THE OTHER 10%

“Ten percent of the fisherman catch 90 percent of the fish,” said Jon as he took a sip from his coffee and went back to silence and staring at the pool we were fishing that night on the river Orkla in Norway.

I never questioned my old friend who doesn’t talk a lot but happens to be the most knowledgeable Atlantic salmon fisherman I’ve ever met.

Decades later I still believe this to be true but, what is the reason and what makes the difference? I’ve come to realize it’s a combination from a variety of factors but, the one that stands out most me, as a guide, is mindset. I’ve fished with a lot of good fly fishermen but looking back, I can just name a handful who had this mindset and knowledge that put them above all others. So, what is it and how can I use it for myself?

Mindset: Trust in yourself and what you are doing but always keep an open mind for changes and adjusting for different situations. Most importantly, expect a bite instead of hoping for one!

Knowledge: … is king! The more you know in specific about fish species, seasons, areas, bait, tides and/or currents, tackle, and fishing techniques, the more you’ll find the right place at the right time using the right technique.

Capabilities: That’s you! Practice your fly casting and presentation, rod position, line handling, strip setting (or trout setting depending on where you are fishing) and how to fight fish. The better you function while fishing, the better your success rate will be! No worries, this is a lifelong process!

Last, but not least, you won’t catch each and every fish even if you’ve mastered the above but, you will have more success on average by using all the tools you acquire with experimental and practice.

Capt. Michael Mauri www.mauriflyfishing.com michael@mauriflyfishing.com

(772) 485-3321