Well I hate to admit it but I have absolutely no reference. I have never caught either a Striper or a Small Mouth Bass. The only bass I've ever caught is large mouth. I live such a sheltered fishing life.
But you want controversy, up until a couple of years ago I thought that fresh water fishing was boring. The majority of fishing that I had done prior to owning my pond was salt water fishing and the majority of that was in the Sea of Cortez. Large tuna, Dorado (Mahi-Mahi), Marlin, Rooster Tail, Wahoo, Shark. Jeez, I thought any fish under 30lbs was bait for what you were really trying to catch.
Hooking up a 40lb Dorado and watching that baby tail walk, I thought that was the ultimate fishing experience. But that is compromised by hours of trolling in a charted boat sometimes with a couple of people that you never met until that day (which trust me can be a bad, bad experience).
But once I got my place I saw the light. There is something so satisfying about quietly paddling a kayak to my favorite pond spot and tossing in a lure only to have a nice strike the moment it hits the water's surface.
I'm sure the experienced fisherman will have some controversy for you. Unfortunately, I'm a Striper and Small Mouth Bass virgin. The TV fishing shows always say that lb for lb the SMB is a real fighter. But this sheltered fisherman cannot debate this subject.
