The Troutbitten Podcast is available everywhere that you listen to your podcasts.
** Note ** The Podcast Player, along with links to your favorite players is below.
Sometimes, an angler’s love for gear becomes more important than the fishing itself, until the goal becomes a bigger collection of fishing gear instead of a collection of good fishing experiences. We’ve all seen this out there. And sometimes we have to actively fight that urge to want the next thing or believe that our deficiencies on the river can be solved with more gear.
The truth is, too much stuff gets in the way. Simplifying our approach, our fly selection and gear selection, usually wins. It can also make for a happier fisherman who feels like they know their tools and have confidence in their techniques.
But, having a few extra rods and reels is good too. And researching, planning for and then buying your next piece of gear is a fun process that can be inspiring. It can motivate you to get back to the river quickly and put your new stuff to the test. All things in moderation, right?
So part of our conversation in this episode is focused on the gear — the stuff you don’t need to have great days on the water, the stuff that might hold you back far more than help you out.
But another part of this episode is less tangible. Because it’s not always what we buy and stash in a fishing pack that gets in the way. Because, over time, it’s too easy to focus on finding the perfect water. Or we can look too hard for ideal weather and fishing conditions. Even the pursuit of some miraculous presentation can get in the way of our enjoyment and our progress.
For most anglers, our time on the water is often so limited that it’s easy to get wrapped up in all the daydreaming and planning, until gear acquisition syndrome creeps in. And then our time on the water is spent finding reasons that we need something else or the next thing.
The truth is, your best approach is to take the modest gear you own, hit some of the closest trout water you can find, and fish it hard. That’s what wins. And that was this podcast conversation is about.
Resources
READ: Troutbitten | All the Things
READ: Troutbitten | Patience vs Persistence
READ: Troutbitten | Fish Hard
Here’s the podcast . . .
Listen with the player above, or . . .
Find the Troutbitten podcast on any of these services:
— Apple Podcasts
— Spotify
— Google Podcasts
— Amazon Music
. . . and everywhere else where you listen to podcasts.
You can find the dedicated Troutbitten Podcast page at . . .
Season Nine of the Troutbitten Podcast continues next week with episode five. So look for it in your Troutbitten podcast feed.
Fish hard, friends.
** Donate ** If you enjoy this podcast, please consider a donation. Your support is what keeps this Troutbitten project funded. Scroll below to find the Donate Button. And thank you.
Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com
Among the stuff I don’t need are not Troutbitten podcasts. I need them desperately.
Cheers.
The discussion about elitism was interesting. To me, you guys seem like the very antithesis of elitism.
You embrace pretty much all styles of fly fishing – using whatever tactic or fly that works. The consistent theme of the podcast seems to be, “here’s how we do it, we think it really works, and we suggest you give it a try. However, if for example you only like fishing dries – if that’s what makes you happy, go do it. I’ve never heard any of you suggest that if you’re not doing something a specific way, well you’re just doing it wrong. I have a couple of friends who only fish dries – and they are happy to let you know, that fishing any other way is just not right. That to me is elitism. I have never heard that from any of you.
Also, it seems to me that while you believe you’re using the best methods to catch fish on your waters – if someone came along and offered you a new tactic, that you would be willing to give it a try. You all seem more than willing to learn and adopt new strategies.
Nothing that you do, smacks or elitism – at least not to me.
Thanks, Rick. That feels good.
Cheers.
Dom
Only bad fishermen need patience.
Whoops, wrong podcast!
Hey Now
Amazing podcast topic. Nice work getting through all the consumerism and hype that is prevalent in fly fishing and really, all of life. Strong work addressing the micro and macro of all the things, Dom.
Thanks very much
For all you UD anglers and most others who fish over-crowded, destination rivers.
You do NOT need fly shop river reports. Suggest avoiding them completely.
However, you do need USGS updates and current weather reports with doppler.
You do NOT need the so-called “hot fly”
You do NOT need a drift boat or any other watercraft to fish from. Suggest avoiding them completely. Spend your money on quality waders so you can properly hunt fish.
You do NOT need 6X or 7X tippet material or flourocarbon tippet material.
You do need longer. stronger leaders.
Hey now!
Perhaps the trout have algae in their stomachs because the insects, scuds, nymphs, minnows etc. have been feeding on algae?
Maybe . . .