Blog: East vs. West

Editor’s Note: The writer's opinions and observations expressed here are his own, and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, policies or positions of FLW.

I’m not going to say the West is better than the East, or vice-versa. However, I am going to say that where fishing is concerned, there are some distinct differences between the two. The list is long and I’m sure that you can think of many additional differences, but here are a few things I have found that separates the two locales. For the purposes of this blog, let’s make the dividing line the Mississippi River although I think we should include Texas with the East.

1. In the West we call it a “rip bait.” In the East, it’s a jerkbait. 

2. In the East they call 10-pound-test line “light line.” Out West, we think 10-pound-test is bubba line.

3. I think everyone east of the Mississippi River (including Texas) is color blind. They only see green pumpkin and think watermelon is a big changeup. Out West our color spectrum includes margarita mutilator, morning dawn, and even clear with black flake. I know you East-Coasters think we’re weird, but tie on a margarita mutilator Roboworm next time you go shaky-headin’. 

4. In the West we throw a Yamamoto Senko weightless or wacky rigged with a nail weight. In the East they throw it with a bullet weight. Lucky for them a Senko works no matter what, but try it weightless wacky-rigged and watch your line jump. 

5. In the East they can have two 150-plus-boats tournaments not only on the same body of water, but on the same day. Out West there might not be 100-plus boats in all the tournaments statewide in a single day all year. I’ve even heard of 500-boat fields in Alabama and Texas. I can’t imagine waiting to hear “Boat Number 495” at blast-off. 

6. In the East, if you don’t own a boat, then you own a safe full of guns – or maybe both. Out West high-performance rigs are so scarce people ask “what’s that thing hanging off the back of your boat” at almost every gas station.

7. In the West, we drop shot. Back East they shaky head. 

8. Western saltwater fishing is salmon and halibut. In the East there’s redfish, speckled trout and grouper. 

9. In the West we call Applebee’s a BBQ place. Back East they have real BBQ joints, and some are even at gas stations! They are usually named “Bubba’s,” but I don’t care where you’re from – it’s good.

10. In the West you can swim in the lakes and wade the shoreline without fear of death. In the East (Southeast mostly), you might get bitten by a cottonmouth or eaten by a gator. Heck, even a snapping turtle might take a toe or two if provoked.

And so it goes. I thought we’d have some fun looking at a few of the differences I’ve noticed in my time out East fishing the Walmart FLW Tour. Still, no matter where you’re from, we all fish for bass. We might go about it a little differently, but all the same, it’s a blast.