The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
-Proverbs 4:7

Are there things to learn in life that are worth more than fly fishing? Of course. But there are things in life that you can  learn through fly fishing that brush up against those vital truths.

One such thing is being cognizant of our need to learn, our need to become wiser. There is always a little more to know, and there is always a lot more we can do to make the most of what we’ve learned. If fly fishing is a conduit for making that happen, great.

Here are three posts from the Casting Across archives that highlight how sometimes we should know more than we do know… even when we feel like we know enough. Click on the title or the picture to read the full article:

Those Who Can Fish, Teach!

I’m confident in asserting that if you can’t explain it, you don’t get it. What does this have to do with fly fishing? Well, think of it this way: Can you explain the basic mechanics of a cast? Could you give a quick overview of why the feeding behavior of fish changes with the weather? Why should I buy a medium-action fly rod over a fast one… or vice-versa?

Kicking the Conservation Bucket

Call it the impassioned idealism of youth. I think that was what it was. A more measured approach was probably needed. Letting those few compromised fish go home with him, but having a conversation that wasn’t judgmental or preachy might have been the responsible thing to do. Explaining how mature, breeding-age smallmouth bass were valuable in environs like this might have fallen on deaf ears. But…

“Hey Mister Fly Fisher!”

This young man followed me as closer than any professional ghillie would for the better part of two hours. I can tell you his family history, what he wants to do with his life, and, of course, how to catch the big catfish with chicken livers. His presence wasn’t obtrusive, annoying, or an inconvenience. He was pretty convinced that I was wasting my time fishing sans liver, until I caught a bass in front of him. “Mister, I didn’t think that you’d ever catch anything with that bait…”