Made another visit to www.fieldandstream.com and saw a recent article in which Jerry Gibbs says some interesting things about the effects of noise, clothing and movement on fish. Jerry emphasizes that skittishness is situational, with bonefish on the flats being more edgy than fish in deep, discolored or fast moving water. That's not very surprising, but I thought two points were particularly interesting: (a) in calm water, fish can hear (and can be spooked) by people speaking; (b) loud clothing, and/ or uncovered hands and/ or face can spook fish too.

For example, Jerry's trout pond-owning buddy was able to get to within 5 feet of his 'pets' when he wore camou clothes, gloves and a face net. On the other hand, an outfit best described as 'Bob's Golf Attire' (see 'What about Bob?' elsewhere on this website) scared the same fish silly from 65 feet away.

On the topic of noise, I've always tried to be quiet in the boat but not obsessively so. I've also been present on the bank when a jet boat came up river and our guide respectfully requested that the driver 'Wake 'em up!' by running around the hole with the tilt up and the engine revved. We then take a 5 minute break and resume fishing. About half the time at least one of a stale group of fish can be enticed to bite. (The other half the time, I imagine they all run out of the hole, and probably back to the sea!)

Then there's the (in)famous Jim Teeny who throws rocks near to resting fish to move them into a position where he can better drift a fly to them. I'm not certain how I'd react if someone 'rocked' fish, but I have waded out into the middle to discourage fish that were swimming up to leave the hole. Anyone have any thoughts on whether any variety of fish hassling is ethical?

I'd also be interested in the Board's views on the need to keep a low profile on the bank or in the boat, whether talking actually does put off river-dwelling fish like salmon or steelhead, whether anyone takes special care to cover their hands or face, and, finally, whether 'normal'noise made while wading or moving around in a drift boat (short of dropping the anchor in the bottom) spooks 'em. Thanks.

My Observations:

First the obvious, the more clear the water, the more this issue comes into play. I've caught fish less than a rod length away when there is <2' vis. In normal to poor vis, I don't think its an issue, as long as you don't do anything too extreme (like fall in and go swimming).

In clear water, I've found that new arrivals can be veerrry spooky. Early summer after snow melt and rivers start to clear, I've seen fish turn and burn out of hole when a smolt flashes near them.

Fish get used to the commotion. At terminals like Reiter in September, the fish tolerate people movement and line after line after line going through them. They are not aggressive biters, but keep it small and keep changing up, and eventually you'll peak their curiosity.

I'm a strong advocate of not wading when you don't have too (real strong). The fish can sense movement in the water with their lateral lines, and even during perfect vis conditions, excessive wading will turn aggressive fish into September Reiter fish. I think acclimitized fish will tolerate people standing high profile on the bank (like on a boulder holding your float rod above your head) more than standing too close to them in the water. I know folks that only spot fish during the summer, and do it successfully. And if you can see them, you know they can see you.

Surface ripple may be just as important as clarity in clear water. The more the surface currents break-up visibility to the bottom, the less spooky the fish.

If fish can distinguish different color corkies, they certainly can see colors above water. It just makes sense to wear subdued cloths in clear conditions. I don't think it necessary to cover up, although you'll usually see me at the terminals come August and September fishing those non-aggressive but acclimitized fish. The surface ripple issue probably minimizes the importance of looking like a live predator.

I do think keeping still is important. I just go through the normal movements of casting and drifting.

In my opinion, talking is not an issue. There is a lot of ambient underwater noise associated with a flowing river. Maybe in lakes...

Can't tell you how many fish I've caught 10 minutes after a sled zooms through, a drift boat passes over, a white water raft moves through (neon yellow in the dead of summer). I'm a believer that moving the fish around will make them more aggressive and will occasionally rock a hole.

All I can think of..

It's in a fishes genes to protect themselves from eagles, bears, etc. Wading probably sounds like a bear as sound carries more under water.

Any critter that swims naked in ice water can't be all that intelligent, although sometimes I wonder. I believe that STEALTH is essential in certain situations, mostly clear,& medium to low water conditions. A fishing buddy of mine laid down a set of pliers on the deck during a low water fall salmon trip and fish 75 yards downstream from the boat streaked away in the opposite direction. It wasn't a loud noise but the alumium deck acted like a hydro-speaker with the volume on high. I also do not wade unless it is necessary because I think it can spook fish. During low water conditions you'll find me wearing camo clothing on my upper body. While fishing the Skookumchuck last spring, I observed just how sensitive a steelhead can be. I was standing well up in the brush observing two bright steelhead holding in a tailout. As I considered how to approach them an angler walked down stream on the opposite bank. Both fish moved into deeper, more protected water before the fisherman even got within casting distance. He fished the hole and moved down stream, never seeing me or the pair of fish. Five minutes later the pair had returned to their resting place. Obviously, the fish "heard" his footfalls as he approached. No doubt about it stealth can mean the difference between a hookup and a skunk.

Example of how stealth catches fish. Extreme Low clear summer conditions fish would not bite if you were on the beach and casting into the hole.
Six summer runs later (same day)....after casting from a tree (for camoflage) onto the opposite beach and slowly dragging the lure into the water(to avoid splash).
Stealth works!!

Being a bank fishermen most of the time I regularly catch fish that the driftboats will spook out of the rapids. The fish get spooked and move into my gear.
I have also scared fish with rocks and by wading to get them to bite in clear conditions. This works on fish that are stuck like fixtures on the bottom.
Fish on the move will bite when stationary fish ignore baits hitting them on the nose.
Common theory on plug fishing is that one plug spooks the fish into biting the other plug. Thats why plug fishermen want their plugs at the same distance below the boat.




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Marty
www.steelheader.net
marty@steelheader.net