How smart are fish ?

[Davy Crockett]

Serious question , I just read some people think jigging raps are overrated and it made me wonder if I agree or not. Holy cow I used to catch fish left and right with them but It seems like fish have shut off to them . Has anyone else noticed that or any other lures that used to be your "go to" but now they sit in the box because they don't catch fish ?

 

[guywhofishes]

daredevils

 

[JayKay]

The question is: How smart are fish?

When I was a kid, I was up in Canada with my dad and a bunch of grown up. One morning I walked down to the dock, while I was waiting for everyone to get over their headaches.

I found one of those old pull-tab type things that used to be on the top of an aluminum can, laying on the dock. I kicked it into the water, and a jack (pike) darted out from under the dock and ate it.

So, the answer is: Not very.

Sharks have been found with license plates in their stomachs.

Fish are good at what they do, but I don't think they put much thought into it.

 

[Big Iron]

I think fishing pressure has a lot to do with how we perceive a fish's intelligence.

Heavily pressured lakes pump out some genius fish. Canada pumps out some retard fish. Generally.

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daredevils

Lazy Ikes used to be the Cats Meow. Not any more

 

[badland mule]

I read something years ago that it seemed that more pheasants were running instead of flushing because the ones that would flush were getting shot thus not able to pass on the flushing instinct. Could something similar be true with fish?

 

[fj40]

My old man used to tell me to groundball all runners so we get them out of the gene pool.

 

[Achucker]

Did a guided day trip last year in Colorado. He told me that brown trout qould "catch on" to the type of fly that was catching fish if it was not presented right and would stop biting on that fly even from the more experienced fisherman. I believe fish do get smart to different lures, but I believe the predator instinct is stronger. I agree that pressure is the main culprit.

 

[ranger150]

Yep...fishing pressure. It amazes me how many people don't realize that a boat and especially a running motor spooks fish. Back to topic. The jig works as well as it did 30 years ago!!

 

[Twitch]

When we were kids my cousin and I were fishing at a small pond where there was a large population of panfish. Our dads were out on the boat and my mom took us to the pond to shore fish. We ran out of the crawlers we had bought for bait and wanted to go back to the bait shop. My mom said that was unnecessary and we would just have to go back to the camper and find something else to do so we started fishing with our fruit snacks and our jerky. We were still catching fish so mom went back to reading her book until our snacks were also depleted. So yeah.....not that smart

 

[Retired Educator]

Perhaps it's the fishermen who aren't so smart. Do daredevils, lazy likes, etc. no longer work or do we no longer use them because something new came along? Most of us are suckers for something new. If it looks flashy we buy it. Another case in point; remember when we all caught lots of fish in 16' Lunds with 50 hp motors? They don't work as well because they have been replaced with sparkly boats with motors so big they were beyond comprehension back in the day.

 

[gr8outdoors]

I've seen fish caught on cigarette butts, so u be the judge!

 

[bigcatpike]

Perhaps it's the fishermen who aren't so smart. Do daredevils, lazy likes, etc. no longer work or do we no longer use them because something new came along? Most of us are suckers for something new. If it looks flashy we buy it. Another case in point; remember when we all caught lots of fish in 16' Lunds with 50 hp motors? They don't work as well because they have been replaced with sparkly boats with motors so big they were beyond comprehension back in the day.

had a few trips to devils last summer when the absolute only thing the eyes would eat was a leech on a small hook with two split shots above it. They wouldn’t even touch a lead head jig. Sometimes the old way is the best way

 

[buckhunter24_7]

Pressured muskies are a bastard

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Anyone that has fished a known muskie lake the last two years knows what I mean

 

[Captain Ahab]

Their brain is about the size of a pea, but some days you'd swear they are Nostradamas.

 

[KDM]

Fish have no smarts, but enough instincts to sink a battleship. Same with them accursed honkers. One little flaw in you spread or your bait presentation and it's a huge "No Go".

 

[MSA]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_intelligence

 

[Rut2much]

“Fool me once shame on you” fool me twice ....you know the ending ... We are smartening up and giving all those dinks we throw back true aspirations of being a darwinist..fish sit around cafe coffee tables too; #FLM

 

[Sum1]

They are actually smarter than humans, they just don’t have hands and can’t talk, so we have no way of knowing it. Same with deer...

 

[Bowhunter_24]

Lake Winnipeg fish are retarded.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Easiest way for me to tell how dumb a walleye is that they ate the ones I actually catch