Not quite categorizing, but the accidental bigger fish is a very different catch for me (more surprising, less satisfying) than 'this lure with this presentation in this place' with an expectation of a big bite.

I don't put that much emphasis on it...probably because I've never caught a really big one. LOL

 

Really, every year I catch a handful of 20"+ fish and that's pretty good for public water around here. I don't really get to travel for fishing.

 

I do think the context has to be considered when rating a fish by size. A 22" brown bass is really big here but not everyplace. I've never even seen a bigger bass in person.

 

Who caught the fish? When you fish with a guide who really gets the credit?

53 minutes ago, MGF said:

Who caught the fish? When you fish with a guide who really gets the credit?

 The guy with the rod in his hands.

20 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 The guy with the rod in his hands.

I'm not sure I agree. I caught a nice musky a few years back with a guide. In fact my wife and I boated three legal fish that day but we can't take the credit. The guides skill caught the fish. We just reeled them in.

 

Many years ago, my dad and I spent a week one summer fishing for stripers on Lake Norfork. The fish were deep and we didn't do well. We went out with a guide and his trolling a downriggers got us half dozen in just a short time.

 

Those are my only two outings with a guide but in both cases, the guide caught the fish. I just reeled them in. It wasn't at all like it is when I do it on my own.

 

I didn't even have to tie a knot...I didn't have to control the boat, I didn't have to choose a lure or look at map or electronics to pick a spot. 

 

I don't see how it could could count the same.

I break it up by species, and by the bait I caught each PB on.  Looking back over the spreadsheet it's really an eye opener when you can look back and see what baits have produced the big ones.

9 minutes ago, MGF said:

I'm not sure I agree. I caught a nice musky a few years back with a guide. In fact my wife and I boated three legal fish that day but we can't take the credit. The guides skill caught the fish. We just reeled them in.

 

Many years ago, my dad and I spent a week one summer fishing for stripers on Lake Norfork. The fish were deep and we didn't do well. We went out with a guide and his trolling a downriggers got us half dozen in just a short time.

 

Those are my only two outings with a guide but in both cases, the guide caught the fish. I just reeled them in. It wasn't at all like it is when I do it on my own.

 

I didn't even have to tie a knot...I didn't have to control the boat, I didn't have to choose a lure or look at map or electronics to pick a spot. 

 

I don't see how it could could count the same.

Do electronic catch the fish too?

 

Doesn't matter how you found them/got on them. If you cast the bait, work the bait, hook the fish, and land the fish, you caught the fish.

Just by species.

 

I believe a PB is a PB no matter where you catch it but I relish my home water PB 

12 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Do electronic catch the fish too?

 

Doesn't matter how you found them/got on them. If you cast the bait, work the bait, hook the fish, and land the fish, you caught the fish.

What electronics? When I fished with a guide I never saw any electronics. I never needed to look at a map.

 

You can count whatever you want. In fact that time my dad and I reeled in all those stripers that the guide caught for us a friend of ours took a picture with the fish and told his friends that he caught them. It doesn't matter to me.

1 minute ago, MGF said:

What electronics? When I fished with a guide I never saw any electronics. I never needed to look at a map.

 

You can count whatever you want. In fact that time my dad and I reeled in all those stripers that the guide caught for us a friend of ours took a picture with the fish and told his friends that he caught them. It doesn't matter to me.

Fish finders. People who have electronic on their boat to locate fish, did the electronics catch the fish? Do pros catch any of their fish?

4 minutes ago, MGF said:

a friend of ours took a picture with the fish and told his friends that he caught them.

Lol. You are a true friend!

I just think finding them and figuring out how to get them is the hard part.  It's all pretty easy if somebody does that for you.

3 minutes ago, MGF said:

I just think finding them and figuring out how to get them is the hard part.  It's all pretty easy if somebody does that for you.

Does a tourist guide do all the travelling for you?

2 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Fish finders. People who have electronic on their boat to locate fish, did the electronics catch the fish? Do pros catch any of their fish?

My point is that when I fished with a guide I didn't need to look at any electronics. All I had to do was reel in the fish that the guide so expertly put me on.

 

To better answer your question, I think everything could be taken in context. Some equipment sure makes it easier. Some locations sure makes it easier. There isn't anybody fishing the Elite Series from the bank or without electronics, is there? Can contestants bring a guide with them?

1 minute ago, ironbjorn said:

Does a tourist guide do all the travelling for you?

I guess I don't really understand the question or it's relevance. Traveling is moving from one place to another. A USPS package does it. Who gets the credit the package or the USPS?

 

Maybe it is a good analogy. While it can be fun fishing with a guide is sort of like being the package.

Geez...

I'll be glad to see us all out on the water soon. Being cooped up and only able to fish on

the internet is stressful for everyone.

 

Good night Irene.