This year, I have become completely obsessed with fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Starting the day with the cool air in my face, the sun at my back, and sand between my toes has become a morning ritual. It’s no coincidence that I have caught more and bigger fish with the near-daily frequency of my fishing sessions. I’ve also been skunked more times this year than in previous years, taking in the yin and yang of it all.
The key to my resilience has been what I call the alternative success model, which I am applying to business as well. I, of course, dream of catching a monster striper or a chromed king salmon on nearly every cast. At the end of the day, I can only control so much. For example, every session, I aim to walk three to four miles on the beach, something well within my control. So even when I get skunked, I have a win to walk away with.
Beyond figuring out how to be happy even when you don’t get what you had hoped for, here are some directions to the intersection of Big Fish Ave. and Palm St.
- Be sure to fish your fly in close. My two largest fish were caught within 40ft of dry sand.
- Don’t strip off too much line from your reel. Extra running line in your stripping basket is more line that will get tangled. Pull off the amount you can cast reliably every time.
- Stretch your line. I mean really stretch it! If you have a fishing buddy, grab the other’s running line and walk away from each other. Stretch for 2-3 minutes to get all the coils out.
- Check your hook for sharpness, or you will miss a fish. Sand will dull your hook, so make sure you’re checking it. I can fish the same Adachi Clouser for weeks at a time because Steve ties each one meticulously. Make sure you change the leader every now and again, as it will wear through! Hook Sharpener.
- Comb out your fly. I love the durability of the Adachi Clouser, but you need to make sure you remove its hair so it’s ready for a nice date with the striper. I always have my Surf Lanyard.
- Go early and go often. The frequency with which I have been going has allowed me to see how the beach changes with every set of tides. I never knew the Semipalmated Sandpiper showed up on Ocean Beach the last week of July—at least it did this year. Where did it come from?
- Fish the edges of the structure. I see many anglers standing in the middle of the rip, I approach from the edges to target where the fish may be ambushing from. Choosing the right place to stand with the proper casting angle can really improve the amount of tension you can keep on your fly.
- Fish 35lb tippet.
- Less is more. Don’t carry a bunch of stuff with you. My sessions are usually 2 to 2.5 hours in the morning. I need my loon ergo comb and stripping basket. Sometimes I add an extra fly and some tippet to my pockets.
- You can stay warm without waders. Dress warmly on top, and your legs won’t bother you. I go barefoot, boardshorts, a Patagonia R1 Hoody (superlight, warm, and quick drying), Simms Hybrid Fall Run Jacket for loft and the awesome breast pocket on each side, and the Simms Flyweight Jacket as my rain shell. This allows me to comfortably attack the beach.
