Suggestions for Getting Better

Suggestions for Getting Better

Any thoughts on "getting better"?

In my career I'm constantly reminded by my colleagues that we always need to be getting better.  Even more so, if possible, we should be helping others "get better".  So, after my most recent fishing trip, I'm trying to figure out...how can I get better?  Clearly, I have been drinking the corporate kool-aid and I'm sure you're thinking "can't we just have fun when we're fishing"?  And, I guess my question is wouldn't getting better make fishing more fun? So, how do I get better?

First, I realized that I need to practice more, especially with a spinning rod!  Over the years I've had this mentality that all I've wanted to do is fly fish. And, sometimes fly fishing is impossible whether because of wind or because of where you are fishing; like the Everglades where on many occasions casting a fly is impossible because there is no room.  So, why not cast a spinning rod into the super narrow creek and see what happens. For me, easier said than done and that is why I have to practice to get better, especially with a spinning rod!

Second, I realized that I have to try to fish faster. I'll try to explain. On many ocassions I'll wait too long to make a cast. Either because I'm not sure the fish I see is a fish or I'll wait for a better  position and a better cast. I think that if I fished "faster" or more reactive, I'd be better.

Third, when it comes specifically to fly fishing, I take WAY too many false casts. The time it takes to get the fly from my hand to the fish is usually one back cast too long.  For me, there is only one reason for the extra back cast, accuracy. But, more times than not, I would be just as accurate with one fewer back cast. I suppose too many back casts is mostly mental, but nothing a little practice woudn't fix.

So, how do we getter better? Practice! Practice! Practice! I'll steal the quote from ESPN's American Hunter, "shoot more and shoot more often".  I'll fish more and fish more often.  Tight Lines.

seef
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Re: Suggestions for Getting Better

Great info…
I agree that no matter how much experience we have we can always improve.

As the beneficiary of years of experience working and managing (arguably) the premiere fly shop in the southeast US not to mention your lifetime of fly fishing experience… that post is pretty humble especially coming from an angler with your experience.

I have always looked at the sport of “fishing” and “fishing methods” as two separate things. Fly fishing is just one method and in my opinion all of us who are primarily fly fishers are kidding ourselves if we think that it is the highest level, or only ‘pure’ method of angling.

I agree that getting better should include as many methods of fishing as possible enabling an angler to make the best out of any and all fishing opportunities.

When it comes to practice however there is no substitute for ‘real time’ experience. There is no way you can recreate a scenario such as we had a few weeks ago; fifteen knot winds, big chop in open water, big tarpon laid up late in the day with visibility only to the east. Add a southeast wind direction and a strong incoming current and now you have steep waves requiring a backcast, or a cast over your shoulder… not easy in those conditions to place a fly in front of a laid up fish… not something you can duplicate in practice.

Lots of practice will certainly prepare you for all fishing scenarios and enable you to handle the tough conditions better but I agree with you “fish more often.”

Geoff
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