A small observation about fishing

[The Fish Whisperer]

We often consider ourselves to be the most intelligent animals on earth. We have one of the largest brain to body ratios of any animal that exist, and we have left the largest impact of any to walk the earth as well. And yet; we devote hours, months, years of our time, just to figure out how to trick animals with brains the size of an almond. And often, we can go our whole lives and still not figure out everything there is to know about them. We practice and practice that reach cast to get a precisely drag free float to entice that hungry cutthroat, or practice rod control to get the perfect spoon swing in front of the nose of that chrome Steelhead. We experiment with making our flies more enticing to the fish, different combinations of scents and flavors to add to our baits, and sometimes even when we plan everything just perfectly, with all the resources, wit, and ingenuity we have, we still manage to get outsmarted by an animal like a fish. Something I always loved about fishing is that at the end of the day, no matter how well I prepare, my fishing trip is always at the mercy of the fish.

Just some food for thought, or maybe just a sign I need to get better sleep, who knows!

Ah, yes. Very good insight. I might add though that we often forget about the experience because we are so intent in tricking the fish that sometimes and does make us look foolish. I always say " preparation meets opportunity", but everything else and just some good old luck play into the equation. Don't forget to stop and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.

 

[JimTravers¤£a!!Travers]

You're observations are right on. This is precisely why there is no room for having an ego tied up in fishing. Makes me wonder why there are sooooooo many blowhards in the industry. Sometimes I wonder if we blow harder than the wind we complain about

I approach waters with the UPMOST INTENSITY!!! Not to mention the EXPECTATIONS I've come to expect of ME. I always compete. If I ain't getting the results I EXPECT then I buckle in with extreme intensity and once again prove why I consider myself to be a Big Name. I consider myself to be a Big Name because I get it done under pressure. NO ONE COMES CLOSE to ME in terms of getting it done under pressure!!! That's why I consider myself a BIG NAME!!!

 

[Brian Miller]

I approach waters with the UPMOST INTENSITY!!! Not to mention the EXPECTATIONS I've come to ect of ME. I always compete. If I ain't getting the results I EXPECT then I buckle in with extreme intensity and once again prove why I consider myself to be a Big Name. I consider myself to be a Big Name because I get it done under pressure. NO ONE COMES CLOSE to ME in terms of getting it done under pressure!!! That's why I consider myself a BIG NAME!!!

JTT's thoughtful post reminded me of my response on another site to JT describing his "Power fishin'!!" technique on small streams where I imagined a composite of my typical Tenkara trips and what an on-stream encounter with the JTT caricature might be like...
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Jim Travers said
I don't wait! I skip the observin' stage and just throw hard at the water!!!! Power fishin'!! I always know what to use!!!! If I ain't pullin' em, they ain't there!!! That's the deal!!!

That's how I know so many of these waters are void of fish these days!!!!
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I've just released a chunky, hard fighting 13" Coastal Cuttie I cast to after seeing a slurp near the end of submerged log about 3' upstream of a small pool's tailout. I had crept up slowly to about 15' from the rise and kneeled down behind a boulder on the plumb-sized cobble; comfortably protected by my padded neoprene knee-shin guards. I cast my sakasa (reverse hackled) Pheasant Tail (wet) fly 3' upstream of the rise. My unweighted fly slips under the surface film and at a slow count of 2 the tri-color sighter hesitates momentarily. I set the hook and there is a deep bend in my 5:5 full flex Tenkara rod. I set again less aggressively for good measure and the #3 level line is singing like a bowed violin string as it's pulled through the water while I use low lateral rod movements to keep the rod in its power curve and the fish from diving into a gap under the log, steering it around near the tailout as it tires. The head comes up and I grasp the line to bring it into the net where the barbless fly pops out on its own. I rest the fish fully submerged in the net while I get my camera out of it's pouch on my sling pack strap. A quick lift, snap the shutter, then submerge the fish again while I check the pic. It looks good so I drop the net to the bottom and the fish swims out and stops; sheltering behind a rock in a shallow depression just out of arm's reach.

I hear him before I see him; splash-splash, ca-lunk, splash-splash... SPLASH.
Local kids playing?
"@%$#%&!"
Nope the voice is too deep.
Splash-splash, ca-lunk...
It's getting closer. The fish I released darts into that gap under the log...
Splash ca-lunk.
I see a grassy spot in the brush a few feet upstream on the bank, move over to it, collapse my rod, and take off my pack. I pull out out my water filter bottle, take the top off, dip it in the stream, sit down, and get out a sandwich.

'Round the bend about 30 feet away comes JT, Power fishin'!! and throwing hard at the water!!!! He's just 20 feet away now and hasn't seen me yet.
In a fair Mel Blanc voice I say "Eh, what's up Doc?"
He startles a bit as he sees me appear out of the foliage but recovers quickly...
He bellows "I'm Power fishin'!!"
I ask if he's catching any fish and he bruskly responds
"Here's the deal!!! I always know what to use!!!! And I ain't pullin' em, so they ain't here!!! So many of these waters are void of fish these days!!!!"
I respond "You must be Jim Travers, right?"
He bellows "Yeah that's right!!!! I don't wait!"
I say "Small world, nice to meet you. Well play on through and have a good one."

Splash-splash, ca-lunk, splash-splash... SPLASH. "@%$#%&!" Splash-splash, ca-lunk, around the next corner he goes.

I check my watch and start in on my sandwich again. After some time passes I see that fish move from underneath the log back to the lie it was at when I hooked it. A glance at my watch tells me 7 minutes and 23 seconds have elapsed. Wow, I wasn't expecting it that soon and wonder if I can hook him again. I get out an electrolyte pill, close up my pack, check my fly and tippet and drink the rest of my 24 oz of water. I put the bottle back into its pouch and make sure it's secure; I forgot to check that last week and lost a $30 water filter bottle, then put on my pack.

I slowly slip back into the water and extend my rod. There's a slow slurping rise near the head of the pool in an eddy just to the right below a small cascade...

 

[RCF]

I do not think we necessarily give fish enough credit. A couple of examples:

Fishing upstream from Microburst, cast out a dry fly. Watch a nice fish come up from the bottom of the pool, check the fly out and go back into the depths.

Fishing the middle fork of the Salmon river. Same thing happened.

Fishing the west fork of the BRoot. Nice undercut bank to fish. Cast and caught a couple small ones from it. Put on a bigger fly. Same cast. A nice big one chomped on the fly. Why chase small morsels when he is at the head of the feeding line and gets all the large tasty morsels?

 

[FinLuver]

I do not think we necessarily give fish enough credit. A couple of examples:

Fishing upstream from Microburst, cast out a dry fly. Watch a nice fish come up from the bottom of the pool, check the fly out and go back into the depths.

Fishing the middle fork of the Salmon river. Same thing happened.

Fishing the west fork of the BRoot. Nice undercut bank to fish. Cast and caught a couple small ones from it. Put on a bigger fly. Same cast. A nice big one chomped on the fly. Why chase small morsels when he is at the head of the feeding line and gets all the large tasty morsels?

Those first two sound like the Refusal Cousins…their lineage is long and wide.