There is a lot out of our control in fly fishing.
Weather, angler pressure, hatches, flows, water temperatures, and overall conditions can drastically change the outcome of a day of fishing.
It’s inevitable that a day you plan to fish will have many of these factors working against you. And it’s so easy to check the weather forecast, read a fishing report, or simply wake up late and make an excuse to not go fishing that day.
But I’m here to argue that as fishermen and women, we fish despite these challenges.
We go fishing despite the rain. Despite the wind. Despite the storm.
We go fishing despite the long drives. Despite the early mornings and late nights. Despite the gas prices.
We go fishing despite the steep hikes. Despite being tired and sore. Despite the unfamiliarity with a new stream.
But most importantly, in a society where everything works to erase uncertainty from our daily lives, we fish despite the inherent uncertainty that comes with fly fishing.
I get an extra shot of motivation when the weather turns for the worse, and I hear anglers cancel trips to stay inside. I love showing up to an empty fishing access site. Fighting through the wind and rain to see what the river has in store for the day. It makes me feel so alive and human.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the fishing is not always good on these days. Many times, the anglers who stayed home are correct, at least when it comes to a fish-catching sense. The bite is poor, and very few fish are caught.
But every once in a while, the poor weather makes for a day of fishing that you remember forever, with more and bigger trout than you could believe. These are the days we feel like heroes, experiencing great fishing while everyone else stays home.
But beyond the good fishing, every day on the water, rain or shine, is another day to learn and hone the craft. To become a better angler and plot another data point along our fishing journey. We understand no day on the water is wasted, no matter the conditions.
Since that’s the case, we fish despite. If not to be the hero and catch some trout when no one is around, but to simply be where we feel most at home, improving in the pursuit we love. Even if that means we get a little wet and tired in the process.
Fish Despite,
Nick
