In reply to David Tainton (no good at the quote thingy), I am not sure fish migrate away from angling pressure. In fact if the if the food is being lumped in I suspect they migrate towards it and take their chances. I have read bits about pressured fish and the morality of fishing for them. At times it is almost as if the author is trying to convince anglers that these fish are so paranoid they will not eat. If they are getting angling pressure it is because they are big. If they are big they are having a munch from time to time.
On the subject of catching a fish and catching it a mile away, I have a theory. On a rich and fairly wide river (how I remember the Dorset Stour), a fish will not have to travel too far up and down the river to satisfy it's nutritional needs. On a rich but very narrow river ( upper Sussex Ouse), A fish will have to travel a long way to satisfy it's nutritional needs.
When fishing a small river in the summer and in daylight, I think there only 3 serious things to consider, which are location, location, and location. After dark if you have laid bait trap anywhere, you have a chance.
Shaun of the starting to think too much.
