C_Run said:
They know you are there and they lack middle fingers. Happens very often to me.
Since you mention this, I think I have a related story that just happened today...
I was carefully hidden and scanning the nearby water when lo, I spotted a steelhead camped just a little downstream in the riffles. I floated a 1/16 oz. black jig down past it...of course, nothing. Tried again...still nothing. I retreated behind the bushes and tied on an 1/8 oz. Floated a couple times, nothing...well, you're starting to get the idea. I tried one more time and this time, it was headed straight at the thing. The fish spots the bait and just slowly drifts off to the side to let it pass.
Hmmmm? A spoon? I grab my other rod and cast out just enough that the spoon swings around in front. You can guess what happened...I tried again and this time the spoon actually HITS the fish...but, the fish just wriggles with a little agitation and remains posited in its spot. Really? Let's try just backing the spoon down the current right at it. Rumor has it they will sometimes strike when angered by repeated assaults on their space? I drop the spoon in the water and slowly let out line until the spoon is wobbling nicely just in front. Then, off to the side a little bit right next to its head and slowly down stream. Nothing. Reel in and try again.
Then the current wafts the spoon a bit and it again hits the fish. Still no movement. Really? This is getting interesting. So, now I experiment by purposely placing the spoon in front and back it right into its nose. The fish just writhes a bit and chomps its mouth, but of course not at the spoon....hehehe. No, it just sits there irritated, but stubbornly unmoved. I just keep at it...tap, tap, tap on its head with the spoon. It didn't budge.
Seriously? Are they that freakin' stubborn? I thought for sure it would just spook and fly off. But no, I think all it wanted to do was flip that middle finger. This was so surreal I would surely not believe it if I didn't witness it myself. Crazy.