Sleeping smallie?

[Standard]

This past weekend I was fishing a shallow section of river - shallow enough that I was wading upstream pulling the kayak.  I saw what I thought was a dead smallmouth upstream of me, looked at least 16-17".  It was laying on it's side in some rocks, right on the bottom in about a foot of water.  I took another step closer and it swam off, very fast.  

 

Didn't look injured or dying, although I know that's the most likely answer.  Maybe just taking a little rest?  I hadn't seen anyone fishing in the area, so I don't think it had been recently released.  Just thought it was interesting.

[Spankey]

Can’t say that I’ve ever seen a smallie do that. 
I’d like to think that I’m very cautious when handling smallies. I get them back in the water pretty quick and don’t over handle them. I have a functional livewell if I want to put one in there for a short time.
But what I have happen similar to what you’ve seen, I’ve put smallies back into the water, let go of his lip or belly, than for a short second or so he sort of rocks sideway than takes off like he was shot out of a cannon or just gingerly swims away. 
Don’t believe they were harmed in any way. I believe they have to get their bearings straight and re-accumulated. I believe many many smallies I've caught locally have never been hooked before. I could be wrong. I don’t know how/what a smallie feels, no idea how they think but the process of getting hooked and released must be like getting slapped hard in the face and things take a minute or so to get back to normal. 

[galyonj]

1 minute ago, Spankey said:

Don’t believe they were harmed in any way. I believe they have to get their bearings straight and re-accumulated.

 

I'd understand if they needed a beat to collect themselves. Alien abduction will put anybody off.