catch regardless of size, species or legality.  Someone please correct me if I'm way off here.

The people who sit on top of buckets along the banks...as soon as the catch a fish it goes in the bucket.

I believe "bucket fishermen" (or "the bucket brigade") refers to bank fishermen who keep every fish they catch regardless of size, species or legality.  Someone please correct me if I'm way off here.

ding_ding!!!

 

I went last night to a reservoir that not many people have access to. I was in the kayak as I usually am. There were three bucket brigadiers in a jon boat keeping any and everything. I caught a bass well over 5# (no scale, no camera) on a topwater in plain sight of them. I unhooked it and admired it a few seconds. I heard one of them say "You don't want that fish?" I ignored him and let them see me let it swim away. It makes me feel so good to watch a big fish swim away.

One reason I ask is that there in an overabundance of small bluegill in one place I fish.

They need to be thinned out, and there have been folks out there with buckets.

I have been thinking about doing this, but I have no idea how to clean panfish too small to fillet. I might make a separate post on that in the "Other Species" section.

I also kinda' feel bad about keeping small ones but it has to be done. Signs around the lake advertise 25 daily limit, no size limit.

To make it worth my while, I'd almost have to use a bucket!

Josh

 I have no idea how to clean panfish too small to fillet.

Josh

 

"Fish chips"

 

Gut them, then fry whole.

 

 

 

There are a few definitions for a bucket fisherman.
A bank bait fisherman sitting on his bucket.

A person that keeps their catch and the bucket is the vehicle to transport them back to the car.

A person that carries their lures hanging from the lip of a bucket, just as popular as a tackle bag here.  Been known to carry a bucket myself.

On a different note, from time to time my live well is lovingly referred to as the death well in catch and keep situations. 

Let's not be elitist. The smaller the body of water, the more important it is to keep some small ones.

 

But I was NOT about to give the three jon boat guys a 5 pounder they didn't even catch..

Also known as "bucketeers"!

There are a few definitions for a bucket fisherman.

A bank bait fisherman sitting on his bucket.

A person that carries their lures hanging from the lip of a bucket, just as popular as a tackle bag here. Been known to carry a bucket myself.

Ice fisherman are known to do both of these as well.

Let's not be elitist. The smaller the body of water, the more important it is to keep some small ones.

But I was NOT about to give the three jon boat guys a 5 pounder they didn't even catch..

Correct. Small bodies of water can use corrective action, unless of course, there is an abundance of forage and cover to support a q population of big bass. And big fish definitely do not belong in the keep and eat well.

Use a heavy surfcasting combo to fish a bucket properly.

I believe it is someone who fishes exclusively for buckets

I believe ladies use it when they enter a draw tournament.

Don't get me started on the bucketeers haha

Use a heavy surfcasting combo to fish a bucket properly.

I am in better shape than I have been in years, but a full size bucket is too much work. I prefer to finesse a soup can on a 7-6 MHMF and 15# fluorocarbon.

On a different note, from time to time my live well is lovingly referred to as the death well in catch and keep situations. 

 

I call it "The Hurt Locker" when crappie fishing :) 

Hello,

What is "bucket fishing"? I first ran into this term here.

I gather it refers to catching fish, but how does it differ from, say, using a stringer?

Thanks!

Josh

 

If you're here long enough you will learn the real "facts" about bucket fishing.

 

1st - It is the act of keeping every fish caught regardless of size or possession limits.

 

2nd - It is almost always done by illegal aliens/immigrants/etc.. and who never, ever, have a fishing license.

 

What you will never learn is how anyone can tell who has a fishing license or the citizenship status of the offending fisherman, or how long the poster actually stalked the bucket fisherman to know without a doubt that no fish was ever thrown back.  These things we must simply assume to be the truth because its on the internet, and nothing is ever incorrect if its on the internet!

I suppose the meaning is relative to where you're at.  On a bass forum an artificial user will almost always look down their nose at fisherman on the bank fishing using bait.  Keeping the fish isn't the issue, it's how the fish are caught and the equipment being used is what creates the elitism.  How possibly can a guy using nightcrawler be on the same level as "angler" with 5 $500 combos and enough tackle to stock a small tackle store.

Yeah, it's a derogatory term for bank anglers using natural bait who keep their fish.  Kind of like "minnow dunker" and similar terms.

As anglers we should really try to be careful about elitism.  Anyone who legally catches and keeps their fish shouldn't be looked down upon.

 

As anglers we should really try to be careful about elitism.  Anyone who legally catches and keeps their fish shouldn't be looked down upon.

I agree with this.

I would also like to add my 2 cents.

Don't look down on people who legally fish using a Spincasting reel.

Yeah, agree with the two previous statements. But I know regulations are not set up to discourage people from taking trophies out of bodies of water, thus increasing overall average size. They are set up to provide the most people with the most bites possible, be they small, medium or large fish.

 

However, if I catch a 10 lb'er, I don't know how I'm going to react. Catching 5-6 lb'ers is becoming normal to me at one the places I fish a lot. So, of course, I'm looking for the real trophies of the reservoir because it's not a big deal anymore to get a 5 lb'er. I just need to get a good scale and a GoPro so I have a permanent memory of it.

 

I've been fishing this place for almost 3 years and it just keeps getting better and better. And I credit keeping the dinks and mid-size fish and leaving everything over 3-4 lbs. AND LOTS OF AVAILABLE FORAGE OF DIFFERENT KINDS. Probably the biggest factor. Shad, gold shiners, sunfish, craws, frogs, etc. Anyway, I just want to protect the fishery-it's private, so there are no limits.

I agree with this.

I would also like to add my 2 cents.

Don't look down on people who legally fish using a Spincasting reel.

 

Agreed.  You should see the looks I get when I  bring out my 10ft reel-less cane pole.  I can't read the minds of other anglers, but I'm quite sure they think I have no idea what I'm doing.  When in fact, I know exactly what I'm doing...I'm having fun catching panfish along the river bank.

I don't see too much of people giving the bucket brigade grief, as I see catch and release anglers getting chastised for throwing fish back. I hear it ALL THE TIME.