Our good friend, and fishing buddy, Tom Sadler penned this essay for the Tom Beckbe Field Journal
What does it take to be a good fishing buddy?
Fly fishing is not a team sport like baseball or soccer, nor is it an individual competition where the outcome is a score as in golf. It’s a skills challenge in which you match wits against the fish and elements. At its best, fly fishing is a contemplative endeavor that does not depend on catching fish to be successful. I fish alone mostly, but there is something inherently enjoyable about having a fishing buddy along for the ride. Of course, as a guide, the client is part of the equation in the trip. A self-inflicted fishing buddy, if you will.