Slack Water - An Encouraging Word

TOSFly readers, please consider this a small word of encouragement from one impatient angler to others.  While fly-fishing is tranquil and serene, I often get very excited in the days, weeks, and months leading up to a much needed trip to the river.  That anticipation builds even before I decide to head to the stream.  It is building now as I look forward to the TOSFly annual retreat next weekend.  

I always assume perfect conditions, dream of my flawless performance, and lose count of the monsters I’ll catch just as soon as I slip on my Gore-Tex.  My wife is a mental health therapist, and I therefore feel I am qualified to diagnose myself.  I have a common fisherman’s illness called “Assumptive Bad-Assery Disorder."  You're probably familiar with it, and you may even have it yourself.  Fairly self-explanatory, this disorder leads me to believe I’m going to break every record that’s ever been imagined by any angler in the history of history.  It’s easy to build these 20-pound stories while I’m in the office.  The problem lies, however, when I make my first cast and a monster trout does not end up in my net.  “What am I doing wrong?”  I curse myself… I’m doing everything I assumed I should…

Typically, after my first five minutes of failure, I decide it’s the fly or the section of river – and I change.  I change something, or everything.  And the pursuit of monsters continues throughout the frustration-filled day, all the while I'm blaming everything but myself.  Of course, I’m awesome – a "bad ass" if you will."  Surely it can’t be my fault…

Assumption and anticipation are great things, but patience truly is a virtue.  While it may seem obvious, there probably are fish in that hole.  They probably will eat that fly – or at least one of the few I've set out for that day.  I've learned that I need to move less.  Lately, I've had more success when I fish the entire stretch of a river.  Starting in the shallow banks, working out towards the main drift, then across to #TheOtherSide (see what I did there?).  If that doesn’t work, try another shelf.  Put on another weight (or take some off), raise (or lower) the indicator, and experiment in the drifts.  Those fish are stacked somewhere. 

If you’re like me, and you’re tempted to move at a moment’s “loose-fly-line,” take a breath, and re-position your fly.  If they’re not holding in the main drift, they could be deeper.  If they aren't deep, perhaps they’re relaxing in the slack water.  It is much better to be skunked knowing you fished every inch of water than just a few “good runs.”  You may just end up with that monster… or at least end up less tired.  Just remember one thing - Cast to the Other Side!