Brook trout the fish.

 A fish, is a fish. This is something you will often hear me say, especially on days when I am struggling to find fish. It is a sentiment I have stemming from many days of fishing and not catching anything. After spending hours without a single bite, even the smallest fish can improve your mood drastically. Thus, the time and effort spent out there was justified by at least catching something. And yet, many fishermen don’t agree with this point of view, and rather have a need to be the best they can. To be honest, I agree with both sides, but I will have to explain.

I have been pretty “lucky” with random encounters my entire life. From catching a catfish with a piece of wire in an irrigation ditch in the South African lowveld, to having a crayfish was up against my legs. But these moments are far and few in between. I have spent many days fishing lakes in the exact same way I do now, and have nothing to show for it. The more you do it, the more you learn and grow. You start to understand the fish’ behavior and adapt to catch them. But at the end of the day all fishing is, is an opportunity to catch and not a guarantee. Thus, anything caught should be celebrated.

On the other hand, some fish stand out from the rest for good reason. In the picture here, we have my first Brook Trout. This trip was already worthwhile when I caught my first few Rainbows at Mammoth Lakes. But this particular fish was the icing on top of the cake. I had hoped to catch a new species, and after several failed attempt on Brown Trout, this guy showed up. Just by being something different and new, this fish is more than a fish. And that is the problem, should my next Brooky be smaller, will it be anything less than this first one?  Should it be?

Whether you are looking for a monster, a new species, or just want to catch a fish, at the end of the day you get to choose what is important to you. All I’m asking is appreciate each fish, big or small. It might not be your best catch, but could mean the world to someone else. Like this small and yet perfect Brook Trout. White and purple spots, red fins, and a black lip. Sure, there are a lot better fish out there. But this fish is a fish that I caught, and that makes it a special fish to me.