Aragorn, Gollums equal?

[radagastly]

Don't forget that it was Aragorn that captured Gollum and brought him to the elves of Mirkwood. He managed to out-sneak Gollum on that occasion!

[lathspell]

he captured him indeed, but that was at unawares. Gollum was starving at the time and lurking in a pool for fish and what not.
When Frodo is keeping watch on Anduin's banks and sees Gollum Aragorn wakes suddenly and asks what is the matter for he sees Frodo with drawn sword. Frodo says: 'Gollum!'
Aragorn's answer is something like this: 'Ah! So you now about him. Yes, he is following us since moria, I hoped that on the river we would lose him, but he is too cunning a swimmer. I tried to capture him once or twice but he gave me the slip every time.

greetings

[Zebedee]

He lived on an island on an underground lake fore centuries, he most likely could give Aragorn the slip on the water.

[lathspell]

Do you really believe that Gollum would stay in the water if the Fellowship of the Ring was on the shore? Gollum needed his rest as well as all, and I believe Gollum could give most people the slip if he wanted too, in water or on land, including Aragorn.

[Gurthang]

Just because he could give someone the slip does not mean that he was better at stealth. Stealth would mean he could remain undetected. Gollum is good at tailing someone and keeping himself from getting caught, but he is not that great at keeping out of sight. Aragorn had known that Gollum had been following them since Moria, so he wasn't that great at stealth.

Besides, Aragorn's journeys into the East were pretty low profile. He would have had to have some good sneaking skills.

[Zebedee]

I did not think that Gollum would always be in the water, just near enough so that he can always escape.

Let's not forget that wonderfully acrid olefactory quality Gollum is described as having. Not exactly condusive to keeping a low profile, if you ask me.