returning fish to same pool

[bushwacker]

I caught some wild brownies today at a tight spot where it was impossible to return them to the same pool without tossing them a few feet.....so I slid them downstream behind me :-( How much damage does that do to the stream ecosystem? Should I not do that anymore? Is it better to give them a one way flight ticket to their home pool?

 

[Maurice]

Unless it was over a four foot waterfal the trout will likely go back to where you caught them....unless they move which they do often if they are not the pool boss.

 

[troutbert]

Don't worry about it. Trout can move up and down the stream.

 

[osprey]

I agree with mo and bert as long as they were in good shape and took off ok , no worry. I move brookies from downstream up all the time , sometimes we notch (little notch) a pectoral fin just so we can tell if it was one we moved and they do just fine. This morning was pretty good conditions with the water a little high and slightly off color , how many did you catch?