The coloration of a brown trout varies significantly depending on the time of year and the composition of the stream bottom, e.g., freestone/sand or a stream bottom of mud/detritus.

The old Pflueger reels' drag can be vastly improved by milling out an opening in the side of the frame to allow you to apply finger pressure against the spool, giving the same effect of 'palming the rim' on more modern reels.