Putting Down Trout In A Pool

Wayne Harrison wrote:

and my answer is this: being seen. i have caught fish after fish from
a run or pool, with the line sawing back and forth above and under the
water, which i am certain caught the attention of every living being in that
piece of water. but they didn't *see* my form, a large, looming presence,
not unlike a bear, or the shadow of a kingfisher, wheeling briefly above the
surface of their world, or the large, dark, sinewy image of an otter, moving
relentlessly and without restraint in the very heart of their home. the
thrashing of their brother, and his temporary absence, was inexplicable, and
therefore, devoid of threat.
and i have failed to catch fish after fish when i waded slowly, and
quietly as a minnow, laying out line softly; but because of my rod's abrupt,
slanted shadow, or my own form, as described above, i have represented a
killer, from time unrecorded.
the lesson for those of us who fish close to fish, is this: stay low,
stay as far away from your quarry as possible.
that is what makes fishing in freestone streams in the eastern mountains
so tough. you have to have the strength and patience to make yourself so
much smaller than you are. it is painful, and becomes more difficult each
year, so that the expected benefit of experience becomes a tragic burden, as
age takes its inevitable toll. and that is a statement that does not
consider the often immense effort of just getting to the water, wading it,
and coming out.
so, forget length of rod and tippet, and the color or size of your fly.
it's all about stealth. and stealth, like many other things desirable, is
mostly for the young.

Nicely stated. I hope you don't mind if I print this post and keep
it with me on my trip to Graham County later this month.


Chuck Vance (who has been known to be a bit overzealous in
approaching fishy-looking water)