Trout Characteristics–a Treatise

A fishing pal recently commented about his not so latent dislike of the Rainbow Trout. Or perhaps its more accurate to say that he had harbored some deep seated dissatisfaction with the Rainbow’s looks and could no longer hold back.

Personally, I think he’s been eating too much processed food to have come up with such nonsense.

The comment and following conversation did reignite some of my thoughts regarding which of the trout that I favor and some things regarding their respective differences in both their beginnings, their behavior and their psychological as well as emotional make-up.

I’m sure that you will see the truth of my reflections.

Although there are exceptions, I think in the main, my findings will be accepted as ‘gospel’ by the majority of clear thinking individuals. As for the rest, it matters not.

This is the first of the installments on the subject.

Brown Trout

Brown trout are beautiful in the wonderful simplicity of their golden hues made to stand out all the more by those distinctive dark spots often surrounded by contrasting whitish background. Brown trout are for obvious reasons the aristocrats of troutdom.

Just as the aristocrat was born on the European continent, so the mighty Brown has his origins there. He is special. He stands apart from his fellow trout–though he may on occasion swim along side him, he is not one of them. By virtue of his birth, he has standing. Because of his standing, he has a singular attitude. All brown trout, though they have been transported ’round the world, are from ancient Europe.

Just as the aristocrat has become old and tired in a world that has changed around him, the brown is weary of the world at large and would rather spend his days in quiet contemplation in the environs of his fellows and dine a special diet mostly unseen by others.

He has become cautious over the centuries, as he has been sought with fly and line all through them. He is quiet, cerebral and discerning. Never let us assume that these characteristics equate with weakness. No–he is still the mighty and strong ‘almo trutta‘ and when roused is a creature to be contended with. The Brown Trout has withstood all manner of trials and tribulations and has become who he is because of them. Formed to be the stolid creature that he is by those trials–experience that has made him wise and strong among his cousins. As an adult, he is hard to nail down and when taken captive by fly and line will likely run deep to those places that have harbored him. Seldom will he rise to the surface for all to see. After all–he is the Brown Trout and called by all who love him ‘almo trutta‘, the aristocrat dressed in his golden garb.