BLOG: Learning the hard way

"DON'T worry mate, you don't need to be able to cast the entire fly line ... as long as you can get the fly out there somehow you're in with a chance".

My frustration was building, I wanted to run before I could walk and logical thought was momentarily set aside. There were a number of factors conspiring against me: poor technique, an inappropriate fly line, an overly stiff rod, a lack of experience – my fishing companion didn't quite articulate all of this to me when providing reassurance during my dismal casting display.

Do you let someone keep going, reassure them and allow them to learn from their mistakes or do you place a gentle hand on their shoulder and set them straight? Do you utter the words "Keep at it" or "Listen, you're technique is all over the place, get yourself a balanced outfit then speak with someone to help fix that shabby casting style of yours".

The first sentence gets the smiles and warm fuzzy feeling of mateship while allowing the novice to gain experience through learning the error of their ways, the second sentence may rile our novice friend but provides direction and accelerates the learning curve.

When I was a little kid I remember seeing a bunch of old timers using these unwieldy big Alvey sidecast outfits. They were pelting out whole pillies on ganged hooks sporting a few ounces of lead – I saw them catch fish and mimicked their actions. I bought a 650C Alvey and a 12ft fibreglass low-mount rod. My mate Jeff also had one, though he was bigger than I was.
Being a skinny kid meant I struggled with that behemoth of an outfit and failed to cast anywhere near a more appropriate outfit for my size would have allowed – "keep at it mate" was the reassuring advice I received after struggling to clear the close shore break. I caught the occasional fish but those that were pelting out into the deeper gutter behind the shore break caught plenty. I kept at it but hindsight shows that a little direction prior to sinking the funds into that unwieldy combo would have proven valuable. Who knows if I would have listened however; is it best to let people learn from their mistakes or should they be shown the light? What happens if they ignore your expertise and guidance - no one likes to be bossed around or made to feel inferior – maybe these tribulations were testament to an inquisitive nature coupled with a hint of stubbornness on my part?

A number of years ago, before the current wave of jigging mania took off, my mate Jeff and I spent a good two years trying to figure out for ourselves how to put the pieces of the jigging puzzle together. We started off using every moderately priced reel in the book after reassurance from tackle shop staff that the gear would withstand the test of time - catastrophic failure proved otherwise. The tally of broken reels topped double figures at the end of season two, a bucket of battle scarred failures sharply contrasting with the slick words and shiny reels from our regular tackle store.

It took a while but we eventually forked out the cash on top shelf equipment. Reflection shows that to be an expensive lesson, but one that made us appreciate the need for quality equipment. We also found fish and jigged locations that we may otherwise have driven past – if you don't know any better you tend to give anything a go; this open minded approach and disregard for the rule book learners possess can occasionally trump proven methods.

The first bream spinning sessions, way back when I was just finishing school well over a decade ago, also proved an interesting learning curve – I caught little for a few months and endured hours of wading the murky waters of the Parramatta River in old running shoes and shorts for little return (and fortunately no bull shark encounters either!). When I finally figured out the importance of leader size, leader length, lure size, colour preference and appropriate retrieve styles, success came more frequently.

In this day and age it seems that people want instant gratification and immediate feedback – the long hard road of learning by trial and error appears to have been replaced by a world where information is abundant and feedback almost instantaneous.

So, is it better to be given the recipe for success or is it more beneficial to figure things out for yourself by learning from your mistakes and experiences?