I think the whole "Use 8X tippet so you don't spook these fish in the clear skinny water" is only there to scare the noobs off of going to that location. I have never felt the need to use anything smaller than 6X..and even that, rarely.

Wanna try an experiment? Put a piece of 7X Flouro into a glass of water. Can you see it? So can the fish, they live there, and make their living off of their vision. If a trout is more "educated" he is more likely to look for stuff like leaders...of any size. And we still keep catching, even the educated ones.

My point? Don't over think this. Trouts may not live in ugly places...but they still ain't very bright, either. How do I know? I can catch them, therefore they must be kinda stoopid.