We have all been there at some point: fishing a blue-ribbon trout stream, struggling to catch a fish even though trout are rising all around us. You have tried everything you can think of, but nothing seems to be working. Then, you notice the angler upstream of you netting fish after fish. You can’t help but think, “What fly are they using?”
While this may be our first thought, I believe it is more than just the fly.
When we see other anglers having more success than ourselves, we think they have a magic fly or are just fishing better water. While this may be true, I’d argue many small, often overlooked details are at play, ultimately leading to them catching more fish.
Some examples include how you approach the fish, the position you cast from, your knowledge of trout’s food source, reading the water, the method you’re using, the cast you use, casting accuracy, the action of the rod, how long your rod is, what fly line you are using, how long your leader is, the tippet size your using, the length of your tippet, the type of tippet, the hook your using, the length between your indicator and flies, how much weight is on your leader, the way you mend, the way you retrieve, the way you set the hook. The list goes on and on.
When looked at singularly, these details may not matter enough to be the sole factor in why one angler has more success than another.
Rarely do I think the difference in positioning, fly line, tippet size, or any component by itself is the difference between catching and not catching fish.
But when all put together, these details compound and make a significant difference.
Combine a stealthy approach, an accurate reach cast, a fine tippet, a natural drift, and a fly that matches the hatch, and you get an angler who stacks the odds in their favor. These details are often not obvious to those fishing with or downstream of you, but they compound to noticeable success.
Most anglers overlook the small things, which gives those who obsess over the details a substantial advantage on the river.
The best anglers meticulously plan their approach, gear, leader, fly design, and landing strategy. They make each change and cast with intent, understanding how each detail works together to land a fish. Compare this to the angler who picks the hot fly at the fly shop and plops it out there, hoping a fish will eat it.
This lesson plays out in many aspects of life, such as money, health, and relationships. The most successful investors usually lived on less than they made, invested for a long time, and invested in various well-researched stocks. Very rarely does an investor make all their money on one random stock over a short period. Healthy people don’t go to the doctor once per year and call it good. They choose to take the stairs, refuse the doughnut, move their body, and spend time outside.
Fly fishing is the same way. Rarely do you buy a fly at the fly shop and proceed to catch every fish in the river. It takes the proper gear, a good cast, a natural drift, and everything in between to have consistent success on the water.
So, when you see that old guy netting fish after fish upstream of you, know it’s not just the fly. It’s an obsession over the details and a mastery of each one that compounds to him outfishing you that day, and the next, and the next, and so on.
Prioritize the small things, as that is where success is found, in the details. If you do, you may be the guy upstream someday.
