Risk taking
It may cost you a few flies, but the rewards are worth it.
“Any enterprise that punishes unsuccessful risk-taking more than it rewards successful risk-taking will fail.” – Paul Begala1
When I heard that the other day, I nodded my head and thought how true it was. While Begala was postulating it in a political campaign context, it certainly applies to fly-fishing.
When faced with a challenging opportunity, the fear of losing a fly or gorking up a cast can be strong. Competing with those thoughts are the successes that result from taking the shot and being rewarded.
The key is to not let the punishment of losing a fly or making a bad cast, turning your fly-fishing into a less gratifying experience. Push yourself to take the shot, you’ll improve your abilities and confidence.
It may cost you a few flies, but the rewards are worth it.
Hacks on Tap, April 30, 2024.
Earl on in my journey back to fly fishing I struggled with trying to not lose flies…now I focus on what I believe to be true: the best fish are sometimes in the hardest places to cast to
If you ain’t losing flies, you ain’t fishing. I say that as a fly fisherman who mostly chucks #2 deer hair bugs in cluttered Texas bass water. A lost fly hurts, but the potential rewards approach double digits.