It dawned on me recently as I was wading a local flat that I was experiencing what I have written about over the past few years, namely the common ground that angling and Zen share.
Zen’s focus on “a state of calm attentiveness in which one’s actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort” mirrors the way my fishing has evolved. It’s taken a long time, but rather than trying to reason where fish might be, I often find it more effective to spend less time searching and more time observing. Over the years I’ve written about staking out holes on the flats and letting the fish come to you. More and more I’m reminded that this is an effective way to locate and approach fish. It also leads to a more relaxing experience. It’s astonishing what clues you pick up when you slow down and become attentive. Wherever you might be.
It was actually one day on a North Georgia mountain stream that I had an epiphany. It required that I didn’t have a fly rod with me. Over the years I’ve fished Dukes Creek, a trophy trout stream that runs through Smithgall Woods State Park and is managed by the state of Georgia. Fishing is only allowed three days a week, but the park is also an excellent place to bike. During a recent trip, I was biking on a day when anglers weren’t on the water. Several times I parked the bike near the stream and just sat next to a tree and observed. It only took about five minutes for the section of stream I was sitting by, seemingly devoid of fish when I arrived, to suddenly come alive. On a fishing day, I would have probably waded into the stream slowly but not mindfully. Then and there I resolved to change my fishing procedure both in Georgia and in my home waters around Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island.
Now when I’m wading or poling a flat, I’m making the experience more about just observing than catching fish. The interesting part is that it often leads to catching more fish. Whether you’re in a boat or wading, standing in place motionlessly where you have a good view of the flat is essential. It’s critical to make as little noise as possible, so don’t shuffle your feet or rock the boat. Fish in shallow water react to motion and pressure waves many anglers are not even aware they’re making. I like to anchor well away from an area I intend to fish and wade within casting range where I can also observe life on the flat. When fishing from a boat I like to drift or pole within range and anchor the boat from the stern so I can set up on the bow. In both cases, I station myself over a dark area where I’m not as obvious. When you’re fishing from a boat you’ll have a higher profile so it’s even more important to be mindful of any motion that might alert your prey to your presence. Keep casts low and be prepared to make a roll cast to any “unannounced visitors” that inevitably sneak up on you.
Call it what you will, but try slowing down and taking the time to observe an area before moving on. There are no sure things of course and often it may feel it’s a case of knowing where the fish aren’t. Even fishless days, mindfully observed, can lead to success on subsequent outings. As a bonus, even on a tough day, you’ll be more relaxed and insightful.
