"Wayne Knight" wrote in message
ps.com...

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.

interesting- i had no idea. so, maybe i can stop knocking myself out trying
to figure out how the hell to get my fly over there without losing it to the
laurels! in a book i checked out from the libray, it was suggested that it
would not be unheard of for a fisherman to venture into such an area, and
remove some of the "obstacles" to effective casting, returning after the
spooked fish have had a chance to regain composure. now, i'm not yet
*highly* experienced, but somehow i find this strategy distateful. it
suggests to me that catching the fish takes priority to the enjoyment and
challenge of the sport- not to mention the fact that i don't think i have
the right to alter nature so that i can improve my ability to cast to a spot
that is obviously valuable to its inhabitants.



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.

fascinating....


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.


thanks for that interesting, and enlightening info, wayne

snake