I think Grundulis has a point. In Mammoth Lakes, CA, you can fish the lower lakes – easy access, large fat trout (would do a grocery store proud), “fishy” smell and taste even worse or hike 2-3 miles up the mountain- small lean trout (9” is considered large), slight sweet smell, tight and firm light tan flesh, and delicious. The only differences that I know of are that the lower lakes thaw out a couple months earlier and the trout are farmed raised and stocked and the upper lakes still have ice in June (convenient for the hike back) and are not stocked (at least 10 years ago they weren’t). My oldest son and I always chose the hike.
BTW -I have noticed that the local Safeway/Vons sells farm raised, “color added” Atlantic salmon. Does anyone know if this refers to additional dye or to the pellets that they are fed?
