Who is the Strongest Fish??

[Tom Linderholm]

# for # in MN, salmonoid family, a pound and a half Coho will fight harder than the same size brookie or sunfish for that matter. IMHO

[wildcatcreek]

In my experience, Carp and big Channels are on the top of the list. I caught a 16 lb. Flathead that didn't fight nearly as hard as the 7 lb. Channel I caught. One time a 7 lb. Carp pulled me down the bank of the river about 15 ft. before I got him to settle down enough to get him in.

[DTro]

I challenge you to watch this video, especially at 1:37 and argue against the Sturgeon

[Dan Brelje]

after watching hanson in that cat video i think that might give anything a run for the money. Personally i would say a lake trout or small mouth bass.

[meatfish]

If any one has caught a true 1 lb sunny there would be no debate the sunny is mack daddy!

[mainbutter]

bluegill go for over a pound in some places.. I'm not sure what the MN state record is but I THOUGHT it was over 1 lb. There are some monster bluegill down south too.

Pound for pound I'd probably give it to bluegill.

Biggest fight you'll get fishing freshwater really should be sturgeon simply because they have the possibility to get so [PoorWordUsage] big.. I just look at pictures of those double digit-footer world records and my eyes go all buggy.

Kenai River king salmon shouldn't be forgotten, they'll go on the longest runs of you're life. Even 15 lb silver salmon will go on incredible runs, I can't imagine what a huge kenai king would be like.

I don't have much experience with the bigger freshwater fish unfortunatly.. my biggest fight was in salt water hooking into a big samson fish out of perth.. Literally almost pulled me overboard fishing with super heavy gear. Of course I think the reason it just about pulled me overboard was because the fish was in the mouth of a shark, leaving me with just the fish's head after he was done chewing. It's pretty impressive to see a fish head the size of your torso, and realizing something ate the rest

[polarsusd81]

I would have to say out of the fish I have caught, the bluegill pound for pound has it. I haven't yet got a laker, sturg, or flatty so I can't comment on those.

[Jackpine Rob]

I'd have to say for freshwater fish a native brook trout is the fastest and strongest fish.

The coaster in my avatar was caught on the same exact rig I have taken countless pound and half sunnies/bluegills, northerns up to 20 lbs., smallmouth over 5 lbs, etc., and there was no comparison. The speck was the "toughest fish" winner hands down. Runs of 20-30 yards that would put a 15 lb. snot rocket to shame - deep bulldogging that made a bluegill look like a total wuss.

If the state's bluegill record is only a pound - I can guarantee you it is broken almost daily on some lakes. The biggest I have weighed was nudging close to 2 lbs.

[snoozebutton]

Nice video dtro!!!

[jigginjerk]

Out of everything I have caught the King salmon is probably the most exciting. They can go on some unstopable runs.

[upnorth]

Steelhead! You catch a fresh 7 or 8 # Steelhead in 50 degree water and for the first few minutes all you can do is hang on try to figure out what they are gonna do next. King Salmon run like a fast freight train. The 53" Sturgeon I caught put a really good fight too, but just not as exciting as Steelhead and Kings.

[TonkaBass]

I've caught plenty of different species and my top 5 in order for stregth during a fight are...

-carp

-muskie & pike

-walleye

-smallmouths

-salmon

[handliner]

1. Smallmouth bas in a river or stream.

2. Bonefish on the shallow flats.

3. Carp in the river.

[Sonicrunch]

I've caught plenty of different species and my top 5 in order for stregth during a fight are...

-carp

-muskie & pike

-walleye

-smallmouths

-salmon

walleye? Really?

[HuskerBen]

Overall, big sturgeon.

Pound for pound, bowfin.

[cjac]

Well, I'm a muskie guy first and foremost and I'll admit they don't make the list! I've caught 35 pound fish that weren't really that impressive of a fight. Short flashes of power, no sustained fight.

Bowfin: I've sworn I've had a state record bass on a couple times, and they can tear a spinnerbait apart. By the way, there's a new Minn record at 11# 15oz from the St Croix, cool!

Bluegill: Great at circling, and using the weeds, biggest I've ever caught was 1#6 oz.

Salmon: Done the Algoma trip a few times with 25lbers caught, lot of power, but a lot of line out too.

Pike: 25lbers in Canada, again a lot of burst, but not the sustained power.

Carp: Caught them on lighter tackle and have literally pulled the boat around.

Smallmouth: Had a 20 inch fish this summer in a small river that was a battle!

Flatheads: Only a 20lber, but raw power. They have current to their advantage as well in most cases.

Sturgeon: I've only caught little ones, but watched a 59 inch fish make 4 of us scramble, take out 4 lines and an anchor.

My vote: Sturgeon at #1, again based on what I've seen. Carp at #2, smallies at 3rd place.....

[fishwater]

I'm always amazed at how much fight little rock bass put up. Catfish and Sturgeon get my nod for big MN fish. Toughest fight to date personally was a snagged paddlefish.

[Fish&Fowl]

My dad's told me stories of king salmon, but I'd say lake trout are by far the most powerful I've caught. I've had 3-lb. fish peel line off an Abu 6500 on a very stiff rod through the ice.

[tonkapat]

lakers through the ice

nothing even close

[Northlander]

My Vote is either Steelhead or King salmon pound for pound. Sturgeon are right up there as well. Tel ya what though. If a bluegill ever got 50 pounds that would be one he11 of a fight.

[croixflats]

To me I guess it would be a sturgeon. If I were to catch a 53 incher on a walleye rod know telling how long of a fight it will be.

Though the 23 inch smally was incredibly tough to get to the boat.

[JigginIsLife]

i had a decent eel pout i pulled through the icea couple years ago...that was a pretty decent battle.

[davesfriend]

I hooked into a coho that I thought was gonna be a record, but I did not see when he jumped one of the trebles grabbed his side. Any fish you pull in sideways puts up a great fight! After watching that video of the sturgen, I have never caught one, but that thing has my vote!

[Sandmannd]

If you are going pound for pound I give it to the Pannies.

That being said, I have never fought a fish like the sturgeon I pulled in this fall!!

[fishinJohn]

My vote goes to sturgeon. Pound for pound means nothing. I enjoy pannies on UL gear but it does not compare to watching the long MH rod bend to a U shape time after time leaving you in an almost sureal state after you return the beast to the depths. It's as close to sharkin' as we get around here.