If I’ve learned anything from 30 years of writing about fishing for a living, it’s that folks absolutely love being taught how to fish, and they hate being told how to fish.
Understanding the subtle difference between the two is what separates the contenders from the pretenders, especially when it comes to writing, working as a filmmaker, guiding, running a fly shop or even just being a mentor to someone who wants to learn about fishing.
After all, fishing—especially fly fishing—can be difficult. Intimidating.
There are many moving parts to consider, from learning how to cast with gear that is not a whole lot more than a stick and a string… to tying knots… guessing where the fish might be… understanding what a fish will want to eat if you find them… presenting fake food in a way that the fish will actually want to eat it… to ultimately figuring out how to fight and land a fish if everything lines up just so.
Sheesh! That learning curve can seem steep!
Mentors matter
I was fortunate to have many great mentors in the writing and fishing worlds, from Charlie Meyers of the Denver Post, to John Merwin, founder of Fly Rod & Reel and fishing editor for Field & Stream, to great guides, like Terry Gunn, Patty Reilly, Joe Demalderis, Dave Faltings, Tim Linehan, and many others (hint: if you’re smart, you are never lacking for mentors and teachers, no matter how much you think you know).
Pretty much all of them said the same thing: “It’s a how-to world, baby.”
Lift people along that learning curve and you’re a hero. Especially if you can be lighthearted and entertaining as you go. Beat them down, on the other hand, and scold them for doing things the “wrong” way, and you’re a villain.
Mistakes equal learning opportunities
Of course, there are traditions, standards and such. Like the rules of baseball or the rules of golf, there are certain expected ways of playing the game that can and should be respected. And sometimes they are not.
But understand that most (not all) of the people who make mistakes, like low-holing you in a run on the river, or fishing for trout during a voluntary river advisory when the water is too hot, do not do those things out of malice. They just don’t know any better.
So rather than getting into a shouting match and telling someone they’re wrong, endeavor to teach with kindness. And lead by example.
Not long ago, I had a guy jump right into the top of a river run I was fishing (I was working upstream). He was clueless, but instead of blowing my stack, I caught a fish at the tailout of that run, then walked up and handed the guy a few flies of the pattern he’d seen me catch the fish with. He was flabbergasted.
Then I said, “Hey, bud, I’ll hopscotch a few runs upstream of you because I want to leave you some water to fish, and if/when you catch up to me, go ahead and jump a few runs ahead of me so I’ll have some runs to fish.”
He figured it out right away. And we both spent a couple more hours fishing. We both caught fish, and we both left that river happy.
Keep your fishing karma in good standing
Teaching, not telling. With respect and understanding. Never heavy-handed.
Conflict only makes your blood pressure go up, your fishing prowess go down, the enjoyment factor disappear, and you completely lose touch with what you should really be fishing for in the first place.
Teaching, on the other hand, makes others smarter, leaves you feeling good, and dare I say, even converts to karma that will keep the fishing gods smiling down on you. I believe that 100 percent.
