Fishing, Not Catching

"You don’t get it do you?"

It was my first time fly fishing with a guide. I'd hired a pro fly fisherman to teach me how to catch elusive river trout. At least that's what I had thought I was doing.

This wasn't my first time fly fishing but because I wasn't having much luck I decided to get professional instruction. After going over the basics, watching my form for a few minutes, and analyzing the conditions the guide directed me to a secluded patch on the river that showed potential. I spent a little time trying to catch with no strikes. I got frustrated.

I waded over to the guide and asked him for help. He patiently answered my questions, switched the fly patterns, and pointed me in the direction of another spot on the river bend.

It wasn't long until was back asking for help. "Do I really have the right fly?" "Is this line the right weight?" "What speed should I be retrieving the line?" This cycle of frustration and instruction continued a few more times until the guide finally said, "You don’t get it do you?"

He added softly, "If you're only thinking about the catch, you're not going to put your attention on the cast, and that's where it counts the most."

"Forget about what will happen, focus on the delivery. You don't have any control over what the fish will do, you only have control over how you present the fly to the fish."

The art of fishing is exactly that. You’re fishing not catching. The craft of casting is essential. Without a well executed cast there is no opportunity for a catch. Your success in catching rests on the preparation you put into casting.

What a great metaphor for life. Focus on what you can deliver. Don't get all caught up in the stuff you can't control. If you do the work of delivering the best you can, the outcome becomes almost inevitable.

Marketers get their ideal customers when they target more precisely. Designers deliver when they understand the end user better. Data analysts provide a finer results when they query with accuracy.

Learn to cast, and the catching will follow.

P.S. I caught more fish once I switched my attention to fishing, not catching.

P.S.S. I've also heard that the best way to learn to juggle is to get good at tossing the ball in the air. Throwing the ball accurately means it will land exactly where it needs to land - in your hand.