Pine Creek, a trout laden creek in Northwestern Pennsylvania
Pine Creek, a trout laden creek in Northwestern Pennsylvania
Browns are the Einsteins of the trout family, and it wasn’t just me that got frustrated by them, but a lot of beginners and pros too who were outfished.
The Brown trout, similar in body contour to the Rainbow, is found throughout the world, and very extensively in the North Eastern United States, populating the trout streams in the area. Native Browns, those born into the stream, as opposed to stocked are lovely creatures, a bit larger in size than their Rainbow trout cousins, and have a lovely pink flesh that is mild tasting.. and did I mention a little harder to get onto the plate.
Browns are famous for their intellect and for their cunning means of avoiding being caught.
When a straightforward fly fishing technique might work for the Rainbow, Browns will step away and avoid the hook and net. Still it does make it far more of a challenge and that much more rewarding.. no, I think the word is thrilling, when you get that giant Brown on the hook.
Nothing can wreck a fly fishing trip for an ardent fisherman faster than a Brown, because the level of intelligence they display about the hook and pole make them so hard to even get a hook into.
Once you do hook him though his smarts get to be that much more apparent.
Instead of jumping and twisting like the average trout, the brown will nearly always head straight off and look for any single obstacle in the whole river or creek, and very often he will snap the line, tangle you so thoroughly that you have to cut the line, or make some runs the likes of which you just can’t keep up with.
A Native Brown, absolutely a fighting fish
A Native Brown, absolutely a fighting fish
All to often, the trout ends up getting away since light tippets and tackle are often usually used when fly fishing for Brown Trout and they just can’t stand up to the test. Most of the One that got away stories you’re going to hear, I’d just be willing to bet, were Browns.
The Brown Trout is recognized by its buttery colored sides and has black and red spots following its body.
To a lot of fishermen, pros and amateurs alike the Brown Trout is an ugly brute. I always wondered how much of that had to do with how often they weren’t caught, and how frustrated they left the fisherman.
In my world, a 20 or 22 inch brown is the most gorgeous fish that exists.. AFTER he’s on the hook..
I’ll tell you something else.. Fly fishing isn’t the only way to catch a Brown.
Having lived in Pennsylvania nearly all my life, I can say I’ve caught as many with a simply ultralight rod and reel than anything else.
