No one has ever seen a body builder and thought, “I bet he’d make an excellent angler.”

Similarly, there is no inherent association between the physique of marathon runners and fly casting ability. Why is that? Because while there is absolutely nothing wrong with being in  shape, athletic prowess and fly fishing success only share a modest overlap in the  Venn diagram of reality.

In fact, this is true about a variety of variables that individuals bring to the river. Once again: a healthy and capable body is absolutely a good thing. Having the right equipment is very beneficial, too. And no one should discourage anyone from absorbing everything possible from books, YouTube, and seminars. But while each and every one of those facets have check boxes corresponding with objective benchmarks, true fly fishing accomplishment comes from something that is essentially intangible.

In one sense, the answer is time.

Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000-hour rule”  has become widely accepted. This concept, that expertise in a field comes at about the 10,000 hour mark of practice, has been debated and  nuanced in countless ways. Regardless, the principle that exposure and repetition are the keys to advancement  is undeniable. Certainly there are limits. Many won’t be able to dunk a basketball even if given 20,000 hours to practice.  Poetry might be technically sound with significant training, but if it lacks soul or insight it won’t be compelling.

Similarly, time on the river chasing after trout is a good start. But focus is the key. Paying attention to the countless minutiae of  the world around you is necessary. This intangible kind of time truly breeds success.

Casting to a two-dimensional plane of water, disinterested from the myriad of visual cues across the surface of the water that exegete what lies below is very limiting. One may possess a natural inclination with the  fly rod so as to place a dry fly in the proper place when trout are rising. But as soon as the hatch dwindles, then what? Seams, bubbles, small alterations in the current and the overall course of the river reveal where trout should be. A lot of that information is framed by having it explained. It comes to roost in a very practical way when it is seen and sensed.

It is evident that some come by this naturally. These are people who “are just fishy.” They know when to go, where to be, and what to do. Rarely is it tied to intelligence or tax bracket. That intangible observational skill set is how they see the world. Which reinforces that it is a practice that isn’t limited to the water. Good hunters seem to think like deer. Outfielders have a feeling for where the ball is going to go. Counselors, while fully listening, hold an inclination  to what the problem’s root might be.

But for many, it takes focused time. Splitting attention between the particular (cast to the rise) and the general (flow, temperature, depth,  humidity, bird song, cloud cover, foliage, etc.) takes work. But consciously or subconsciously, each data point stored and catalogued buttresses those core competencies. More than muscle and more than book smarts – certainly more than a thousand-dollar fly rod – seeking this intangible angling skill will lead attaining much more in fly fishing.