You take a 5 day trip to the BW focusing your efforts on fishing. Would you rather catch 2-3 Trophy Fish, or hundreds of Fish, with constant Non-Stop fishing? By trophy fish I mean a 42+ inch Northern or a 32+ inch Walleye.

I'd rather catch numbers. With numbers, there is also a chance at trophy size fish. Law of averages.

I'd rather catch the big ones, especially if those were my two gauranteed choices. In real life, I usually tell myself I'm going to target trophy-sized fish, but then I get bored and go for numbers.

numbers for me

I'd RATHER go for the trophy fish, but reality states that I just fish and get what I'm given :)

Big

Numbers, at least until I get bored. As long as the smallies are about 12-16 inches, I'm not likely to get bored. I wish.

Love catching big fish, but guess I would prefer action. Also, when fishing for supper, we always hope for the smaller guys.

quote BWCAngler: "You take a 5 day trip to the BW focusing your efforts on fishing. Would you rather catch 2-3 Trophy Fish, or hundreds of Fish, with constant Non-Stop fishing? By trophy fish I mean a 42+ inch Northern or a 32+ inch Walleye."

if your question also refers to fly in lakes like wollaston for trophy pike or dog lake for trophy walleyes.(cause those are the only type of lakes i know of for non-stop trophy action) maybe when i'm older i've done 6 fly in trips and about 30 bwca trips i prefer the bwca experience. on one of our fly ins the pilot joked about how light me and my wife packed.

Size. To catch a 32 inch walleye or a 42 inch northern or bigger--even if that was the only fish you caught all week you would remember that for the rest of your life. High numbers---I may or may not remember it--been there done that....

If I can have both then that would be my answer.

T

I'm a numbers fisher. I target large numbers of fish, rather than fish with large numbers.

However, I don't think a 42-inch or larger pike is equivalent to a 32-inch or larger walleye. I think that former is pretty common compared to the latter.

Numbers. I've only been fishing for a few years. Still learning. Hopefully target trophies (or luck into one) in a few decades.

quote timatkn: "Size. To catch a 32 inch walleye or a 42 inch northern or bigger--even if that was the only fish you caught all week you would remember that for the rest of your life.
T"

+1
I've been lucky enough to have outings with a fish on every cast, Nothing beats getting a monster.

Numbers for me.

Truthfully, I need reasonable numbers--no point to risking an ADD attack. But I do reach a point where it is obvious that success is assured, I've caught enough, the world is a wonderful place, and then I just like to explore. Sigh, that's probably ADD, isn't it?

Numbers for me, I need action not one or two large fish.

Yes.

numbers, keep the girlfriend happy

Numbers. I'd love to catch a monster someday, but I'm quite happy to pull in medium size things with any sort of regularity.

Numbers. No question.

Numbers. I don't keep them or take pictures of them. So it's all about keeping active. Although laying in the canoe and relaxing and casting and catching nothing is fun too.
Although my twin brother is all about the monsters. Go figure, to each their own.

Have often pulled my lure away from 30 inch norderns and 14 inch bass etc. Not interested in stressing out a small fry, so to answer the question would clearly rather catch 1 trophy over 100's of fish I've already met. No correct way to go about it though so to each there own.

I have had both numbers and trophy fish at the same time so I think I will go with that, but if I had to choose one at this point it would be numbers .

I have already caught 45 inch pike and 32 inch walleye up there, so I would have to go with the numbers on my next trip if I had to choose between the two. Now if you would have said a 7 pound smallmouth or hundreds of fish I would go for the smallmouth ( knowing that I will have plenty more trips for hundreds of fish ). I am going to catch hundreds anyways so none of this really matters, but I sure would like to catch a 7 pound smallie up there since that would be bigger than any of my past smallmouth in Quetico.

You mean I can't have both?!?

quote QueticoMike: "I have already caught 45 inch pike and 32 inch walleye up there, so I would have to go with the numbers on my next trip if I had to choose between the two. Now if you would have said a 7 pound smallmouth or hundreds of fish I would go for the smallmouth ( knowing that I will have plenty more trips for hundreds of fish ). I am going to catch hundreds anyways so none of this really matters, but I sure would like to catch a 7 pound smallie up there since that would be bigger than any of my past smallmouth in Quetico."

Mike that seven pounder is on Hungry Jack and I will take another shot at her in july, I lost her once and it was truly a monster fish. My biggest official smallie is a little over 6 pounds and this fish looked like it could have eaten my Six pounder.I just hope shes still swimming out there.

I'd rather catch a fish of a lifetime.

I would prefer -
The first day to catch a 23" smallie in the morning, and then hundreds of 16-24" eyes in the afternoon.

The second (and subsequent days) to catch a 40" laker then hundreds of smallies and walleye in the afternoon.

The last day to catch the 32" walleye on my way out so I can hang it on my wall.

In all seriousness - I am still waiting for the wall hanger 30+" walleye so I guess I would pick the trophy option (but you can keep the slime dart).

Wow, tough question. Can I weasel out and say both, numbers on some days, trophies on another? Catching smaller fish in numbers is alot of fun. Fishing for larger fish and catching 1 or 2 is fun and relaxing (those quiet times between fish are priceless to think, ponder the meaning of life, etc). Fishing for larger fish and getting skunked is not much fun. So my weasel answer is both, fish for smaller fish/numbers until I've had enough fun, then fish for trophies.

This thread reminds me of a story I heard long ago:
A fisherman who was obsessed with his pursuit of trout died after a long life of catching thousands of fish. He found himself transported to the afterlife, where he stood next to the most beautiful trout stream he had ever beheld. A guide on the bank gave him a hand-crafted split bamboo fly rod and a selection of expertly tied flies.

The guide said, “Cast your fly near that rock in mid-stream.”

The angler immediately caught and landed a huge trout.
The guide said, “Cast again to the same spot.”

The result was an identical fish. The next 10 casts produced 10 identical fish. The angler couldn’t believe his luck!

He started to move upstream and around the next bend, but the guide said, “No, you must remain in this spot.”

The angler said, “But, this is Heaven; why can’t I fish where I want?”

The guide smiled slyly and replied, “This isn’t Heaven.”


The parable above has always resonated with me. I guess that puts me in the “trophy” preference group. To me, that which is easy and requires little skill or perseverance is not as rewarding as those things that require skill, finesse, and knowledge. I suspect I am beginning to veer from the topic of fishing.

I don't even have to think about it....BIG FISH. While numbers can keep me amused, big fish are the source of stories and exceptional memories. Even when the big ones get away, they are long remembered.

quote thebotanyguy: "This thread reminds me of a story I heard long ago:
A fisherman who was obsessed with his pursuit of trout died after a long life of catching thousands of fish. He found himself transported to the afterlife, where he stood next to the most beautiful trout stream he had ever beheld. A guide on the bank gave him a hand-crafted split bamboo fly rod and a selection of expertly tied flies.


The guide said, “Cast your fly near that rock in mid-stream.”


The angler immediately caught and landed a huge trout.
The guide said, “Cast again to the same spot.”


The result was an identical fish. The next 10 casts produced 10 identical fish. The angler couldn’t believe his luck!


He started to move upstream and around the next bend, but the guide said, “No, you must remain in this spot.”


The angler said, “But, this is Heaven; why can’t I fish where I want?”


The guide smiled slyly and replied, “This isn’t Heaven.”



The parable above has always resonated with me. I guess that puts me in the “trophy” preference group. To me, that which is easy and requires little skill or perseverance is not as rewarding as those things that require skill, finesse, and knowledge. I suspect I am beginning to veer from the topic of fishing.


"

Sounds like a Rod Sterling story!

@ thebotanyguy

Say, your parable reminded me of a true story. I have a fly-fishing friend and guide who worked at a billionaires ranch that often hosted other rich folks. They raised trout in pens and fed them pellets. Then, when the guests were about to arrive, the trout were released, but deprived of food and placed before non-operative underwater pellet dispensers.

"Cast there," a guide would say.

The hungry trout would take the fly.

A rich man's Heaven.

My Hell.

quote QueticoMike: "I have already caught 45 inch pike and 32 inch walleye up there, ."

Oh sure rub it in.... :)

I am a little envious though.

T

Hmmm I guess numbers. I've caught big ones. Constant action keeps a fisherman going. It's hard to leave a hot spot. It's easier to leave after ctaching a monster in that hot spot.