“To learn, wander. To achieve, focus.”
This quote comes from James Clear’s “3-2-1 Thursday” newsletter, and it struck me as a fine approach to fly-fishing mountain streams.
You likely see the obvious connection. Here’s how I see it.
When I’m fishing mountain streams, much of the enjoyment comes from trekking up the streambed. As I type this, images of streams are dancing in my head. I can wander them again in my mind, and, yes, to a fair degree I think I’ve “learned” them. The beauty is that they change often enough that I can wander and learn repeatedly. Those wanderings are reward enough, truth be told.
Catching brook trout takes something more than free-range wandering up a streambed. That’s where focus comes in. Rising fish, fishy-looking water, seams, pillows, and bubble lines grab my attention now. If I’ve fished this water before, my earlier wandering has taught me a few things, allowing me to use what I’ve learned to break down the larger picture into distinct areas of focus. If it’s new water, lessons from previous adventures are transferable.
So, I’ll continue to wander and learn and with a little focus bring a brookie or two to hand. In any event, it’s always time well spent.
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This is so true! I've long wondered how I can get actual students to learn in this same kind of way. Haven't fully figured it out yet, but getting them outside in nature is part of the solution.
Sometimes hooking a fish can get in the way of an otherwise sublime experience