I feel vindicated. Well, almost.
I’ve spent more time than I care to confess dreaming up sappy adjectives to match the characteristics of fish. You know the ones: pugnacious pike, wily walleye, rambunctious rainbow.
Turns out that – apart from the nauseous alliteration – I haven’t been far wrong. It seems that fish actually do have personalities, traits that can be clearly identified, even through scientific tests. These mannerisms can be greatly influenced by the life experiences of individual fish and have considerable importance for the anglers who try to catch them.
That’s the conclusion reached by University of Liverpool researchers in a 2006 study recently reported in the journal “Nature.”
Lynne Sneddon, leader of the British team, found that some fish are bold when confronted with unusual situations, while others are fearful – pretty much just like people.
We’ve all experienced this phenomenon.
One trout, offered a large attractor fly, bares its teeth, snarls and attacks. Another of similar size just a few yards away scampers off in full fright.
The difference, the researchers concluded, depends upon the experience of the individual – again, like people.
Observers of the natural world long have been aware that certain animals within a species might exhibit wild variances in behavior, often with dramatic consequences.
For example, one grizzly bear might flee from a group of hikers in abject panic; another might mount a deadly attack.
But it never occurred to most of us that the same personalities might be present in fish. Moreover, it rarely had been noted that these highly individual characteristics could be altered by events.
Using rainbow trout as subjects, Sneddon and her associates conducted a series of experiments to determine what these changes, if any, might be. They did this by arranging fights that typically matched much larger or smaller opponents.
Here’s the part that holds consequence for anglers. A bold fish that prevailed in a fight seemed likely to be even more aggressive when offered an unusual food item, such as that big attractor fly or a flashy lure.
At the same time, shy fish that became winners showed an immediate boost in confidence. Fish that lost fights, particularly a series of losses, tended to grow progressively more fearful, thus less likely to attack something large.
Sneddon also concluded that fish learn from others. Bold fish that watched timid fish approaching an unknown object tended to become more suspicious of the item as well.
Without wasting a ridiculous amount of time observing the behavior of the fish one plans to catch, I’m not certain how much practical application this has for anglers.
Certain strategies might prove useful. If you fail to get the desired response with a certain fly or lure, try something smaller and less threatening. Should you occasion to find two fish battling for territory, make certain your first cast is aimed at the winner.
And never turn down a chance at a pugnacious pike.
