snakefiddler wrote:
when i looked into the water, i spotted a
brookie, about 8-9 inches long speeding *down stream*. [snip]i
followed the fish, and watched him turn into a spot by which i have
often
been frustrated, as it is clearly a great hiding place for trout, and
of
course nearly impossible to cast to.

[snip]
any of ya'll ever seen this before?

I'd bet even if you could cast to the hiding place, unless you bumped
them on the lips with a subsurface fly, I doubt you would hook one.
Many times where they got to eat and where they go to "live" are two
different things.

Studies of the habits of tagged trout in northern Michigan have shown
it's not uncommon for them to range a mile or two a day and return to a
holding lair. I doubt an appalachian trout would or could range this
far but i have seen brown trout go a mile upstream to spawn on one
Georgia stream. As some as suggested it may have been spooked but it is
also possible (and I think more probable) it had gone upstream for a
feeding, or in search of a redd (spawning area)and was then heading
back to its safe zone. An 8-9" brookie in most of the applachian sreams
would be an alpha fish and more prone to get the choice feeding lies
and redd placement.