You are saying to yourself, does this guy have an obsession with poles and pole dancing? Ok, I found a few pictures that I thought might be useful in making a point or cause a smile. I mean if you are a guide or shop owner, should I be lucky enough to have you drop by here, you will see the subtle hint of you, the red pantied, hot blond trying to assist the novice customer/client in perfecting their skills at a seemingly easy task, pole dance..er…I mean flyfishing.

I want to share some observations that are by no means all encompassing absolutes, but common enough to warrant a few words to make some people think or at least call bullshit on the dynamics I see and frequently hear about too. I will start with, it can all be discounted by some, as human nature. I believe it is adjustable, controllable steerable, at the least, if not correctable. The underlying theme here that any man must acknowledge is men judge and quickly critique another man as worthy or not. They size another or others up and are pretty unforgiving, even when they know better. Maybe that alone, causes all of what I am about to mention. So, let me make some judgements and generalizations: 

The know it all poser:  he walks into the shop in his costume. The costume is universal, we all wear it-the hat, the lightweight, breathable, long sleeve shirt. I have half a dozen of them and like them. But, I wear them all the time. The poser walks into the shop and is wearing his outfit..akin to an outfit to go to a yoga class or the sportsman’s expo (boy talk of wanting to see everyone dressing the same). He wears his costume to the shop to be in character. His energy level is higher than anyone working at the shop. He has come as much or more to share his credentials than to buy anything. He is going to make sure all present know he has no need to learn anything from them. No offense, but there seems to be the underlying tension of the sales rep personality here: ego driven, desperate and aggressive, all about them, they pour out their vast repertoire of experience. But, why? Odd dynamic isn’t it. Is this some carry over from long ago frustrations in gym class or when they got their butt kicked by someone as a kid? Obnoxious and a time waster, these posers are selfish and generally whiners. They fail to follow directions and suggestions of a guide they paid a tidy some to, in order to put them into fish or to put them at a place where they can use their self professed skills to enjoy success.  

The destination flyfisher is generally not a poser, because they have indeed been there and done it supposedly by viritue of having been there. But, if you read my several posts here about my adventures at Christmas Island in 2007, you will see that if I bragged about my destination experience it would be while ignoring the fact my fishing abilities were sorely brought into question…at least on the flats. On that trip there was a gentleman, well a guy, that had been everywhere in the world flyfishing and diving. You didn’t have to ask, he would tell you and let you know where he was headed next. Wow! He had been everywhere so he must really have his shit together. No…he was a whimpy, loudmouth, spoiled man who couldn’t flyfish in a kiddies pool at the fishing expo. Destinations are chest pounding, bumper stickers of where they have been. Suggestive symbols of abilities and successes. Money does buy access and that is about it, if you don’t possess the skills to build upon true abilities. Destination whores and posers seem to  have a common trait of being mediocre flyfishers. 

These know it all, ego driven guys are a drag because of their demeaning and dismissive attitudes. It is instructive to watch this performance in front of a shop owner that has been to many of the same destinations or another customer in the shop killing time, who has equally been everywhere and done everything and you would never know it. A good point: that person nearby that you are bragging to may know light years more than you. Makes you look like the poser you are. Lesson: the sport is a never ending puzzle for everyone. There are only temporary successes to reinforce your quest for solutions or to be shared to assist others in establishing possible/probable ways to be successful.     

The other side of this bad penny is the Intolerant/annoyed shop owner, guide or shop employee equally arrogant, self absorbed and intoxicated with their own success and travels. Lost in all this is basic customer service and the desire to teach. Expanding the wealth of knowledge is important and requires setting your ego aside. I wonder at the dynamic of know it all poser v. self absorbed shop guy. Often walking into all this mix is the novice or intermediate flyfisher, who just wants to learn and have some success to justify the $$$ investments and to enjoy ‘the moment’. No wonder many consider flyfishermen as elitist. Too much ego $$$$$, testosterone or not enough of it, and swagger brought to the forefront for whatever reason. Check the egos at the front door and the back door of the shop. Check the egos when stepping over the gunwale. Humility and patience for all, to include me.