I'll be damned, so THAT'S what a greenback looks like...

yeah, you can muscle your way to victory, but i would rather catch the green back, because to me it sems more of a challenge, getting a small bait that it will take, and keeping it on the line, and hey, it looks cooler if you ask me

fishing just rocks give me a fish and I'll be happy just to catch. 'nough said!

8 lbs. trout every time.

Of course its the greenback cutthroat, you can buy steelhead at any market ,besides that little trout is orange inside and will be really tasty nailed on a board in a campfire.

Why can't I just catch wild, native, and big trout? The Bull Trout.
But if I must I would say the Greenback. Because if I had a greenback on the end of my line it would mean I was somewhere really cool and not a warmwater carp stream that got stocked over the winter months. Also because I have caught a grain fed rainbow that size before in downtown Roanoke, VA.

Having done both the small native thing, the giant not native thing, and the pretty durn big native thing, the special feeling that comes with the native trout feels not as special.

After you've pulled out countless tiny brookies or cuts, you just want an alien freakshow brown or bow to gobble the pretty little native you have on the other end, so things can get exciting again.

But, once I get my jollies from that, I'll eventually find myself back in the middle of goshdarned nowhere again, trying to catch some untouched trout that haven't seen a hook or hand in years.

Basically, wild native trout are the holy grail until you catch a bunch, then you don't care so much and just want some cheap thrills that really tug.

the GBCT...

Native fish most often live in places that are just as/ more impressive as the fish we chase. The journey to these places is just as exciting as the fishing itself. Stocked trout, to me, represent the idea of man's laziness and need to change what is natural. That pellethead bow has been competing with a native fish, a fish that man has marginalized or maybe labeled a "trash fish". The GBCT has survived, adapted, and evolved with out the aid of man, and sometimes overcoming the mistakes of man (ie the misclassification GBs and then reintroduction of the wrong fish in RMNP). For me, the GBs I have caught (all on dries) have all individually been more fulfilling than all of my 8+ stocker bows.

There is the "picture is worth a 1000s words" quote... So look at the two pictures and I think you can tell a lot about the fish in both. The pellethead is the text-book hero shot. The fish is secondary to the fisherman, and there is no acknowledgment of the fish. Rather a dude cheesing the camera and the fish is half-heartedly lifted/flopped. The GB is shot is showcasing the beauty of the fish and notice the fly is still in the mouth. The angler obviously shows respect and admiration for the fish with the way it is held. No hero shot, just fish

Greenback. If you are in the right place at the right time to catch that fish, you are experiencing it all. The other fish, maybe not. It's all good, for sure, but if you have to chose one. Greenback.

I feel incredibly lucky any time I get a fish on the line, stocked or native. I've caught my share of big stockers but if I had to pick one I think I'd go for the greenback. You can literally catch a big stocker anywhere but a native greenback, or here in California, a native golden resides in beautiful, remote country that takes work to get to, there is a sense of reward and accomplishment just making it to their home waters. I hope to to catch a native golden in the Golden Trout Wilderness some day and when that day comes the size of the fish won't matter at all, it will be HUGE every time I talk about it anyway.

And the "why should we care" meant, why does a stocked fish matter, they fight the same, don't get me wrong, wild fish are great, but I don't see why people make such a big deal over it (Like flying all over the world to catch a 6 inch wild brookie when there is a stream near there house where they could get a 30 inch steelhead who's parents were stocked) Really, almost all fish are stocked, and many where I live are, I'm not lucky like you (there are very few wild fish around me.)

AP

Wow! I commented before reading any of those that preceded mine...

Deeter, to underscore the last bit of my previous post, you can surely tell that this blog is full of practiced fisherman, citing both the quantity and quality of all the liars, er, I mean fisherman, that would rather catch a fish who's effort is as pedestrian as it is beautiful.

So as long as everybody is being so "honest" here's my question to everybody seeming spending their summer at Camp Greenback. How come it seems I'm always shoulder to shoulder when fishing the Pan, while I've never had less then a third of Fern lake, in the RMNP, all to myself?

I receive great satisfaction knowing I've caught a fish born and raised in the river that has survived years of predation, natural selection and whose genes are in direct linage of the fish caught hundreds of years ago by our forefathers. I did something special and for the moment was one with nature.

Stocked trout are simply prostitutes of the water. They are bought and paid for cheap thrills for anyone with a worm and Zebco 202.

Honestly, I'd be fine with either one. There's a definite rush of excitement catching a big fish that puts up a big fight - stocked or not. There can also be a certain level of excitement in catching a native cutthroat. I've been on a small stream fishing for trout and caught a small panfish - I think it was a pumpkinseed - and I still had a blast catching it, mainly because it was unexpected. So, yeah, either would be fine with me.

Personaly i just like to fish, just being on the water is what i want. If i catch something it is a bonus.

I'm for the greenback every time. There's something awesome about catching a fish that's supposed to be there and is truely wild.

Deeter - yes, that 30" PM brown would be atop the list. Nice to know they are out there.

Still like to catch the little brookies, though - just to admire them. And I agree, wild trout that don't often see a fly are much easier to catch than stockers that have seen it all.

Excellent point Koldcut. The degree of difficulty for the hog is much more than for the greenback. The only thing hard about the greenback is getting to them, but once you do that you'll find them to be an easy catch.

If an 8 pound stocked trout is a "prostitute of the water" as buckhunter suggests, I'd simply like to add that she's a high end gal with a price to match.

One more thing...

I doubt the 8 pounder was an 8 pounder when it was stocked. It got that way by being a good trout - eating lots of bugs and evading predation, all driven by natural (key word) instinct. So as it turns out, many of the same reasons that earn the greenback such praise can also be applied to the brute. It is after all still a trout, a pretty fish, likely caught in a pretty place, regardless of how it got there.

Cell phone is off, no one is on the water, and all you can hear is the river... To me, fishing is more than just an activity, it's MY time. I'm in the zone until the day is over, and nothing else matters in between then. For once, I don't have to worry about life and all it's troubles and only thoughts of "I'd bet there is a fish in that run," or "Which of my beat-up flies is going to work?" run through my mind.

Personally, a fish is a fish, stocked or not. I'm not going to choose which fish I would rather catch, but instead, where I would fish. Doesn't matter to me how rare or significant the GBCT is, if the water is populated with people, I'll turn right around and move to another less-populated location, even if I do end up catching freshly stocked bows...

To me, it depends where I am. On the big water, it's all about wild fish, not necessarily native fish. This means that I want to catch a fish whose grandparents were born into the ecosystem, not stocked. Like you said, this includes every brown trout and almost every rainbow I've ever caught in any Missoula area river.

In the headwaters and spawning streams and rivers however, I kill every non-native I catch, including obvious hybrids. These streams are the lifeblood of native westslope cutthroats and bulls in my neck of the woods, and brookies, goldens, and other cuttie variations elsewhere. Many of these species are threatened or "species of concern", and hybridization is one of the major threats to their survival.

Besides, it's nice to be able to eat a trout in the woods and feel good about helping the ecosystem at the same time.

Fortunately, natives around here grow to 20+ and 30+ inches respectively.

All in all, I'd rather catch a "wild", non-native 8 pound rainbow on the big rivers than a native 6 inch cuttie, but definitely not a 1st generation stock pig in a kiddie pond.

I'd like to catch a Greenback. I've never caught one before and its a beautiful fish. Also, its a wild, rare fish which would make it a great catch!

WELL GUYS,HAVING JUST RECENTLY GOT INTO FLY FISHING DUE TO THE GOOD FOLKS AT PROJECT HEALING WATERS. I HAVE TO SAY THAT FOR ME PERSONALLY, THEY ARE ALL GREAT FISH, AND IF YOU USE THE RIGHT WEIGHT TACKLE FOR EACH ONE IT KIND OF BUMPS UP THE "FIGHT FACTOR" FOR THE LITTLE GUYS. I WISH WE COULD ALL FISH JURASSIC PARK STEAMS FOR THE GRAND DADDY OF EM ALL,BUT THOSE DAYS ARE GONE FOREVER. IF OUR GRAND CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GET TO FISH,THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP WITH STOCKED FISH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE INVITED TO FISH WITH THE FOLKS AT SPRING RIDGE IN PA, AND THAT WAS A TRIP OF A LIFE TIME AS FAR AS BIG TROUT GO. WITH MR. JOE HUMPHRIES AS A GUIDE AND THE BIG BROWNS, AND BOWS, THAT THE CLUB HAS FOSTERED IN THAT STREAM IT IS AS CLOSE TO "JURASSIC" AS YOU COULD GET THESE DAYS, AND I'M DARNED GLAD THEY THINK ENOUGH OF THE WOUNDED WARRIORS TO LET US FISH IT AT LEAST ONCE IN OUR LIFE TIME. YET, I'M GLAD TO BE ABLE TO GO TO ANY LITTLE BODY OF WATER THAT I CAN BET MY BANGED UP BODY NEXT TO AND FISH. EVEN IF THAT SUNFISH I JUST LANDED IS A DOUBLE FOR ONE OF MY WIFES GOLD FISH.

I enjoy catching any fish. Here in southern New Mexico most fish are stocked, and it almost always seems like when I can go fishing the fish aren't biting, or I'm trying something new and can't seem to get it quite right when they are biting.

Most of the time I can't leave town so I just hit the pond on campus and after a year of going there to practice this or that a few times a month I think I might actually try to catch something since I haven't yet. I just enjoy fishing whether I catch something or not.

I can go hiking a few miles back after a 2-3 hour drive and catch native Gila Cutthroat trout. I love to do so cause I love the Gila National Forest and I love the beauty of the mountains. But, I can't do that recently cause I have a back problem that doesn't bother my fishing though because I just make the same drive and take the turn a bit early to stop at the lake up there and catch whatever stockers are biting. I do wish I could go up to the forest and fish the lake or stream more, but I don't have time and/or the ability to do so.

I enjoy whatever I catch just like I enjoyed the little bluegill I caught 2 weeks ago at the lake in the mountains that was the first fish I managed to actually land on a fly rod. I would really have enjoyed catching a big Rainbow in 11mile canyon a couple summers ago, but the little trout I spent 30 minutes harassing into biting my micro-fly in the that trip taught me a whole lot because that was my first outing focusing on fly fishing, and when he shook himself off as I was trying to climb down the rock to be able to land and release him quickly he showed me even more.

I enjoy fishing always even in town. I enjoy whatever I catch, but the bigger they are the more exciting it usually is. Now I also enjoy catching small fish in a beautiful setting, but all else being equal I don't care if the fish I catch is stocked or native I like to catch big fish even if it is rare that I do so. So I would have to say given the choice I would chose the big one cause the catching part would be more fun.

Sorry I ran on.
Jeepdude1987

In my opinion, its not important whether or not fish are stocked or native to a particular area. As a fly fisherman, my goal is simple: catch fish and have fun. I'm not as concerned of how the fish got into the water. The point is that they are there and I have an equal opportunity to catch them regardless of where the fish were born. Although a wild greenback would be a pleasure to catch, I would rather reel in a big fat 8 pounder any day. A bigger fish leads to a better fight, and a better fight equals more fun. At the end of the day when I've caught (and released) a huge rainbow, its safe to say that I'd rather have a monster mutant than a pretty banana peel.

Wow, what a loaded question! Everyone wants to catch big fish in a general kind of way, which is why the San Juan, the White River and Lake Taneycomo are all packed to over-flowing with fishermen. I also like catching big fish, but I'm just not a social fisherman. I'll always head for more secluded waters, and of those secluded waters, I love the wild trout streams.

Our hatchery trout have their tails & ventral fins squared off from concrete raceways, and many have a ruddy-colored deformed look to them. Our wild trout are perfect -- they look like what an artist would paint. And the knowledge that stream-bred fish are never fed trout chow and that they've had to be wiley to avoid the bigger fish, the otters, and the herons... well, it just makes me feel all the more talented when I catch one of any size. In addition, I always think of fish in terms of their age rather than in inches and pounds. A 15-inch hatchery trout is 2 years old around here. A 15-inch wild trout is probably more like 5 years old, making it a true trophy in my book.

So, I guess I calling it a draw. An 8-pound hatchery rainbow = a 15-inch wild rainbow = a 10-inch wild greenback (depending on my mood, of course).

Its always nice to catch big fish and I would be proud to land anything the size of the rainbow that is show but I take much more pride in taking an eight inch brookie in my native state of Michigan. Sneaking up on a brook trout in a stream that half as wide as my Volkswagon and is as crystal clear as bottled water takes great skill. So I would pick the cutthroat, hands down.

For me catching fish is a real pleasure. I fish for just about any kind of fish there is. As to your question. I just like catching both. There is one thing however. To catch a native is a special thing. I have caught native which some fishermen would say " is that your bait?" I was still as proud of catching it as a 22" stocker. I guess I am trying to say I am not too proud to catch any fish small or large. I just love being out there in the action.

I've actually been able to catch multiple greenback cutthroats, and have cught a few bigger rainbows too. I would have to say I'd want to catch the cutthroat cause there are so many lakes around the country that hold big rainbows but it is kinda hard to find place that you can consistantly catch greenbacks.

NATIVE

I would love to catch the huge rainbow. First the fight would be a memory not to forget. second I have never caught a fish that humungous. Third I wouldn't mind getting my name in the record books. Fourth it tells you what happens when you mess with nature. Fifth it would put food on your table for a while or it would make a great mount.

I would go for the greenback but the one I envision would be in the 8 lb. range.

i would rather catch the stocker. i like to now when fish are being stocked, but have no idea about finding the location. and to me, all i care about is the fight and the dinner(maybe) afterwards

i also wouldn't feel bad by eating the stocker