Home from the Marsh with Things to Think About

I'm a few days home now from whats become an annual trip to the Louisiana marsh to spend a few days with Captain Steve Martinez.  These mid-winter rips can be tough where weather plays a lot into it and this time around gave us not so great conditions.  Wind, clouds, and dirty water were the norm.  We caught a few redfish and black drum but we really had to work to find them.  I missed a few shots when fish did come into view and I left a bit disappointed in how I performed at the pointy end of the skiff.   

Maybe I was distracted with too many other things going on in my head.  (I was.)  Maybe I need to practice casting more in the wind.  (I do.)  Maybe it was just a string of a few tough days.  (It was.)     

 

Kirk Deeter's latest The True Cast article popped up on my social feed the other day and it helped put into perspective what I was thinking.  The article nailed it with this ending thought...

 

"Failure is, in truth, the key to satisfaction.  Because when you do link all those variables together—you find the fish, you make the cast, you choose the bug, and you present it just right… and you see that big ‘ol snout come up for a sip… that’s the best puzzle you’ll ever solve. And that’s the greatest measure of success any fly angler can hope to realize."

 

I've said it for awhile that I like it when things are tough.  That's how I learn.  I enjoy putting puzzles together when when fly fishing.  I like the challenge.  I like it however when it all finally falls into place and I lay out a line to a tailing or cruising bull redfish and watch it move over to suck in my fly.  It didn't really happen this go around which was disappointing but that's alright.  There is always next time...

Postscript...  Thanks to "Sweet Chili" Martinez for the invite, Dave Fason for making the trip with me, and if you find yourself in New Orleans, Palm & Pine and The Will & The Way are highly recommended.