At least we can go fishing.

What a time to be alive another unprecedented time for my old millennial ass. I don’t care where you sit on issues or the state of America but things are exhausting and it holds no weight on this post or fishing. The feeling I have is reminiscent of covid. I have been in business for 11 seasons and this shit effects work on lots of levels. From price increases on gear and goods, to fuel, to taxes, the business side has had a lot of struggles post covid. It has been a constant stress. Business aside, the world is loud right now, and demanding attention like a small toddler. I can’t move through any space without it blasting me in the ears and eyes. Which I know is on purpose and a sick game I am tired of playing. The phone is in airplane mode a lot more lately. Sometimes for most of the day.

This isn’t the first time our brains have been wrapped up in things. Making everyday life seem like a slog. It’s hard to even think about unplugging. I tried my best while steelheading the past 2 weeks. A lot of airplane mode, a lot of actively trying to not think about anything but the fishing, people, and places I was in. But I was still checking in, reading up, and of course talking about it in various ways with everyone around. Everything seems to be on everyone’s mind in some way or another. Its noisy. Even on the water.

Its hard. And all I want to do is go fishing. But I also have to eek out a living. Sometimes the whole make a living thing takes its toll. With the current state of things the last thing people are thinking about is fishing, leisure activities, or spending money. I mean I know eggs are 8 bucks still. And I drive for a living and gas kicks guiding in the teeth. Trust me, all the money saved from the last season went really quick when you got to eat and it costs 3 times as much. There is a reason I don’t offer lunches on trips anymore. The heart of guiding is facilitating a stress free, fun, informative, and enriching experience. It doesn’t need the pomp and floof, the wine and dining; at least in my opinion. It only requires rich interactions with wildlife, nature, and the people sharing them. Something all of us need from time to time. A guide isn’t necessary but a good one will make your experience exactly what you need. As a guide the off river side of the gig can make the on river side hard to perform in if you catch my drift. All the things everyday folks feel and stress about so to do trout bums. Its still a career, a job, what every you want to call it and those things can have impact on work performance. I am fortunate in my career, at least I think so, and I want to do the best job I am capable of, so I do think about those things and how it impacts my work.

It gets harder and harder to just enjoy things when your mind can’t unplug. As a guide a skill I honed early on was helping facilitate that unplug. One of the reasons I am so loud, so boisterous, and so willing to share information and teach is because its a quick and efficient way to get people out of their head and into the fishing. And it doesn’t have to be fishing its just what I do for others. Myself I play video games to unplug, even from fishing. Some people rock climb, ski, hunt, build legos, knit, what have you. I got really good at helping people find that space for themselves through fishing.

Also its fun. We could all use a little fun right now. That’s all we are doing in my boat, is playing outside. At the end of the day just having a few hours of enjoyment, with less cares, something for your brain and body to chew on, and having fun is something we all need to seek out and hold on to.

I know its rough out there for a lot of us. Myself included. Only days away from my season starting and coming out of the offseason I am eager but also apprehensive to start. A lot of things are up in the air and there is a plethora of things happening. All of it has some impact. I tell myself, as I have said for seasons, the fish don’t care about anything other than fishy things. The money, the politics, the people fishing for them, no cares, just existence. A trout gives zero fucks. The more trout like I can be the better I feel. At the end of the day…at least we can go fishing.

Tamarack