The fact is, I think, that almost anyone would say that flyfishing for what our British friends call the "coarse" species is the most fun you can have in the water with your waders on. And it's like chess vs checkers: while trout are the most challenging species on the fly, sometimes fun is what is wanted.

For instance, introducing someone to flyfishing with trout (or salmon) is likely to go badly, but crappies (what we in the north call sunfish) are just plain recreation, AKA fun. Which makes up for the novice's tangled lines and backcasts caught 25 feet up a tree, etc etc.

Bass, small- and largemouth, are the trout of warm water, so when I'm looking for a greater challenge, I go for them.