Spot Check
By MIKE WIER
Cottonwood Creek
Golden Trout heaven
Have you ever taken the time to just sit and watch fish be fish? It’s a whole different dynamic when you’re not trying to catch them. It often takes more stealth and patience to approach a piece of water with the intent of just observing fish. Most of the time you end up spooking them upon first approach. Trout in particular have adapted to be very wary of overhead predation from predators like birds and raccoons. As soon as they see something come into their peripheral vision that is out of ordinary, they dart to safety under a rock or log. Often, but not always, they will eventually come out of hiding and get back to a normal routine if you wait long enough. But you have to be totally still and not make any sudden movements or give away your position. Then add in the element of trying to film or photograph a trout in it’s natural habitat and the equation gets even harder. You need crystal clear and semi shallow water to get good shots but fish are also the most easily spooked in those conditions.
Well that’s how I spend most of my time on the water these days. I’d say I spend more time now trying to find and film fish then I do trying to catch them. And frankly I quite enjoy that. I get a lot of satisfaction getting a great photo or video of a fish. As much so as hooking and playing one.