The experiences you have fishing represent .001% of what occurs in fly fishing but represent 99% of what you believe to be true in the sport.
We all have experiences on the water that shape us as anglers. These experiences shape why we fish a certain way, where we fish, and what flies we fish. First-hand experiences are the building blocks for our opinions and beliefs in the sport.
What we fail to realize is how small a sample size these experiences represent in the fishing world. The number of experiences you haven’t had on the water. Forming beliefs on our experiences may be misleading since they convey little of what happens in the world. But nothing is more persuasive than what you experience firsthand.
I think about the local fly-tying nights I attend every Thursday. Where anglers are tying their favorite flies. The thing is, each tyer’s “must have” fly is different than the next guy. While I may be interested in a fly my friend is hyping up, I may not believe in its effectiveness until I fish it for myself. And what if I fish it on what was a slow day of fishing? I may never have the same conviction that angler has for that fly.
This goes for techniques, fishing locations, and the many intricate details we have in fly fishing. Your first-hand experiences are why you fish a pool from the left bank, use an elk hair caddis during a caddis hatch, or fish a watershed in March rather than June. You can begin to see how our beliefs and perspectives may be limiting us as anglers.
It’s why there are so many disagreements in fly fishing. We all have different experiences that not only form but confirm our beliefs. When we come across someone who thinks differently, we are quick to think they lack intelligence. When in reality they have different experiences that make them think the way they do.
It is important to learn from your experiences on the water. There is no quicker way to develop as an angler. Though with so much out of our control in fly fishing, I’m hesitant to make concrete beliefs based on first-hand experiences. Understanding there is a world of experiences to learn from that I have yet to witness.
Morgan Housel, a writer I follow states a great question that sums up this point and is one to ponder when meeting new anglers. He asks, “What have you experienced that I haven’t that makes you believe what you do? And would I think about the world like you do if I experienced what you have?” What a humbling and insightful mindset.
I hope this article humbles you and makes you think twice about what you think you know about fly fishing. Understand there is something to learn from each angler you meet. Expose yourself to as many experiences as you can. Question your beliefs and whether they are holding you back. And lastly, be open to the other 99.999%.
