Question

[Driftless]

These two browns are mature.

Their head length and fin size look about the same.

They are within a year old of each I guess.

One was caught in non-designated trout water.

The other from a well known stream in my homewater.

Why does one have serious shoulders and the other is kinda skinny?

Is this a good genes thing or over population thing?

You ever catch a horse and a skinny in the same hole?

[JBMasterAngler]

I'm assuming the chunky one is from the non designated waters? The biggest brown I caught in 2014 was in a non designated stream. Now that I think of it, all the biggest browns I've caught my whole life have been in non designated waters...interesting!

[mille lacs muskie bum]

Possibly the non designated waters are less ideal for bug hatches and such that many trout thrive on. Maybe they prey more so on protein rich fish and terrestrials.

[Lals]

I would say in addition, less fishing pressure so more time to grow undisturbed. I would imagine a C&R fish is set back some.