Fish is easy, right? You just throw your bait into the water, and a fish is going to swim by and bite it. Well, not exactly. You should go after a specific species of fish to have the most success. 

Bass fishing and trout fishing are very different. I’ve spent years fishing both species, and the best way to catch one is by specifically targeting it with your lures. 

The common fished for trout species in North America are Rainbow, Steelhead, Cutthroat, Brown, Brook, Lake Trout, and Speckled Trout are all highly targeted throughout the US. 

There are a lot of bass species in the world. But the common fished for bass species in Pennsylvania are Largemouth, Smallmouth, Walleye, and Bluegill. 

Trout can be found in streams, rivers, and lakes.  Clear water streams and rivers are where most species live.  Most species of trout only survive in cold waters, so if the water temperature gets too warm, they will die off or find cooler water. That’s why trout season starts so early in the spring.

Senior Dylan Jones said he enjoys trout fishing the most, “because it is very relaxing walking up to a stream in the woods and fishing instead of at a pond that smells.” 

Trout will eat insect larva, small baitfish, crawfish, and just about anything else they can grab with their mouth.

On the other hand, smallmouth bass prefer different stuff like crawfish, sunfish, perch, worms, and minnows are never off the menu for a smallmouth.

Like trout, they also prefer moving water and cooler water.  

Unlike trout who don’t hide, bass prefer hiding in rock piles, brush piles, and grass in deep and shallow waters.

Bass and trout attack a lure very differently. Trout are more subtle and stealthy. They will peck at the bait or lure. While fly fishing they will barely disturb the water to inhale the fly.

Some people find trout fighting better.  Senior Edwin Himmel-Maines said, “trout fishing by far, I just find it more enjoyable and I feel like you get to see more nature.” 

Trout and bass can both be caught while trolling, using top water lures, and jigging. While there are subtle differences in the techniques for bass versus trout the skills are easily transferable.

Bass fight harder than trout. They are typically the larger fish and require the heavier tackle. With that being said, pound for pound trout do put up a great fight, too!

The taste for both of the fish are comparable, so it is more about preference which you enjoy eating.  To me, trout is a lot better than bass. But some people think it is easier to eat bass because trout have tiny bones which often  break off and get into the meat–especially if you’re a novice at cleaning fish.

All in all, while there are similarities, and fishing is a lot of fun either way, when it comes to trout versus bass fishing, in my opinion, trout wins. However, that doesn’t mean I would ever turn down a bite from bass fishing!