Fishing and Management?

I just returned from a fishing trip to Idaho. I took a neighbor, my son Bob and Bob's friend Barry. We fished Clear Lake. It is associated with a commercial fishery in the Hagerman area near the Snake River. The water is a constant, spring fed, 56 degrees year round. Perfect for growing big trout.

I've been going to Clear Lake for the past 4 winters. My friend Mikey Taylor is the person who introduced me to this fishing spot. Mikey is the best fisherman I know. He flat out catches fish. He also has taken many dozens of would be fisherman out for their first flyfishing experience.

The only problem today is that Mikey couldn't make the trip. He is a car salesman in Boise and this was just too good of a sales day to waste fishing. So for the first time ever I was going to Clear Lake without the master.

When I arrived several groups were just getting off the lake. According to an age old tradition I asked about the fishing. "Pretty slow today" was the common reply. I felt strangely reassured.

Clear Lake is this cosmic place. It is a fishery with several lakes and a nice stream. It sits right in the middle of a golf course. Pretty cool. We walked to the Pro Shop and paid our rod fee. On the way back I decided to take my group up to the inlet stream, hoping it wouldn't be too crowded.

On the walk to the stream I felt a twinge of nervousness. Although I'd been with Mikey many times it had never been my responsibility to guide the new guys. My neighbor had never been to Clear Lake and admitted on the ride up that it had been several years since his last flyfishing trip. The pressure was on.

It was all fairly routine stuff that I"d watched Mikey do dozens of times. Pick out the best flies and tie them on. Make sure the newbees get the best spots on the river. Show them how to cast and explain how to set the hook. Keep track of them and make sure they change flies if there isn't any action.

Within the first fifteen minutes our group was landing fish. Bob and Barry both took turns and looked like they were having a blast. My neighbor had landed two fish rather quickly and was smiling and saying how much fun it was to not get skunked. I was the only one who didn't have anything to brag about.

After making sure that everyone else was successful I felt that I could turn my attention to catching fish. It wasn't my best day, but it was the good kind of fishing day when everyone loses track of exactly how many were caught.

At one point, fishing over a good looking spot I found myself laughing softly under my breath. Just then I hooked up to a pretty rainbow. In retrospect the laugh came because I knew there was a fish in that hole and that I had the right fly to catch him. The actual strike was a pleasant bonus.

So what does all of this have to do with Management? Perhaps nothing. Perhaps it is more akin to leadership. At least that's the way I see it.

Four years ago I arrived at Clear Lake and had no idea what to do. I watched Mikey and landed five fish. He probably landed 25 or more. I've been back a few times with limited success. You see, Clear Lake is not an easy place to fish. Many people get skunked.

If it weren't for Mikey I would likely not have a clue. I began flyfishing four years before I met Mikey and had rarely caught a fish. I'd read many books, talked to experts and spent time on the water. All without much success.

Mikey has an incredible knack for flyfishing. By his own admission he is a purist. He purely loves to catch fish. He has studied the places where he fishes. He has been know to take a fishfinder and strap it to his float tube. He will do this until he understands the water and where the fish are.

I've been fishing with Mikey many times since that first trip. My fishing skills have improved with his help. I still don't rival him. When he has a 50 fish day I usually have a 30 fish day. He rarely gets skunked and it all too often happens to me.

To his credit, Mikey is completely happy when he teaches others what he knows. And he has taught many of us. I can name many people who caught their first fish with his help.

So today I took all of the knowledge and skill imparted by Mikey over the past four years. And I applied that knowledge. It helped others and I benefited, too. Oh, and it was no mistake that we were successful. The master wasn't there today, but his lessons were. We were able to apply those lessons and got results.

I know many professional managers who only wish they could say the same.

That's all for now........
10:31:50 PM    comment []