At one point or another during our fly fishing careers, most of us find ourselves offering advice to other anglers. Sometimes it’s on casting, or mending, or getting a drift. Other times it’s reading water, or choosing a fly, or tying a particular knot. It might even be the best time to fish a particular stretch of river, or the right rod for certain angling conditions. Assuming that you know a little bit about the sport, and that you’d rather be a help than a hindrance, here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you find yourself offering suggestions to a fellow fisherman.
Who is asking for your advice?
You’ll want to have a pretty good feel for who you’re talking to before you respond. Do you know the person? Are they a friend, or a relative, or an acquaintance? How old are they? Do they seem to have a basic grasp of the sport? The more you know, or can discern, about the person you’re trying to help, the better the odds that you can tailor your suggestions and share thoughtful, valuable advice.
Keep it simple
Fly fishing is complicated enough on its own. We don’t need to make it even harder by giving long, convoluted answers to every single question. If you can explain something in a few short, clear sentences, then you should do so. And don’t be afraid to augment your response by demonstrating a cast or technique, or handing over a fly pattern. Some folks have a much easier time when they can actually see what you’re talking about. Your goal should always be to make things as simple and easy as possible for whoever you’re helping.
Be patient
Not everyone will be able to listen to you and follow your instructions. Sometimes that’s because they’re struggling with the physical or mental side of things. Other times it will be because you’re not doing a great job with your tutoring. Regardless of the reason, you won’t help matters if you get angry or frustrated. Do your absolute best to be as patient as possible.
Ask questions
One of the best ways to make sure you’re actually helping people is to ask them if everything you’re sharing makes sense. Never assume that folks will understand your instructions, or that they’ll be able to translate your words into their actions. Ask them if you’re being clear and helpful, and then pay attention to their answers. If you’re not being effective, you might want to try a different approach.
Youngsters
Kids are different from adults and you’ll want to take that into account if you ever find yourself trying to demonstrate fly fishing to children or teenagers. Consequently, keep your expectations low, your lessons and practice sessions short, and focus on having as much fun as possible.
Pay attention to body language
You always want to stop talking before you lose a person’s interest. If someone is fidgeting, or distracted, or if it looks like they’re starting to struggle, it’s past time to wrap things up. It’s much better to stop too soon and leave someone hoping for more than to reach the point where the person you’re trying to help is bored or frustrated.
Wait for it
As hard as it is to believe, some people enjoy figuring things out for themselves. They don’t want to hear about what they’re doing wrong, or how they might best correct their problems or fix their flaws. With that in mind, you’ll want to refrain from offering advice on the water unless an angler actually asks for your help. And if that’s too hard for you to do, you should at least preface things with a “would you like me to offer a suggestion or two?” If they don’t want your help, please give them a chance to say so.
Know your strengths and weaknesses
In other words, stick to the stuff you know and avoid weighing in on things you don’t. I realize that I’m asking anglers to refrain from pontificating on everything under the sun — which can be difficult for some folks — but it’s always better if we share accurate, helpful information. Primum non nocere. “First, do no harm.”
Point towards the pros
If you can’t help someone or answer their questions, at least point them in the right direction. If they want info on a particular hatch that you’re not familiar with, tell them to contact the local fly shop. If they want to know about fishing destinations that you’ve never visited, suggest that they contact a reputable travel agency. If they need help with their casting and you’re not up to the task, suggest that they reach out to a stellar casting instructor. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you don’t have all the answers and then pointing them in the best possible direction.
There’s one final bit of advice I’d like to offer, and it should be worthwhile regardless of whether you’re teaching your kids to fish, or running a fly casting class for your local TU chapter, or offering advice to an angler you just met on the water. Follow the Golden Rule. Treat others with the same thoughtfulness and respect that you’d like them to show you. It’s hard to go wrong if that’s your guiding principle.
Trending Products
