The only time I would use the pellet type baits is if I was planning on keeping every fish caught or landed. Those "smarter" fish released will IMO be definately negatively reinforced by catch and release pellet angling. However when a pond has lots of pellet trained fish, the fish that may turn into shy or negative pellet feeders will not be or hardly be noticed by the casual pondowner. In my pond, I always want the most fish possible feeding on pellets to optimize growth of as many fish as possible. This philosophy is one of the reasons why I have such good experiences growing many easily catchable trophy fish.
Hey, this is going to be a fun thread.
I get to disagree with my long time friend, mentor, and distinguished fish professor � but from the perspective of an angler � not as a scientist.
�It all depends�
Yes, fish get hook shy when hammered on a frequent basis.
I love to observe feeding fish.
Let me confine this thread to observations of CNBG and HSB.
CNBG:
In a new pond mature CNBG will attack a �FOAM PELLET FLY� in front of a feeder before feeding time. After it has been caught a few times it will swim up to the fly, take a look at the fly, refuse it and swim away.
However IMO, repeatable catching of the same fish will not keep it from feeding, and they will continue to take a �SINKING AQMX FLY�.
I have observed distinguishing marks that I can recognize by size, shape and markings and holes in mouths from previous captures.
�Trophy� size CNBG and small/intermediate size LMB are frequently caught on big #6 foam flies, lurking around feeders at feeding time.
HSB:
They don�t get hook shy.
As Bruce has commented� they hit a pellet fly with such force it�s looks like �flushing a toilet bowl�
They feed aggressively at the outer limits of the feeding frenzy and will be caught repeatable on �SINKING AQMX PELLET flies�.
I have observes holes in mouths of many C&R HSB.
Photo below of HSB documents obvious previously caught HSB.
