Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Fish species?


chucker34

Recommended Posts

What fish looks like a largemouth bass but with bright red eyes? We kept catching one after the other last week on Big Trout in the Whitefish Chain. Was a lot of fun. We threw them all back - including some nice big fat dandy ones. Not being too big of a fisherman other than for walleye and sunfish, I had no idea what they were and didnt take any pics. Any thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What kind of structure do they hang out in typically? We were catching them in about six feet of water right off the weedline but not in it. Can you eat them? What do they taste like?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can, most people don't. They tend to have little maget looking things in them, not sure what those are. Just kind of grosses me out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There aways ware you don't want them to be, I don't see why you can' eat them just look for worms when ya clean them. I have never try'd them and I don't think they will be on my plate any time soon,but they are fun to catch untill you see what it is blush.gifgrin.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

grandpa told me they taste like mud. course he also told me all perch have worms and if i ever catch a musky to shoot it in the head cause they eat all the walleyes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember eating a mess of them when I was younger and they are pretty darn tasty. I don't recall seeing any worms.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the worms will depend on time of year and body of water. I know I have caught plenty of perch in a lake near Duluth with lots of little parasites in the meat during the summer but in the winter they are clean. Another lake a few miles away might have clean perch all year long.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

smallmouth have red eyes as well? I dont think Rock bass look like bass at all?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's funny I was thinking the same exact thing. I think most people mistake rockies for a crappie.

Then again I don't think a smallmouth looks much like a largemouth either.

I always get a kick out of people calling large size bass "largemouths" and little dinks "smallmouths"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:


smallmouth have red eyes as well? I dont think Rock bass look like bass at all?


Yeah, and Big Trout has a few smallies in it, right Deitz? wink.gif They could be smallies...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

I dont think Rock bass look like bass at all


that's because a rock bass isn't a true bass; it is in the sunfish family. I've been told they taste just like a sunfish as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Im thinkin they were rockies,the brainerd area lakes have some very large rock bass in them,and he did say he was catching them one after the other.They are very fun on light tackle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

and he did say he was catching them one after the other.


even makes me think more that it was smallmouth tongue.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:


I've been told they taste just like a sunfish as well.


Yes, I've eaten rock bass on numerous occasions and they taste very similar to a sunfish. If you batter up sunfish and rock bass and throw them all on the same plate you can barely tell the difference by the taste...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like rock bass to me, if you catch some and have caught sm and Lm you can easily tell the difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want to get picky, Here's your daily biology lesson:

A rock bass (Ambloplites genus) isn't a "true" bass (Micropterus genus), e.g. largemouth, smallmouth, etc.

sunfish such as bluegills, green, pumpkinseed, etc. belong to the Lepomis genus.

Crappies belong to the genus Pomoxis.

All freshwater bass and sunfish belong to the family Centrarchidae (white, yellow, and striped basses, and white perch are considered a temperate bass and belong to the Family Moronidae).

Yes, bass and sunfish are in the same family, what I was trying to point out was that rock bass are more closely related to sunfish than a true bass....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the replies guys. I was out of town for a few days but did a search on photo ids based on your replies and I'm leaning toward smallmouth if they also have red eyes. Again, I'm not expert at iding a fish other than I know walleyes and sunfish and crappies when I see them, but I'm thinking smallmouth in this case. Was a lot of fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes they are Rock Bass. I used to run a resort in central Minn. Every year we had a group stay with us from Iowa. They would go out just to catch these. They thought they were crappies. We told them dirrerant but they kept bring them in and eating them. So now we call Rock Bass "Iowa Crappies".

Freckles

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Iowa Crappies?!?! grin.gifgrin.gifgrin.gif Now that is some good humor! I was having a bad morning and that just made my day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Every yr we have been lucky enough to get our limit. We do nothing special in cleaning them - just fillet 'em. At our annual fish fry, everyone praises the cook at how good they taste so I don't understand not wanting to eat Rockies. Although, I would never knowingly eat Carp despite the fact they are now a "delicacy" at some restaurants - I'll just never get over my upbringing. So I suppose people can feel that way about Rock Bass too. I have also heard people talk badly about the taste of WhiteBass, but I've never had a bad experience with those either. I'm just an all-around garbage-hound though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You guys are making me consider keeping one of the ugly bass (rockbass) and trying it out. I sure accidentally catch enough of them. Though on second thought I still don't know if i can do it. lol grin.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I call them "Party Crappies" because their eyes are red(bloodshot) like everyone after a good nite of partying.

Flash

"Set the Hook"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spent a week on one of the Brainerd area lakes this summer and our neighbors were up from Indiana. They probably kept over 500 rock bass over the course of the week. They had a fish fry almost every night and I believe they took a 10 person limit home with them also. They thought they tasted great. I just thought it was funny to see these huge baskets of rock bass sitting next to the fish cleaning house every night. They spent many hours cleaning all those fish. To each his own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They taste just like a crappie or sunfish when they're fried. I've eaten them dozens of times and have yet to see in worms in them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the immortal words of Jules Winfield:

"Sewer Rat may taste like Punkin' Pie but I'd never know 'cause I wouldn't eat the filthy m-er f-er."

Sorry, I had to add it. grin.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.