Angling growth becomes personal
February 20th, 2010
Since my reintroduction to FMSI I’ve met some amazing people. Too many to name really. It’s fantastic to be surrounded by people who love to do what I love to do: Trying to fool fish. Perspective is everything, as with most descriptions, and it is no different with angling. I’ve been swaying towards these types of topics lately….you’ll know if you follow this blog. Topics that relate to our growth both as individuals and as anglers.
We’re always trying to be better, right? Well, what better way to benchmark your own position in your trade while at the same time learning something new from another angler’s perspective. Pretty cool right? I think so. Which puts me to the point and description of this article: Growth. It’s funny who we learn certain things from. And at which time we may learn them. The best lessons for me have come when I am not expecting them. Quite often, I’ve had to process the things that have happened to me before I am able to realize the significance they play in my life.
As a fisherman I am always evolving. Tailout Swinger told me I would get to this point, as I’ve mentioned before, and he was right on the money. With growth and evolution comes humility as well. I try to never take myself very seriously while at the same time keep a good amount of faith in my own abilities. These attributes and agreements are especially important when it comes to a day of angling with a new buddy. A buddy that you already know from reputation is extremely skilled at what they do. Being humble or showing humility is even more important when it’s not your day. When the mojo isn’t there or maybe you aren’t as prepared as you should have been…..it takes a wake up call and some new perspective. It doesn’t mean you sell yourself short by any means. It just means take something good from it. Something to help you.
During a trip with “BIG Jake” Reardon I was able to grasp, while it was occuring, that this was one of those types of days I’ve spent the last several hundred words describing. Starting out five minutes late and having forgot a packed lunch or water is how this day began. Falling on my face (and knee cap) into the river and on rocks as slick as snot even with cleats…is how the day continued. Creating the worst back lash for myself in the last ten years by hooking my own rod behind me during a cast attempt was further evidence that my hopefully prospective & potential successful results were most likely no where to be found on this day. Oh yeah, and I fell again and back lashed again and through all of this have determined that my main steelhead drifting reel is sh*t.
So, instead of getting frustrated like I may have in the past….I raised my chin to the sky and laughed out loud. Mostly at myself…but some at the level of difficulty at which these fish were being pulled. After all, why wouldn’t I take this opportunity to take some mental notes of what is working for BIG Jake on this day and how I could get these things to help me down the road. So…I watched, listened and..oh yeah, shot video too as you’ve seen in the BIG Jake Production movie.
Keeping up with everyone around you is NOT what I am saying here at all. Create your own learning curves based on your desire to improve. Ask questions if you want. Or, if you’re like me and not a big question-asker….just watch and learn. Lord knows that’s what I did here.
Cheers and Tips up…unless you need them down.
H3llcat, Site Founder
BIG Jake Reardon
Allaroundangler.com/TS2010
