I'm going to be fishing some big rivers this fall and don't know what the rules of engagement are. Say I'm in the middle of a 100 yard-long pool drift fishing for steelhead. There are anglers above and below me in the hole, and new anglers are entering the hole at the top. Pretty civilized all around. Now I hook up. What happens to my 'rights' to my spot in the line if:

a) I stand where I am and play the fish for 20 minutes. Presumably, everyone doing the cast-and-step routine is going to be moving down (while giving me a wide berth to play my fish) while this is going on.

In this case, I assume I resume fishing from where I landed (or lost) the fish.

b) I chase the fish up and down stream before releasing/ losing it.

Now where do I go? Back to where I hooked it, back to the top of the hole (end the line, bubba!)or some place else?

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Bonus question for Hawk: If the muskies are hitting on black poodle puppies and I only have white ones, do I lose my place in the run if I go to the car for a can of black spray paint?