The great John Gierach once wrote, “Maybe your stature as a fly fisherman isn’t determined by how big a trout you can catch, but by how small a trout you can catch without begin disappointed.” In a day where grip n grins and big fish flaunting dominate social media, I think Gierach’s quote is more relevant than ever. There is a certain beauty about small fish. In some situations, they may have taken just as much skill to land as a thick two footer. If you are casting at native cutthroat in a high mountain creek, a 12 incher can be a trophy. If you are swinging flies on the Naknek, a 12 incher would get eaten. The point is that the term “trophy” is such a relative word in the world of fly fishing. Just like everyone reading this, I would always prefer to catch a larger fish over a smaller one but I do think in the year 2019, a little too much focus is being placed on the size of the fish. It is surprisingly refreshing to go back to your roots and throw poppers at blue gill or cast a single dry fly at a 10 inch brookie. They will still put a bend in your rod, just maybe not as big of one..The important part is that it puts a smile on your face!
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