I remember when I first started fly fishing: I would show up to the water, look through my fly boxes (yes…plural), and stumble through all of the choices for what to tie on. I’d inevitably make a random decision, tie it up, and hope for the best.
My only objective was to catch a fish.
Too often, I never considered the intentional steps that helped the process of my desired outcome. I guess that’s why they call it a process…and why they call new fisherman Noobs, Rookies, and Green behind the Gills. They don’t know what the hell they are doing.
Through time and experience, my ability to approach water and process all that is going on has improved. The intention of noticing and observation have become a staple in my approach to choosing flies that will up my chances of the desired outcome of catching that fish.
I turn over rocks; I kick up shit in water; I watch the different seams and holding water; I notice what’s flying around my head; I ruffle the greenery beside the water. I am intentional about figuring out what the fish are most likely eating, in order to choose the right fly and up my chances of being successful.
But it’s easy to ignore these steps due to the adrenaline and excitement a day of fishing brings.
We can blind ourselves with visions of that mantle worthy picture of holding a trophy trout, a smile as big as the moon, with the sun shining blissfully in the background as the water drips off the monster in your arms.
We see that picture and sometimes we forget the most important part of creating it: intention.
#ThisIsAboutFishing #ThisIsNotAboutFishing