05/03/2026
Not exactly fly fishing, but a brilliant read popped up on the Cadence Fishing UK page about reflecting on a fishing session — before you start, while you’re in the thick of it, and once you’re packing down. It got me wondering: how many of you actually take time to reflect on your day? What clicked? What fell apart? What would you tweak next time out?
Reflection was a key part of my Angling Trust coaching qualification, and it’s something I’ve carried forward while working towards my Game Angling Instructors' Association qualification. It’s helped me massively — whether I’m practising my own casting, teaching a student, or reviewing a full session on the water.
✏️ Reflecting on Decisions After a Session, Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
🎣 Steve Cowley
Fishing is a blend of patience, strategy, and reflection. After a recent session targeting chub with a friend, Iain, I took time to consider what I could have done differently.
Despite expecting the river to be fast and coloured after heavy rain, the water was surprisingly clear and slow-moving. I stuck to my tried-and-tested specimen approach, using a Cadence CR10 Specimen 1.5tc rod and bread or steak/mince as bait. Iain, meanwhile, opted for a waggler and maggot setup.
After finding little success at the first few spots, I landed a satisfying 3lb chub on flake after pre-baiting a promising area. However, Iain's tactics proved far more effective. At the final spot, he landed seven chub up to 4lb using his maggot setup, highlighting the success of his adaptability.
My setup and my confidence in bread as bait worked well. However, my rushed steak and mince mix was too claggy and ineffective. The key takeaway was the importance of adaptability. While my specimen approach aligns with my long-term strategy, the clear conditions strongly favoured Iain’s maggot approach. I realised a small maggot feeder could have been a worthwhile compromise.
I also learned the importance of preparation. Rushed bait preparation undermined my backup plan.
Despite the disparity in catches, I hold to my core philosophy: No Regrets. The past cannot be changed; you can only learn and improve for the future.
While an alternative approach might have yielded more fish, I wouldn't change my overall specimen strategy. This session, however, served as a powerful reminder about the crucial roles of preparation and adaptability in fishing. Each session is a chance to learn and tweak, keeping the journey of continuous improvement alive.
