A Unicorn

[Member]

I seem to remember the term "Unicorn" being born here on Sweetwater in terms of what I put forward as a mythical beast, which was a proven 60 centimetre bass.  It's amusing looking at some of the other web sites and seeing other people now using the term Unicorn to describe a 50cm Bass.  Now I know for damn sure that 50+cm Bass exist, so there is no way, no how, that they could be described as a Unicorn, yes, they are a horse but they don't have the horn.  A bit like changing a dog into a fox by drinking about 20 beers. 

[Member]

I supose it's like any innovation Dale. Imitatio n being the most sincere form of flattery. The thing grows a life of its own and the users all think it was them that came up with it in the first place. On this site however, I'm sure the standard remains firm.
Cheers,
John

[Member]

Yep

lots of "guests" surfing this site dont worry about that

And as far as the unicorn goes, its a 60cm. Fitty's there every where, like aholes actually.

Where was the term born, right here.

[Member]

And still no picture of an authenticated Unicorn either !!!!

[Member]

Has too has tooo!!!! oh wait bass you mean..... 

[Member]

My terminology - , 50 to 60cm is a horse, over 60 will be (thanks to Dale    ) a unicorn. Hows that?

[Member]

Not thanks to me.  I think it was Steve or Dave who used the term Unicorn first.

[Member]

The Steve was the inventor of the term.

Cheers,
Dave.

p.s. He probably has it trademarked by now. 

[Member]

I heard it mentioned that stevenm was desperately looking for a
"Eunuch Horn" I thought it would be impolite to ask why.
Cheers John.

[Member]

As we all know Bass are an extremely slow growing fish, a 60cm Bass is most definately a "Unicorn" no dought, whether that fish came from a wild creek or a stocked impoundment.

Maybe for some who have been chasing a wild Bass over 50cm for an extended period of time, that measurement and terminology of a "Unicorn" mythical creature, could be down sized in the eyes of that individual. For that individual who has been putting hours and hours in wild creeks for instance, and I'm talking about creeks that are not below stocked impoundments where 50cm+ stocked Bass have had a chance escape downstream, a 50cm+ model could be and would be mythical to that angler.

Just my two cents worth. 

Dave 

[Member]

I very much doubt if there is any waterway in South East Queensland, be it Lake, River or Creek that has not been exposed to stocked fish.  The creeks of the Bribie Passage, and further north could very well have been discovered by escapees.  If a Bass can be tagged in Somerset and recaught in South Pine River, I'm sure they could swim a few kilometres north and enter Bribie Passage.  The term "wild bass" could well be as extinct as the legendary Unicorn.  I'd hate to see an elitism creep into the Bass fishery that is present in the Brim and Barra fishery, where a fish caught by a certain technique, or in a certain area, or was kept to eat is discredited because of that.  A Bass is a Bass and every one you catch is good fun.

[Member]

 

Well said Dale.

PS Always wanted to use this smiley!!

[Member]

I very much doubt if there is any waterway in South East Queensland, be it Lake, River or Creek that has not been exposed to stocked fish.  The creeks of the Bribie Passage, and further north could very well have been discovered by escapees.  If a Bass can be tagged in Somerset and recaught in South Pine River, I'm sure they could swim a few kilometres north and enter Bribie Passage.  The term "wild bass" could well be as extinct as the legendary Unicorn.  I'd hate to see an elitism creep into the Bass fishery that is present in the Brim and Barra fishery, where a fish caught by a certain technique, or in a certain area, or was kept to eat is discredited because of that.  A Bass is a Bass and every one you catch is good fun.

I couldn't agree any more Dale with your above post, something that was bought up at the stocking workshop this year in June. There isn't too many places, if any, that would contain a pure genetic species of Australian Bass within this South-East corner. Don't get me wrong, 50cm+ models are there in these creeks that you have mentioned, I've seen 'em caught first hand, all be it very few and far between, unlike in concentrated numbers elsewhere.

As for elitism in the Bass circle, I hope it never happens too. I hope you didn't take my first post the wrong way as this was never my intensions and well done to those anglers who have been chasing them, sure as hell I would have done the same if I lived closer being envious of the fish being caught. You're right, a Bass is a Bass no matter how, when or where you catch 'em. Pound for pound they are an awesome Austarlian fish that probably doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

The guts of what maybe I was trying to state was the Bass that have had the chance to grow a healthy length in an impoundment to those Bass downstream, haven't had to contend with larger preditory fish such as sharks etc hense the reason why 50cm+ models are harder to come by in the creeks that aren't downstream of a stocked impoundment..

[Member]

River/creek dwellers have to work a lot harder at survival. They have to work the current continuously. Food is not a given, and they might become food  I generally find it more satisfying to catch  these. I reckon the pulling power is superior and they ought to be a bit smarter. It would be interesting to be able to figure out just how much "fitter" moving water fish are. Can we arrange a tug of war with a 40 river fish and a 50 dam fish? Just need a bit of gaffa tape and some string.
Cheers John.

[Member]

They are out there !!!!! This one went 62 cm