Tim Weissberg and Dan Fogelberg coined the title phrase on their 1979 album, it is appropriate to the subject of this essay. The album explored the concept of brothers who may be inherently alike, yet worlds apart in their personalities. While the sport of fishing assembles its practitioners as a fraternity, the semblance of this brotherhood could not be more disparate. While assembly near water is the norm, the similarity ends at that point. Pursuers of bass and trout mix as well as oil and water, and for these reasons they never will be same and why they never have been.
It’s rarely difficult to spot the differences, even though both angling species are found on or near water. Despite related life purposes and some common traits, there is little evidence of any further relevance to their familial classification. Though bass fisherman have the greater population and highest regional concentration, trout anglers are the more dominate and widespread of the order.
Behavioral traits vary wide between the sub groups. Trout anglers often have accents, usually British, Yankee or Midwestern. Bass fishers will have a drawl, usually southern. Their habitats are also telling. Trout anglers prefer small free flowing cold water streams where small trout reside. Bass fishers gravitate to large dammed warm water rivers, the home of largemouth bass.
Another easy method of detection is trout anglers prefer to be called fly fishers, while bass fishers will usually answer to the call of Billy Bob. The tools that both groups utilize are quite opposite too. Trout anglers use long wispy stems of graphite or boron that they refer to as fly rods. These levers are designed to cast a tiny hook called a fly with feathers and fuzz attached short distances, and land lightly on the waters surface. Bass fishers prefer bait casting fishing pole, a short stout instrument oftenmistaken as a tree limb. The purpose of this stout object is to hurl heavy multi-hooked lure great distances, resulting in a hearty splash.
While bass fishers have amassed a greater population, it is a result of the shortness of their evolutionary period. Still at the stage where merely propagating the species is important, it is hoped that bass anglers will soon advance beyond this. Once this occurs, their population will crest and their numbers can be brought down to manageable levels. Significantly higher on the evolutionary scale, evidence of trout anglers existence dates back to ancient Greece. In fact, the first published book on fly fishing came from Medieval England over 600 years ago. The first new world trout anglers were found in New York’s Catskill Mountains in the 1600’s
When not gathered at water’s edge, further dissimilation of the species shows itself. Whereas two fellows may share the common name of Henry, the bass fisher will always go by Hank. Additionally, trout anglers generally prefer to be known as fly fishermen. The purveyors of equipment used for the sport are equally as different. Trout anglers will often congregate at an Orvis Shop, a small upscale boutique with a full inventory of specialized necessities for the fly fisherman. Bass fishers, on the other hand, will likely be found at the Bass Pro Shop nearest their dwelling. These big box behemoths will offer any item under the sun remotely related to fishing. They, like their patrons seek quantity over quality.
At the water, there is little doubt as to which member of the angling fraternity you are observing. Trout anglers will seek out small streams in remote areas. As they are by nature secretive loners, any evidence of another angler will be cause to seek out another spot up the road. It is likely they will walk the stream in waders to seek out their quarry. If a trout should be caught, it will nearly always be released to fight another day, and the angler will muse over the quality of the fight, and the joy of retuning his catch. After that, a sip of single malt scotch from his flask will provide the refreshment before partaking in the next cast.
Bass fishers usually congregate at massive marinas on large man-made lakes behind a power dam. They will arrive in oversize pickup trucks hauling overpriced glittery bass boats. These have twin motors capable of propelling the vessel at Nascar speeds for no other apparent reason than to go fast. Bass fishers like to travel in groups and wear shirts with lots of advertising. Their social norm is something called a tournament, where dozens will gather at an appointed spot to compete for the largest catch. Upon completion of their tournament, they will assemble in a large horde around a roasting pig and celebrate with many cases of Busch beer.
Despite being characterized as elitist, the inherent philosophy of trout angling lies within its simplicity. It is purely the angler versus the fish. While some balk at the price tag of a fly rod, consider the outlay for a well-equipped bass fisher. Even with several rods, reels, and other required compulsory accessories, the average fly angler is still out only a few thousand dollars, and is set for life. The cost of travel and a stock of flies is all that will be a further cost. Just be sure to show up at the stream with the right brands.
Bass fishing will require, at a minimum, a tricked out bass boat, always with a price north of $20,000, and a vehicle capable of hauling it. On top of that, there are the devices required to find fish, radars, sonars, and underwater cameras. All these take the mystery and simplicity out of
fishing, and in turn, the fun. Bass anglers compensate for this by getting more toys.
In light of this all, one might decide that early man was perhaps more evolved than his descendants. It may have been geographical necessity that brought bass fishing into being, though it did not seem to develop until large scale damming of rivers in the United States began. Trout angling has remained essentially unchanged for centuries. It is a pure sport, sought out by those seeking a higher pursuit.
