The Persistence Hack: Find More & Bigger Fish

Why is it that some anglers consistently catch more fish and bigger fish than others? This question has fascinated me for over the past decade-plus of fly fishing. Fortunately, I’ve had many opportunities to fish with and learn from gifted anglers, and over time have developed a theory that aims to answer this question.

To be persistent means to continue to exist beyond a usual measure of time. Any success in life comes from some form of persistence. Think of completing a project, landing a new job, or earning an award. Persistence was undoubtedly a key factor in all of these victories. The same is true of the world’s best anglers. They understand that if they simply push themselves to keep fishing, staying focused and determined for longer than your average angler, they will be rewarded with more fish and bigger fish over time.

So how does this hack work? Why does simply being persistent result in improved angling success?

For answers, let’s look to the world’s best trout fishers – competitive anglers.

Time is Valuable

First, competitive anglers understand that time is a valuable resource. During competitions, their fishing sessions are timed, so maximizing every second with flies in the water is imperative to stay competitive. The key lesson here is to stop wasting time on the water. Being persistent about keeping your flies fishing at every opportunity will convert to more fish landed.

Cover Water Thoroughly

Secondly, competitive fly fishers consistently find bigger fish by understanding the difference in adult vs juvenile fish behavior. The locations, presentations, and flies that dupe lots of juvenile fish are not likely to be the same with their bigger adult brethren. Learning the differences between juvenile and adult fish behavior will pay out in spades. A good first step is to read water more thoroughly. Since competitive anglers are limited to short beats, they must ensure they are fishing every square inch of their allotted water. Combine this style of intricately combing water with repetitive practice, and the result is an angler who instinctively understands where big fish reside in any conditions. The key lesson here is, don’t skip water because it looks less fishy. Be persistent about fishing every cubic inch of a short section of water, and chances are high that you will encounter more big fish in doing so.

Find a Mentor

Lastly, competitive anglers keep improving their skills by being constantly surrounded by other talented anglers. Traveling and practicing as a professional fly fishing team means there is no option to be stagnant with your skills and development. The entire team is relying on every angler to fish as hard as they can, and improve their proficiency at any opportunity possible. The key lesson here is, surround yourself with the best anglers possible, and learn from them. Be persistent about finding mentors, as a great mentor can accelerate your learning curve by 10X, resulting in many more and bigger fish to net.

The more you commit yourself to improving your angling skills through persistence and mentorship, the more enjoyment you’ll experience every time you go fishing.

For a little more inspiration, check out my eBook; The Angler’s Journey, which goes more in-depth about persistence and mentorship, and offers practical tips to improving your skill-set. I wish you a productive fishing season in 2024. Hopefully you’ll find yourself committed to improving your skills and finding many more and bigger fish!