21 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

There's no doubt.  I've never caught one that big, but the state record for Michigan is 6lb 7oz and 22".  I couldn't even begin to imagine that fight.  To me, white bass fight just as hard, or even harder than similar sized smallies.  I've had white bass straighten hooks on me before, never had a smallmouth do it, and I live right by some of the best waters for big smallies.

I've thought many times about pound-for-pound what fights hardest:

• A 3 pound smallmouth
• A 3 pound spotted bass
• A 3 pound white bass

I don't know the absolute answer - and need to catch 1000 more of each to render a firm decision 😉

 

But I will say this - at least in cold water, the white bass has no equal. 

Wish we had more white bass around here, there's a few in my local haunt. My buddy caught a nice one Sunday on a Ned rig...not surprising he said it knocked the crap out of it and fought like beast.

On 6/2/2025 at 1:12 PM, FryDog62 said:

I've thought many times about pound-for-pound what fights hardest:

• A 3 pound smallmouth
• A 3 pound spotted bass
• A 3 pound white bass

I don't know the absolute answer - and need to catch 1000 more of each to render a firm decision 😉

 

But I will say this - at least in cold water, the white bass has no equal. 

Spot