If you ask me, I think the surprise factor in fly fishing is underrated.
Most of us choose to spend our time preparing and planning out every detail of our fly fishing trips so we can eliminate it. We spend hours tying recommended flies, we go threw our gear with a fine tooth comb checking for imperfections, and we research everything we can about the water and species we’ll be tackling. We do this because we want to feel in control. Furthermore, we do it because we want to catch fish. Problem is, fly fishing isn’t all about trying to squeeze out every bit of success we can muster out of a day on the water. A big part of fly fishing for me is letting go and admitting no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be fully prepared and in control. I welcome the thrill of the unknown and the challenges that follow when I putt myself in situations where I can be the hero or end up a zero. For when the shit hits the fan and I’m overwhelmed by the adrenaline of the unique situation at hand, I often experience a rewarding bliss that comes over me and makes me feel alive. It purifies my soul and brings me back to my rookie days of fly fishing when just about everything got my heart racing.
Don’t always stick to your primary plan of attack. Take the time every now and then to stray into unchartered waters so you can feel the thrill of total surprise. During my last trip with Louis in the Bahamas, we spent a half day exploring blue holes and shipwrecks fishing a crazy articulated squid pattern Louis tied up. We didn’t end up having much success but I did get to experience my knees knocking and the thrill of total surprise when a four foot long unknown species tried to swallow up that squid pattern at the boat. I didn’t matter that we didn’t hook up and land that giant. The surprise and time we spent together exploring the unknown locations was priceless.
Keep it Reel,
Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter!
This made me think a bit…
I do a lot of prep for trips, but it’s for getting there, getting back, and for things like meals while we are there…I do all of that so we can absolutely wing the fishing itself and not have to worry about the nuts and bolts.
Being on the water looking for those surprises (fishy surprises, scenic surprises, exploring surprises…whatever…) is the whole point…
i have a weird feeling that the unknown 4 foot fish was a cobia. following a squid to the boat then inhaling it seems like something i would expect from them
Great article, and very well said. As fly fishermen at an advanced level it really does seem we we do get into this perfection rhythm, not that we still don’t have fun but the aspect of going in blind so to speak, I thin a lot of us have forgotten that. Thanks for the reminder, tight lines.