Quote:
Originally Posted by goldscud
For me, a quality trout fishery is where there is a good number of fish over 17" with a good chance of catching some fish over 20". Of course skill and experience will affect the catch rates. If you fish all day and catch a good number of fish that are all under 14", I wouldn't call that a quality fishery. It is true that a lake stuffed with huge fish doesn't offer much challenge. I've had some fun fishing in high density/huge fish scenarios. It gets old pretty quick unless you challenge yourself to catch the fish in a more difficult way. I'm looking for the opportunity to catch a few fish over 4lbs MOST days that I head out. I realize catch rates change between days, but experienced anglers always seem to catch most of the fish. Someone once said 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish. The numbers seem too be not to far off. So even if I don't catch the fish over 4lb, I would like them to be present for the opportunity.
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There seems to be a disparagy between two points regarding ease of fish catching and size.
A) One group wants easy to catch small trout 9-12 inches in length.
B) One group wants good catch rates but with plenty of 16-19 inch trout with a good chance over 20 inch
Group A hopes that there are lots of big fish around but you just have to hunt for them.
Group A tends to want to keep trout to eat.
Group A requires higher stocking rates to keep up on the harvest demand
Group B believes harvest rates are so high in Group A that there are so few bigger or none even that fishing is not challenging.
Group B tends to be more recreational fishing...and puts most trout back.
Group B requires lower stocking rates to increase growth rates.
What is a definition of Quality Lake would be for me?
It is a lake wherein the trout remain in the lake longer so that there are always trout to catch (when they bite) regardless of when the stocking truck left. Catch rates are higher and remain so over time. There are plenty of 16-19 inch trout with a good chance over 20 inch but still you have to have some skill to catch them as they are not dumb newly stocked trout.
Chubdarter...
Most flyfishermen started off chucking everything under the sink. They gravitated to flyfishing for a reason. It is definitely different than a buzz bomb and I have a tackle box full of them when needed.
There is lots of comments about how people should have to work for the trout and that it is not about having it easy. Flyfishing is the closest to work you can get. You need good technique, the right fly, the right location, the right presentation drift, depth etc... then you still miss a subtle strike. Buzz bombs are easier to catch fish at times...but it is not about the easy...it is about the chase and the hunt and tricking the fish. When that does not work...I break out my buzz bombs and rapalas.
Is it more entertaining or satisfying to see a 16 inch trout take a dry fly on the surface...or whack a buzz bomb under the surface? The answer is simple...depends upon the person and the day. And neither answer IMHO is wrong.
Cheers
Sun