Are Bass Dumber Than Trout?

Really, or is that just propaganda?  Read on BlogBuddies and let me know what you think?  First off,

Let me explain where I am coming from.  Like many others, I am sure throughout our country, I am still waiting for the opportunity to get into some sort of regular fly fishing mode with the 2014 season.  I mean weather, well, has been really weather here on the Front Range of Colorado.  If the wind is not blowing 30 - 40 MPH, then you have weekends like this one.  Wet rain and snow! I hope the weather man is wrong, but, they had predicted 4 - 6 inches of snow in some areas.  Can we just go fishing and get on with the season for crying out loud. 

Anyway, while I wasn't fishing today, I did manage to hit my local fly tying supplier for a few things I needed to tie up some Bluegill nymphs and a few other things from my "Stuff" list.  My wife just smiles and sends me on the way.  She knows better than to debate me about "Stuff".

I better get to the point here that I am trying to make with this post.  While looking through most all of the fly tying goodies, I over heard a conversation between Employee and Customer.  It kind of went something like this:

Customer: I am looking for materials to tie up some various streamers for fishing Bass, mostly Largemouth, but, some Smallmouth, too?

Employee:  Well, you don't have to be very selective when choosing what materials to use when tying Streamers for Bass!  Heck, Bass will eat anything as long as you find them in a feeding mode.  I would not bother with anything but a Wooly Bugger in different colors and a couple of different sizes.

Customer: Really, well that should be easy enough.  I was also thinking about tying up some Marabou Muddlers or trying some of the Articulated Streamers I see in the magazines.

Employee:  I would not even bother with all that extra work and time in tying.  Bass are really stupid fish compared to Trout! With a Trout you have to be more cognizant of how you present the materials and what techniques to use.  Trout are much more keen to what is going on around them than a Bass.  Trout sometimes key on certain materials like the Enrico Puglesi fibers that you can combine certain colors to make more exact imitations than you would need for Bass fishing with Streamers.  Here let me show you some of the material I am talking about and you will see what I mean when I say Trout are much more selective than a Bass.

To make a long story short, I blocked out the rest of the conversation as they moved to another isle in the fly tying materials section.  I had heard enough reality or propaganda.  Whichever, as I paid for my supplies, I just chuckled and shook my head.  Left me wondering what all my BlogBuddies would think of this conversation and what they feel comparable intelligence levels are of a Bass or a Trout.  Chime in if you feel the need too..............................................

Trout Lake Musings And A New Book To Read

I walked into my headquarters for the Pond Stalker this evening with the idea that I would attempt to organize the mess on my fly tying bench.  However, in my left hand I was carrying the new issue of Fly Fisherman magazine I had just plucked from the mailman.  My intention was to lay it on my bench after organizing it. Then perhaps take a browse through before I went to bed.  Nothing wrong with fish on the brain as you try to sleep, right?

Well, that is where things went astray and I never did get to organize my fly tying bench.  Cop out? Sounds like it too me.  Anyway, I looked at the cover of Fly Fisherman one more time and admired the the beautiful BC Dean River Steelhead on the cover.  Actually, noticed the beautiful Andrea Charlton holding this beautiful fish for the "Dream Shot".

After coming out of my trance after a minute or two, I opened the back cover of the magazine to read the featured "Seasonable Angler"  It quickly caught my eye.  It was titled, Trout Lake.  Could it be the Trout Lake I am thinking of?  That beautiful small lake nestled near a major highway in Yellowstone Park.  The one with the short, but better be in good condition, hike uphill for a short period before you descend down into the lake.  The one I had fished myself.  The one I knew had big fish in it.  Ones that I tried to fool, but, came away empty handed.  Yup, it was the one.

This article, as it turns out, was an excerpt from the book Troutsmith by Kevin Searock.

This new book was published in the Spring of 2013 and is available at several places online.  Perhaps in some of the Fly Shops also.  Anyway, Kevin detailed his trip to Trout Lake for the day.  Very well written and descriptive.  He talked of stalking a couple of huge Rainbow Trout.  The kind of writing that makes you feel you were standing along side him as he cast.  How did he do? Well, over time he was able to hook both fish.  Both were perhaps in the (10) pound range!  For the rest of the story you will have to grab a copy of Fly Fisherman magazine.  Or, perhaps better yet, is to search out a copy of his new book and read more about not only this tale, but, others far and wide.  I found his article very interesting and the fish tale accurate.  I know, I have been to Trout Lake!

Ok, readers this ol' Blogger has just introduced very large Rainbow Trout and a new book to read this winter to a Warm Water Fly Fishing Blog!

Hope you enjoy.