Tim J. wrote:

but the brown trout
I've caught, and I've caught a few, have been near lethargic. The big ones
I've caught have put up some fight and were fun on a light rod, but on an
"ounce-for-ounce" basis didn't even make it into my top 5.

I think a lot of *fish fighting* comes from the evironment. And IMO, if
most of the fish one is catching once felt the side of a hatchery tank
I don't think they fight very hard at all, but the last couple of
decent sized (14") browns I've hooked took some serious line out and
really put a bend in the rod.

I fish to fish these days and like trout more because of where they
live not so much of how they fight. I've spent most of my life on the
southern coast. As a teenager and a young adult I had so many
opportunities to fish the salt. Besides the Blue Marlin, I've caught
white and striped marlin, hooked a tarpon, sailfish, swordfish,
dolphin, several species of shark, etc. I think sal****er fish are the
better fighters pound for pound but I just don't enjoy that kind of
fishing anymore. Same with the Bass and Bream, I fish for them at least
twice a week in the ponds and creeks near here, nothing wrong with them
per se but I look forward to each outing for my troutlets. The wild
ones are so much more attractive.