Slumps

Fly fishing slumps baffle me. I'm currently in one, and if I were to liken it to baseball, the trees would be booing me off the river. The thing is, in spectator sports it seems like the player in the slump can make an adjustment or practice harder in order to get out of it. In my case, I haven't a freaking clue as to what to do differently. I honestly don't think I can do anything.

Of course, in this sport there are other factors involved, like (as stated in my previous post) conditions. But is it just easier for me to blame high, off-color water, or is it, in fact the reason for my struggles? Well, this slump has had its grasp on me for almost a month and a half, which actually only turns out to be about 12 trips to the river. And I can't cite weather and water conditions to be the problem each of those times. Plus, if the fish aren't biting then they're not biting, and there's pretty much nothing you can do about that.

I've had stretches like this before, and have always broken out of them. But how I have accomplished this, I don't know. Again, baffled. A fishing buddy of mine started out last year with the worst slump I have ever seen. He even talked of giving up the sport, something he would obviously never do, but it can be that frustrating. He eventually got out of it and proceeded to out-fish me on several occasions since. If I were to ask him how he broke it I'm sure he would not have an answer. At the time I probably liked to think that I might have had something to do with it, but now, look at me.

My somewhat recent foray into the world of steelheading - and especially winter steelheading - isn't likely to help matters. After all, winter steelheading has been known to be something like chasing ghosts. So if my next few trips involve swinging flies with a two-handed rod, this may be something that I don't get out of for quite some time. And I can tell myself every time I walk away from the river for the day that 'it's just good to get out,' and 'it beats the hell out of work,' both of which are true. But at some point doesn't it get close to insanity?

Regardless of whether I'm crazy, stupid or just plain suck at this thing, I will inevitably break this slump. More than likely when it happens I will forget that it even existed, and once again think that I am some kind of fishing genius. Walking up and down rivers confidently, like I know it all. Until I string together the next batch of poor outings and fall back down to the reality of being just another schmuck in a goofy suit with an expensive stick in his hand.