Friends made on the water are special, the experiences shared with your fishing buddies are priceless, and the best days on the water always include great company.
While these connections are deep, they are not easy to come by. Good fishing friends are rare. That’s why I wrote this article. To give you some insight into what I look for in the people I fish with in hopes it helps you choose your fishing buddies too.
I believe many anglers do not put enough thought or effort into choosing the people they fish with. It is one of the most important decisions you make on your fly fishing journey. They not only determine how much fun you have on the water, but how you develop as an angler.
I am picky when it comes to the people I fish with for a multitude of reasons. I only have so many given days in a year to go fishing, so I do my best to make these days count. Going out with someone who I don’t enjoy fishing with ruins those precious days. I also enjoy fishing alone. When I choose to fish with another angler, I do so as I believe it will enhance my experience on the water compared to if I went alone.
So how does one find a great fishing buddy? Inevitably there will be more anglers who don’t become lifelong fishing buddies than ones who do. To make these decisions easier for me, I have a few criteria I look for when choosing my fishing circle. This list has helped me fish with some amazing people over the years and has made for some epic experiences shared on the water. I hope this list helps you think about what is important to you when choosing the people you go fishing with.
What I Look For in a Fishing Buddy.
Timeliness
When an angler shows up late to go fishing, I immediately question if I will ever fish with them again. It shows a lack of respect for others’ time and makes me question their excitement for the day.
It’s not that the few anglers I have had trouble with timeliness in the past are bad people or I look down on them. They are fantastic and a few of those trips ended up being memorable trips. I value my days of fishing and would rather be fishing than waiting in the parking lot.
Someone Who Challenges Me
I love fishing with anglers who challenge my skills and beliefs. This could mean fishing with anglers of a higher skill level than me, an angler who has mastered a specific technique or watershed, or an angler just getting into the sport and looking for guidance. All the above provide a challenging and humbling experience on the water.
Every angler has a different perspective on the sport. Rather than fishing by myself or with the same anglers, I prioritize fishing with new anglers who see the sport differently than I do. This gets me out of my comfort zone and exposes me to new experiences, which continue to develop my skills and perspectives in fly fishing and life.
I also enjoy fishing with anglers who are new to the sport. I have learned so much through teaching and helping others in fly fishing. Teaching makes me slow down and think about why I do things on the water. I realize areas I can improve in my fishing and enhance my understanding of the sport.
Willingness To Fish Together
As I mentioned, I enjoy fishing alone. I enjoy the opportunity to fish my way without the thought of another angler in the back of my mind. When I fish with someone else, I want to fish together. I prefer to fish side by side, taking turns with the rod. Experiencing the fishing and what the day brings together.
This is how I was taught to fish by my fly fishing mentor and still fish with him this way. One rod, two anglers, headhunting with a dry fly. Truly a special experience.
Some anglers are thrown off by this way of fishing, so I usually warn new fishing buddies before we get to the river. If they rather fish alone, I respect that and we usually have a great day on the water. However I switch into my solo fishing mindset, and that is not why I invite other anglers to go fishing.
Ethical and Conservation-Minded
Fishing with an angler who lacks the same respect for the resource and the fish makes for an awkward day of fishing. Having good ethics on the water and fishing with conservation in mind is a deal breaker for me when it comes to fishing buddies.
There is nothing worse than fishing with someone whom you are embarrassed to be associated with due to their river etiquette. Whether they start high holing other anglers, fishing for actively spawning fish, or using bad fish handling practices, it puts a big stinker on the day. This includes trespassing or breaking the law. I am quick to cut anglers out of my contact list if they have different views on these topics.
Willingness to Explore and Learn
As you know, there is so much to explore and learn in fly fishing. I by no means think I know it all. Because of this, I struggle to fish with anglers who are set in their ways and locations, with no desire to learn and explore new water.
Many fishermen have been fishing longer than I have been alive. That is humbling to realize. While sometimes hard to find, every once in a while, I stumble across a humble angler who is excited about a new place, new fly, or different technique.
A Drive To Fish Hard
The last criterion I look for in a fishing buddy is a desire to fish hard. Every angler has their reasons for why they fish and what they enjoy in the sport. I by no means disrespect or look down on anglers who like to relax when out fishing. I sometimes envy it.
Though my favorite days on the water are the ones I pushed myself to extremes and gave it my all. I prefer early mornings, late evenings, with little food and water, short breaks, many miles hiked, and no drugs or alcohol. Days like these make me feel most alive while out on the water and play into why I love fly fishing, because of the challenge. This can create conflict if I’m fishing with someone who would rather take it chill and get off the water early. I’m fully aware someday I will have a different perspective on my fishing days. Though in this stage in my fly fishing journey, I’m young and want to take advantage of my youth while I have it.
Ultimately, fishing with your friends should be fun and enhance the experience. My best days on the water are with anglers whom I mesh with and we align with each other’s preferences.
I look back over the years and remember some amazing times I experienced with friends on the water. From missing boat ramps and being charged by moose to epic dry fly eats and admiring beautiful fish, these experiences with friends mean so much to me.
Taking the time and prioritizing who you fish with on the water is important for your enjoyment on a given day. Putting value and criteria on who I want to fish with has made my days on the water more enjoyable with my friends.
Shout out to the many friends I have fished with over the years, whether we still fish together or not. You helped me write this article and I’m grateful for the times we’ve had together. I look forward to meeting new friends along my fly fishing journey and hope you begin prioritizing the people you fish with. It’s well worth the effort.
