Browns. They are bigger, meaner, and much harder fighters (in my opinion). As far as more numerous... depends on which water source you are talking about. Where I come from, Browns dominate the water.
BIG O FAT BROWNIES ON A 3 WT. lol. but ya bigger, badder, harder to catch, have to be on your game to get them.
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
Seeing as I have only ever caught rainbows I am now much help on this topic...... what I can say is of the 'bows that I have caught (which unfortunately are not that many) the ones out of the Yuba kick ass !!!!(usually mine )
Also to confuse the thread a little ....would Steelies count as 'bows???
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"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." - Anon.
Alastair, you may be on to something. I wonder which is stronger: sea run browns and steelhead (which are the exact same species as rainbows - Oncorhynchus mykiss). I guess the only sensible and objective way to find out is to simultaneously hook a brown and a 'bow, tie the lines together, and see who wins the tractor pull.
I believe bows consistantly fight harder then browns, So I have to go with the rainbow. As stated above browns do not get bigger, Check the world records. As for searun variety's that may be a different story since browns are VERY closely related to the atlantic salmon wich is said to be the ultimate flyrod quarry. Just figured this would be a good topic to start a healthy debate.
Browns or Rainbows? Let me put this in the perspective of my friend Bill...
Tastes great or less filling? Hump or die? All good questions and each worthy of thoughtful conversation…none right or wrong, just matters of opinion (except for the last question). (from The War in Heaven by Jim Zech, California Fly Fisher, Jan/Feb 2004)
yup at my skill level being on the water is cool enough ...... any fish 'bow, brown or otherwise is just a big bonus.
-- Edited by AfricanAngler on Friday 13th of November 2009 10:29:14 PM
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"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." - Anon.
I believe rainbows fight harder than browns. I'm not talking about hatchery mutants but the full-tailed fish of the Sac and the various forks of the Feather, American, and Yuba Rivers.  That being said, brownies are definitely a treat. I recently landed a brown on the lower American. That was a total surprise! Browns are known as being more difficult to fool, so landing one is a true reward. In other words, I like both--for different reasons. My cravings constantly change.Â
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
If we're adding pescatoral species to the mix (American that is), the rare, big bad attitude Bull Trout will crush either trout species for a rod breaking fight. It's just different.
But, to single out particular characteristics of each (Bows & Browns), if you like jet propelled cartwheel jumps and lightening runs, rainbows provide the juice. For big, stubborn, head shaking bull dogging pulls, you have to give it to browns.
We shouldn't forget the brookie. These guys survive in the most severe of conditions. and they taste the best.
And you shouldn't forget about the Golden. Which in my opinion taste better than all of them and lives in even more harsh of conditions. Not to say that Brookies don't live where Goldens do, cause they do, but Brooks are also found at all different altitudes leading to much variation in weather conditions.
Anybody ever caught a Tiger trout (Brown x Brookie)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_trout
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being on the water is cool enough ...... any fish 'bow, brown or otherwise is just a big bonus.