One of the reasons why brown trout are one of my favorite fish to chase besides the challenge is the diversity of the species. Red spots, black spots, no spots, heavily spotted, each fish is unique and no two browns are the same. Each fish has spotting, colouring, and even body shape that is exclusive to that specific fish. Depending on where you fish also affects how they look. Different strains and genetics are found across the country. In some areas, fish will have a lot of spots, and in other water bodies, fish will be almost void of spots altogether. Even the type of water can affect how browns look. Tannic water vs clear water.

This drawing depicts a heavily spotted brown, a prize in any fly fisherman’s photo album.

For any fly fisherman, a heavily spotted brown is the ultimate small stream reward. It’s amazing that a fish with such a mosaic of spotting and exaggerated colour could disappear in their home waters, and yet, they do all the time.
Mixed Media – watercolour pencils and digital editing
Original artwork by Nick Laferriere