Things I've learned from fly fishing

Fly fishing is unique among outdoor activities in that it is as much an art as it is a science; proper technique blends with entomology and aquatic biology, and successful fishing demands mastery of all three - or at least competency. Something about the fusion of art, science, and relaxation creates a somewhat educational environment at times, if you are willing to listen. Here's a few tips I've picked up that can also be relevant in other walks of life.

- Try the most obvious solution first. If you're kicking up grasshoppers every five feet, throw a hopper pattern. If you see fish chasing stuff up from the bottom, throw whatever emergers typically produce in that area. If the rock you turn over gives you a size 24 zebra midge, maybe that will work...

- That said, don't be afraid to switch it up and get weird. When the obvious answers aren't producing shit, sometimes an off-the-wall approach will work. I've caught big browns on dry fly patterns in March and on mouse patterns in broad daylight, rainbows on streamers in August, and pike on nymphs.

- Give 'em a second chance. You should always be throwing at least a double rig, if not a triple. As a corollary, your strike indicator might as well have a hook in it, so I tend to use a high visibility foam-bodied dry. I cannot count the number of times I've seen fish hit an indicator instead of the fly.

- Don't allow yourself to get frustrated. From guide to total novice, we all have our bad days. Regardless of what profession you are in, nobody is perfect all the time... and sometimes, even the best of us just plain suck. If you find yourself struggling to throw a long leader, getting windknots, losing flies on willows - stop and take a minute. I speak from experience when I say that all you're going to accomplish is further angering yourself.

- Ignore distractions. 90% of the strikes I've missed have been while I was distracted by something of no importance. Focus.

- Presentation is at least 75% of the game. If you can even remotely match what they're taking, a perfect presentation of a similar pattern will often put a bend in your rod. Disregard this if you are fishing a high pressure tailwater.

- A beer and a river nap are the equivalent of a reset button. Occasionally, when everything is slow, you just have to sit on the bank, watch your friends fish, knock back a beer, and rack out in full gear. If you do this correctly, you will wake up with no fucking idea of where you area and/or how you got there.

- Patience is not always rewarded. Doing the wrong thing repeatedly will consistently provide unsatisfactory results. If your current approach isn't working, fix that shit. Change flies, change retrieves, change depths, change something, for the love of god.

I could continue, but sleep beckons. Be well.