Today we are constantly advised on the “power of positive thinking”. So it’s unsurprising when we visualise our next fly fishing trip, perfect conditions, fish eager to eat our flies, us catching lots of fish, catching big fish, etc. This visualisation becomes even more acute when we have large time gaps between fishing and when the trip is a particularly special one.
Positive visualisation is beneficial from the perspective of motivating our preparation. However, allowing your head to turn visualisation into expectation is lining yourself up for disappointment!
As I write, we’ve just had Mayfly time here in the UK. It’s the hatch everyone wants to fish and is a classic example of the paragraph above. Each year fishing is booked weeks and months in advance to fish the mayfly hatch. Yet each season I see many disappointed fly fishers while waterside, guiding my clients or fishing myself. These despondent fly fishers have mostly hit a day when weather/water conditions or the fly hatch/fish response don’t match up with their ideal. The result? They don’t bother fishing or they fish for a short while (generally before the hatch would start anyway) lacking confidence, before packing up.
Why does this happen? Simple, they have an ideal, positive expectation in their heads and it’s fixed. This closed thinking leaves them in a mess, with only a disappointment scenario when reality fails to match up.
How do we change this for the better? By retaining a realistic, positive visualisation and not allowing it to become our expectation. Look forward to the trip, use your excitement positively to prepare. What gear will you need, is it all working well? Practice using it. Get help with any new skills you need. In the final days prior to fishing, monitor conditions.
All this takes limited time, helps you connect with your fly fishing away from the water, improves your enjoyment and confidence. Awareness of conditions pre-trip, means you know what to expect and adjust your thinking. If conditions are going to be poor, it’s helpful to think “catching one fish today is like catching ten when conditions are good”.
Above all, remain adaptable when waterside, preparation ahead of time helps, however remaining observant and open to change while fishing is the key to your success!
Thanks for reading!
SJY