Trout

by Marc Phillippe Babineau

Created on: June 26, 2010

There are many fishermen who have their favorite fish to fish for, but the most sought-after sport fish is the trout, be they speckled (also known as brook trout, or sea trout), rainbow, lake, brown or steelhead trout.  There are other species of trout as well, like bullhead and the more pure of the species, the Arctic Char, one of the most sought-after prize fish for most fishermen, aside from the Arctic Grayling, which is a sub-species of the salmon family.  However, when we talk of bass fishing, it is almost always large mouth bass or striped bass, as most other species, like small mouth bass and rock bass are too bony and will live in dirty waters, feeding on whatever they find that fits in their mouths, making them not a very good meal.

But, which provides a bigger thrill;  catching a five pound bass or catching a five pound trout?  That would depend upon the fisherman, if they have a favorite fish to catch.  There are many bass tournaments, most of them are even televised, but there are not many trout tournaments shown on television.  This could more likely be due to the over abundance of bass in the many dirty waters of near-city lakes and rivers, and trout fishing usually requires a long drive, each way, unless you are lucky enough to live by a trout fishery.

There are many fishing shows on television, and most of them have more episodes dedicated to catching trout than they do for catching bass, but for one fisherman to prefer to catch a five pound bass does not make them wrong, just misinformed.  Maybe they have never caught a five pound trout to compare it to, or were unlucky and caught a worn out five pound trout, one that just fought it’s way up a river or stream that is full of rapids and small waterfalls.  Bass are more inclined to stay away from swimming up against strong currents, which makes them less muscular than trout, not to mention not as pretty to look at, or as tasty to eat.

A trout is much harder to catch than a bass as a general rule, giving the fisherman more of a challenge, making the fishing process more of a sport, man against fish.  As trout live in clean, clear waters, you can be more assured that the fish is good to eat, but not so much with bass.  But, this is not about which fish is better to eat, it is about which fish, of the same weight, gives a better thrill to the fisherman.

Pound for pound, a trout will give a better fight to the fisherman, with more picture perfect high jumps out of the water, doing back flips and struggling to free itself from the lure or the bait that it bit.  The fisherman uses lightweight gear, and has to keep their lines taught and their drag set properly.  However, there is always the exception to the rule, as there are some five pound bass that will give the fisherman an unforgettable fight.  But, when all is taken into account, there is nothing quite like catching a five pound trout, especially near supper time!

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