The esteemed fly-fishing author 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 being disappointed.”

In a day where grip and 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 much larger specimen. If you are casting at native westslope cutthroat in a high mountain creek, a 12-inch fish can be a trophy. If you are swinging streamer flies for bull trout on the Highwood River, a 12-inch fish might 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 recent years, 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 an Adams dry at brook trout or cast a mosquito fly at a 10-inch grayling. They will still put a nice bend in your 3 of 4 weight rod. The important part is that it puts a smile on your face!