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Angler Skills: The 4 Ps, or Fishing as a Training Ground for Life

From my first fishing expedition when I was around eight years old, my mentor (my father) told me that there are some deep lessons that you learn from fishing that will always stick with you no matter what, and that will later become skills that you will learn. can apply in your life.

Obviously the first time I heard it go in one ear and out the other. As a happy and lucky child, my first trout fishing experience had its good points and bad points. On the positive side, I went fishing with my father and older brother, so I became a member of the family’s honorary club. On the negative side, it was a really boring day. I didn’t catch anything and half the time the others ignored me or told me to shut up whenever I thought of something exciting to do, like throwing rocks on the surface of the river.

Luckily I didn’t dare to share my frustration, although now that I think about it it must have been obvious to everyone. Anyway I kept fishing and in a very short time I got caught and learned to love fishing. The exact moment this happened was when I felt my first hit and as far as fishing goes, it has been a smooth ride ever since.

Looking back over forty years to that first fishing experience, I realize that I was put in touch with all those fishing skills that become strengths in life, I just didn’t realize it then.

So here are my “Fisherman’s Skills: The 4 Ps” (nowadays everyone seems to speak in code, why not me?)

Patience.

That first time put me in direct contact with the need for patience and only later did it become an acquired skill. Since I never mentioned the frustration of my early days, I was forced to keep trying patiently. There are all kinds of days when you go fishing. There are good days and bad days, but each requires patience and some require a high degree of patience. A fisherman without patience is simply not a fisherman. In life, patience also brings rewards (and a lot less stress).

Perseverance.

As I ran all over the place trying to throw my line into the river, I began to have a love-hate relationship with the surrounding trees, especially the weeping willows. I hated those trees but my lures loved them. The rest of the time I tangled the line (for the meaning of patience, untangle your fishing line) as I overstepped the cast and threw it over the river to land on the other shore. No wonder I soon became a plague to others. Once I learned patience, I started throwing a lot better and actually landed my line in the pools I was aiming for, and then I went on and on and on. And I started fishing. So, in the language of fishing, “over and over” means perseverance. Sometimes known as a pig’s head, it is a valuable asset as your continued efforts help you achieve your goals.

Preparation.

Then there were the times we would go fishing and I would just grab my stuff and throw it in the car. When we got to the river I really wanted to go, only to find something wrong or missing or broken with my gear. That very quickly taught me to take good care of my fishing gear and to always be prepared for an unscheduled fishing trip (they were always the best). The difference.

Powers of observation.

Finally, another of the skills I acquired was to observe. There is a big difference between looking and observing. You can look at something and it doesn’t register. When you observe something, not only your eyes intervene, all your senses and your mind also participate. When you fish, you see and feel the changes in the wind, the flow of the river, the color of the water, etc. At other times when you are not fishing, when you observe those around you, whether in a social or family setting or in the workplace, you definitely have an advantage, as you are aware of many more nuances, especially the not verbal .

So, in short, fishing can teach you patience, perseverance, be prepared, and increase your powers of observation. All are skills that should always be with you, no matter what activity you are involved in.