Learning Never Ends ~ Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

If there is anything that I believe about fly fishing it's this...  If you put in the effort, you will receive the reward.  In my few years of fly fishing, it's been practice, practice, practice.  And many valuable lessons learned.  Being stubborn as an ox, gives me a little bit of an advantage because I am not a quitter!  I would have to say that the greatest lesson is believing in yourself.  The days that you go out with a negative attitude or a suspicion that you might not catch anything, you are doomed right from the start.  Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) gives you the extra lift over the hurdle that might lie in front of you. (And I have plenty of those, believe me!)  More than any of you know about.  So, I know that it can be done. 

Sure, we don't always do it right the first time, but we usually get a lot closer to our goal the second time we try.  Case in point.  I am one to be a little aprehensive to ask for help.  I would rather go out and take my bumps and bruises in learning how to do something.  Why? I don't really know. I sure waste a lot of time doing things half-backwards.  Maybe it's because I don't like to put other people out. I don't want to be an inconvenience. What's funny is, most people would love to help you out, share their experience and give you a nudge in the right direction.  A couple of recent teachers:

A new river buddy, Jeremy.  We met up through a Facebook group that I belong to of anglers that frequent the waters that I do... We met at the river and he brought his portable tying table and vise and sat with me for several hours in the parking lot teaching me a couple of valuable flies that I would need.  Now, that is the help that I appreciate!  This young man has incredible knowledge about fly tying and finding bugs at the river that the fish are feeding off of.   We of course went out afterwards to hook up those sow eating fish! Yes, he was pretty excited about this nice brown trout!  (Now put him back for me to catch!!!  Haha)

Then, there's Joe.  A river friend for the past little while.  He too knows his entomology.  He can always find the two or three bugs that are working and fish them all day long.  He is an expert in reading the river.  That is sooo key.  There was a little bit of tweaking on my fly line set up this last trip out.  It's good to see what other set-ups people use for the leader and tippet too.   Experiment and see what is best for you.  Again, more knowledge!   All you have to do is ASK...

SUNDAY TIPPETS:  I have fished with some great mentors in the past five years that have just given me enough to think about and practice on to make me a more effective fly fisherman.  And I thank them all for sharing their time in the classroom and on the water.  For me, it just makes the experience all that more fun.  So, if you aren't confident in your skills, get out there with a buddy who is.  Or get the help from your local fly shop with a guide trip out.  It might just make all the difference in your next solo trip to the river.

Get your questions answered!

HAVE FUN!
Remember, it's a learning game...