The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, is the theory that 80% of all outcomes results from 20% of all causes. For example, 20% of all hunters kill 80% of all game, 20% of employees are responsible for 80% of sales, 20% of anglers, catch 80% of the fish, etc, etc.

I am a big believer in this principle, especially when it comes to fishing. Why? Because fishing requires skill and the more time I spend in this industry, the more I realize that most anglers don’t have it. It doesn’t matter whether you are bait fishing, spin fishing or fly fishing, all of it requires knowledge. Where are fish holding? What depth are they cruising? What are they eating? Where is the structure in the particular water they are fishing? What are the water temperatures and how does this affect the fish? And most importantly, they know why all of this matters.

So how does one improve to get to the 20%? First, there is no substitute for time on the water but you can only teach yourself so much. If you want to be a better angler, there are a few things you can do.

1. Hire a guide. This is one of the things that greatly improved my fishing when I first got into the sport. It’s a great way to learn how to fish waters from people who spend a lot of time figuring out fisheries. How do you find a GOOD, QUALIFIED guide? Get a referral from a friend, or check with your local fly shop.
2. Fly Shops– this is another great resource from people who eat, drink and breathe fishing. They can help you with gear, flies, and locations to fish. They also offer classes to help you improve your fishing skills.
3. Clubs– when I first got into fly fishing the first thing I did was walk into a fly shop and the second thing I did was join a fly fishing club. Clubs offer classes, monthly outings and it’s a great place to find people to fish with.
4. Go to a fly fishing school or class– we offer beginner and intermediate classes and most fly shops do as well. This is a great way to learn to fish in a controlled environment by qualified instructors.
5. Go Fish– once you are starting to feel comfortable with casting, reading water, fly selection, etc, hit the water as much as possible. If you don’t use it, you lose it.

There are days when fish eat just about anything we throw at them but that’s a rare event in Arizona. Our waters can be fairly technical and require some level of skill. There are a few exceptions to this, and it is waters that have just been stocked but once these fish are in the system for a couple of weeks, they start to figure out what they are supposed to be eating and at times, can be just as difficult to catch as wild fish or holdovers that have been there for months. Putting in time on the water and hiring a guide or taking a class, is a great way to learn the skills that will put you in the 20% of anglers catching most of the fish.