The 20lb Calif bass thread was closed.

A spin off of the discussion seemed to be centered on the use of live bait (trout,bluegill) and the use of realistic swimbaits in catching these big bass.

What is the difference in the perception of the skill of the angler, whether he is using live bait OR the realistic swimbaits that are are so close to looking and acting like the real thing.

Would you diminish a catch because it was with live bait?

Would you extol a catch because it was with realistic swimbait?

I am seeing these as almost being on par with each other.

No where near on par.  While many people and companies are creating some VERY lifelike forms of lures, no one bait will ever be able to realistically mimic the real thing as far as baitfish go.

The skill is in the angler himself who is able to manipulate the lure in some kind of way that creates a similar action to a fish that a bass may see swimming in the water.  It takes experimentation, patience, and skil to learn how to work each bait correctly or learn how to mimic the certain prey you are attempting to present.

The guys catching these fish on swimbaits (while realistic and lifelike) have to be using very specific gear as far as rods and reels that can handle the bait and present it correctly.  They are EXTREMELY patient, know how to use their depthfinders to a tee (just ask fish chris, though the most humble guy... he has boned and studied up on electronics to find his girls), and know how to present them in a way that will get the biggun's to bite.

As far as live bait goes, I just think that there is far more to bass fishing than throwing a minnow, blue gill, or other baitfish on a hook and tossing it out waiting for big betty.  No matter how you catch em' it's a thrill, but I think live bait is tailored more to children or beginning fishermen to get the handle on the basics of fishing.

Not knocking you guys who use it.  You caught the fish fair and square and may be just as good with live bait.  If so more power to you.  Just my two cents on the subject.

IMO, nothing beats the real thing.

With that said, both WR's, brown and green were caught on artificial.

To me, locating the WR and catching her is the main feat. Regardless the lure or rig.

WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE BREAK BOTH OF THESE RECORDS SO WE CAN HAVE A POSITIVE THREAD ON THEM!

What is the difference in the perception of the skill of the angler, whether he is using live bait OR the realistic swimbaits that are are so close to looking and acting like the real thing.

Live bait is real, it 's alive and kicking, it has everything a fish can consider to be food.

Realistic, no matter how realistic baits are they are not alive and kicking, the skill is to make them look real and make the fish think it 's food, without that magic no matter how good the bait is it 's still a chunk of plastic and/or wood with hooks.

Would you diminish a catch because it was with live bait?

No, why not ? because you landed it and that takes skill

Would you extol a catch because it was with realistic swimbait?

Yes, why yes ? because not only you landed the fish but also because you fooled the fish with a chunk of plastic and/or wood with hooks.

I am seeing these as almost being on par with each other.

On par with each other ? nope, different approach.

Would I fish for bass with live bait ? won 't touch it with a 10ft pole.

Do I fish for other predatory species with live bait ? not if I can avoid it

Using artificial to me, is kind of like using a bow over a gun for deer. So as far as skill goes, yes I think it takes more skill to catch a fish with artificial over live bait. Simply because you have to work the bait, the bait does not work itself.

Although I do use livebait for some species of fish, mainly because these particular fish I'm looking to catch not only for the sport/fight of it, but to eat. Such as fluke, striper, flounder, snapper blues, trout, weakfish, porgy, blackfish, etc. I do use artificial for these fish too, but only when it seems to work better then the live bait, like gulp on fluke for example. I will throw plugs for striper alot too, because watching them explode on a topwater is alot of fun.

I rarely use livebait for largemouth, and I do not eat them, but I will use live bait about 1-2 times a year when targeting largemouth. Mainly just to have some fun. Like for example I'll live line shiners while in my waders.

Dude, live bait and "realistic" looking swimbaits are no where near the same thing or even similiar for that matter.

Live bait has enzymes in it which draws the fish and makes them bite. The type of way you fish each bait is totally different. With live bait you cast it out and wait for the fish, and with swimbaits you slowly reel them back.

What are we supposed to fish with, an orange square chunk of plastic as a swimbait. This way, we aren't cheating. ;D

I don't use live bait.  Of course the two are different.  Wether the next world record comes on live bait or artificials makes no difference.  Just as long as it is hooked in the mouth weighed on a certified scale and all the proper certifications are done.  I truly hope that it is some 12 year old kid fishing with a night crawler on some private pond that catches it.  Then all of the haters can post on threads like this for many years to come.