Measuring Success in Fly Fishing

[Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer]

From my article this week:

It snowed last weekend in New York City, in what I hope will be the end of our short by cold winter. No matter how brisk the weather remains in these next two weeks of March, I know that April, and the start of my fly fishing season, is but a few precious days away. I am already getting prepared. This week, I pulled out my vest and waders from the closet, packed away since the fall, and smelled the scent of the stream once again. I took inventory of my gear, and spent a few moments day-dreaming of the hundreds of dollars I want to spend on fly fishing stuff that I cannot afford. And most importantly, I spent some time thinking about where I want to go for my first fly fishing trip of 2007.

After six months of winter, I want my first trip to be a success. Perhaps that is why I will head to a river that is fully stocked, because I know that if I do not catch a single trout, I might be disappointed. In thinking about my desire to do well on the stream, I asked myself: What makes a fly fishing trip a success? When do we come out of the river, pack the waders in the car and say to ourselves: “That was amazing”?

For some, catching fish is the only measure of success of a fly fishing trip. Maybe that is why Orvis sells scales and rulers to calculate the length and weight of the trout we land. If the measure of your fish is the only measure of your success, then what happens if you do not get a bite? Did you waste your time on the river if you did not land a single trout?

When I first taught myself to fly fish in the trout parks of Missouri, I would go hours, and days without catching a trout. It was frustrating. Yet even on the hardest day, when there were no fish to be seen, I still relished the time spent in the stream.

Rabbi E

[Phil Lilley]

Rabbi- thanks for sharing! What waters do you frequent? Is the weather in NY as warm as it is here in Missouri? We've been having incredible spring weather the last few weeks.

In my "old age", my measuring stick has migrated a bit to the side of not the length of number of the fish brought to hand but to the cast placement and hookup of a fish whom I was 'shooting' for. That and just the overall experience of being on the water in God's creation.

Thanks again!

[Al Agnew]

"Success"? I don't think that's the right word. I don't go to the river to "succeed" at anything. I go to experience everything. If all I experience is the stream and the day and some casting, that's enough, although I can't remember the last time I didn't catch ANYTHING. But everything else is just more and better experience. If I see an eagle, that adds to my experience. If I see deer, hear tukeys gobbling, watch an osprey catching a fish, more additions. And...if I catch fish, each one is a plus. Of course, you also have some minuses. Too many other people, party idiot canoeists, litter, detract from the experience. But, if I'm heading to the river, I know it's going to be a good experience...there are only varying degrees of "good".

Within the experience, however, there are LITTLE successes. If they don't happen, I don't consider the trip or even the attempt a failure. Maybe I just tied some new flies...if I catch a fish on one, it's a success. If I don't, it isn't a failure, maybe just a learning experience. Or maybe I'm trying a new technique. Or maybe it's just getting a good drift through a tricky spot, or a good cast to a rising fish under a bush. The experience is usually studded with such small successes. Maybe it even contains a bigger success, like catching a 20 inch trout. For some, the success would come in "winning" the "battle" with the fish. For me, it's much more in getting that fish to take my fly.

In fact, no matter what kind of fishing I'm doing, when it comes to the fishing itself, I get so much more satisfaction from the strike, the take, than I do the "battle". It's one reason why I have absolutely no interest in doing big game saltwater fishing. The angler in that situation has very little to do with getting that marlin to take the bait, and then it's man against fish for an hour until you get it in. I get tired and bored with fighting a fish for more than a few minutes. So I guess you could say that I have no real interest in that kind of "success"...it detracts from my experience!

[hank franklin]

Al, I count success as having made it to the stream. Everything from there is just a bonus.

My most satisfying fishing moment on the stream comes when I've spotted a target, a likely fish holding place, and hit that spot perfectly with my cast, and a fish is there to take it. It doesn't matter from that point if I land the fish, or what size it is, etc. The satisfying part is finding the spot, hitting it, and having a fish oblige.

This is the great appeal (and challenge) of float fishing in my opinion. When the boat and the water is moving, often you get just one chance to hit the prime spot. First you have to recognize the spot, then you've got to hit it with your cast, and in the meantime you've got to be sure you and the boat are positioned to actually catch the fish if it strikes. I had a couple moments like that in the past weekend on the North Fork, both resulting in nice trout.

I don't call that success as much as "satisfaction." Success is just being there in the first place.

[WebFreeman]

I googled the Rabbi's web site and his entry is much longer than what he posted. Here is the link:

http://www.theflyfishingrabbi.blogspot.com/

[Terrapin Station]

When I first read this post this morning I thought, uggghhh--somebody just watched "The Movie" again or reread "Trout Bum." After all, what's posted above has been discussed ad nauseum on every FF forum and in every FF publication since Dame Juliana first pulled up her knickers to wade in a chalk stream. Then I thought "who in the Sam-hell is Rabbi Eric?" Like WebFreeman, I dug a little deeper to figure out who this mysterious NYC bagel eater was and why was he molting on our rock...lo and behold, he's one of us...a Missourah boy.

Honestly Eric, I like the unedited version much better. Sure, I don't fall into the target audience of it, but the message still rings true. As God once said, "It's all good." (Or at least I think I heard him say that.) Welcome to OAF, I look forward to more Reflections from a Fly Fishing Rabbi. And don't be afraid to wear your kippah around these parts! After all, it's all good.

PS: You didn't really ever go a day without seeing a fish in a trout park did you?

[MrsDucky]

Thank you for sharing, Rabbi. That is much more eloquent than "A day spent fishing is better than a day at work." The Springfield paper had a section today on all the benefits of fishing, for children and adults. It includes having things in common with others you normally might not, being able to talk about things while you are busy with your common interest, and being able to spend time alone without being lonely. That's what fishing is about...the experience, not just the fish!

[SilverMallard]

I'm with Al. The last thing I'm thinking about on a trout stream is success/failure...except for those occassional moments when I land a big fish I thought I was going to lose or some such thing. But I certainly don't go out thinking in terms of success/failure. I just go. I guess success on a trout stream to me is unwinding a bit and recharging my soul batteries.

[jdmidwest]

I agree with some of the others, success is simply getting out and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family or a day alone floating a stream. Fish are just the icing on the cake. Things are a little simplier out in the woods or on the stream.

[Crippled Caddis]

Good thoughts Rabbi!

If you don't know him you really need to meet 'bill0215' in the Bronx IIRC. You can meet him on the 'Bass Pond'. He flyfishes (very successfully!) almost daily in NYC as well as surrounding areas. Meet him at: <http://p207.ezboard.com/fthebasspondfrm2>

I've bookmarked your blog for future reading pleasure. CC