I seem to notice that when i release the very first fish caught back into the water, the action slows down by alot and many times wont even pick back up in the same area.

When fish are hooked and start fighting the line tension, does the erratic movement spook over fish away from the area?

I notice that after i release that fish, i end up getting skunked for the rest of the day. Especially seeing that i fish in a very narrow small creek. How do i get around this conundrum? Should i walk far down the banks to release the fish?

Other than loud noises, are there any other tactics on reducing fish scare?

try not fishing the spot for a while and move to another spot or release the fish far from where you caught it. I notice when I'm fishing at night for fish in lights, you can catch one then it's no use, just keep moving because they won't be back for a while. might be the same with your fish. just leave em alone for a while then come back to that spot later.

Fighting a fish can spook other fish. I try to plan ahead to ensure that I am casting to a spot and pulling the fish away from the light/cover, instead of through it. This works particularly good at night, as long as you keep distance between you and the light.

Alright so catch in one area, release in same area, then fish in another area?

Or

Catch in one area, release in diff area, fish in the different area?

Please keep in mind the river that i am fishing is really small and narrow, i dont have many options except walking the banks

Use live bait.

Loud noise dont scare fish, nor hitting a stump with the boat from what I have seen

I was fishing Welsh couple of months ago in crystal clear water with grass in about 5 feet of water, it was like bathtub clear.

We saw hundred of bass and bass pods with 4 to 10 fish in each pod, they would be 15 feet from the boat. They wouldnt spook with noise or TM or even hitting a stump with the boat.

What would spook them would be casting at them, I would play like I was casting without a rod in my hand and that would spook them.

Otherwise the would stay put

I was watching some tv show, may have been the Bassmaster Classic, and when the pros were bed fishing, they wouldn't be standing up straight, but instead kneeling or sitting because the fish are so used to a human's sillouette standing, but not kneeling or sitting. Just something to think about

I know a lot of guys Ive fished with who ignore things that might scare the fish.

from years of bank fishing and fishing a two man in smaller waters... both sound and sight will spook fish...

but ive also learned bass condition to their enviroment pretty quickly...

the more depth and wind and lack of clarity the less spooky fish are.

in gin clear water they tend to be VERY spooky, in shallow calm water they are very spooky.

I have seen bass in high pressured water pay NO attention to me and ive seen them screaming out of shallow flats 50 yards in front of the boat. i think conditions play a big part as well.

if the creek is long and narrow catch and release in the same spot move down a little ways and continue to work slowly all the way down and then start back the way you came or go to the other side and work back up.... this same technique works well on ponds.

ive fished ponds with guys who will walk the whole thing in 30 minutes and "burn up the bite" in the same period of time. I can go to the same pond and fish slow and pick it apart piece by piece and catch four or five times the fish.

Deputy angler: im using 4" nightcrawlers and you are right in assujing the creek is long and narrow/shallow. It is also very very murky brown and manmade. As far as im concerned i think im pretty much the only person who fishes there.

There is no way ill be able to work all the way completely down to the end lol. But when i reach the point where i am comfortable saying as my endpoint, do i start going backwards, or walk all the way back to the start and resume fishing?

How much distane should i put between the release spot and new fishing spot?

I know I've watched a ton of fish spook out as I walk up to the waters edge. I started walking up ALOT slower and softer and try to keep my shadows off the water. It has helped a good bit. If you can stay 10 ft or so off the bank and cast it probably wouldnt hurt.

On the same token, I've caught fish that were sittin 5 feet in front of me lol. One of them things that makes it fun I guess.

About distancing myself from the bank, i have tried that, however there is a major problem for me.

There is a rather steep 7-8 inch dropoff from grass/mud,clay to water. So when i reel in the line, my hook will almost always snag on the dropoff. Is there a way i can avoid this?

if i fish smaller water from bank, i try to wear neutral colored clothing, dont cast shadows, stand back from bank when possible, when not i move slow and even crouch down while fishing.

as far as distance and time....25-30 feet down bank and give the fish 30-45 minutes to settle once disturbed, then sneak back up on em.

ALSO, flip and pitch, roll cast if you have room, soft entrance into the water, not big KERPLUNKS!