I am obsessed with fly fishing.... so, of course, first and foremost, I am referring to John Gierach's angling classic, Trout Bum. (If you enjoy fishing, especially fly fishing, this is required reading, IMHO.)
So, as a fisherman, I am driven to pursue the wary trout, and I hold that of all of the fresh water species, trout are a worthy game fish, if not at the top of the heap. They are spooky, elusive, and can be incredibly selective feeders. Often, an angler only gets one or two shots at presenting a fly, as the mere presence of a fly line can cause them to spook. This makes things... technical. I have fished small creeks with 15 foot leaders! So one must stalk, one must strategize, and one must have a tool bag of casting/line management skills that will allow one to make tricky and challenging presentations in order to find success. You don't just fish for trout; you hunt them. (I have stalked them on my hands and knees!)
In Colorado, I have "matched hatches," with the proper pattern, and gotten nary a nibble. By reducing or enlarging the hook size by ONE size, within the EXACT same pattern, can make the difference between a royal skunking and absolutely hammering fish. I recall several falls ago, fish were rising everywhere, surface feeding, voraciously I might add, on small mayflies. I had had zero success with a size 16 Blue Wing Olive, then switched one hook size smaller to a size 18, and promptly hooked a dozen fish. This selectivity makes the game deep, challenging (read: possibly frustrating), and incredibly rewarding. Of course, some days, you get skunked no matter what you try.
In addition, I have many bum-like qualities.
