Setting your fly fishing intentions: The CFS Check In

Renew your license. Throw out your old leaders. Check your waders for leaks. There are certain rituals we, as anglers, go through at the start of every season.

If you're interested in making fly fishing a bigger part of your life, then setting some intentions around your goals, and the commitments you'll make to reach them, should be part of that annual ritual.

The CFS Check In is something I use in conversations with paid members around developing their plans. We have a call towards the start of the year to debrief on how things went, and how their skills are developing, and where they might go next year. I send along tools and resources to give them 1-1 support.

Try it out, set some goals, and see how you measure up.

Paid members, our annual Check In is one of the perks you receive for supporting the site. If it's early spring, it's time for our annual chat!

If you're not a member yet, consider joining to access all the benefits it offers, including our annual CFS Check In, our 1-1 coaching and planning session.

Set your fly fishing intentions with this self-assessment

What do you want from the sport? What parts light you up? How can you do more of that? Here's where we think about how it's going, and let go of what's gone.

Last year

One fishing thing that made me happy last year was...

One fishing thing that frustrated me last year was...

I'm proud that this year I was able to...

I'm proud that this year I was able to...

Goal-setting for the future

Here's where we think about getting better, or doing more of what makes us happy.

Short-term goals

This year I'd like to get better at...

Soft skills

(e.g. scouting, reading water, identifying bugs)

Hard skills

(e.g. casting, fishing streamers, fly-tying)

Long-term goals

One day I'd like to be really good at...

Soft skills

Hard skills

Making a commitment to grow

Here's where we make time to meet our goals.

How many days do you think you can fish this year?

What's realistic, given all your other commitments?

Are you planning on taking any trips this year?

Is this the year you check something off your bucket list?

Are you going to be active with any clubs this year?

Is it time to get back in touch with an old club? Join a new one?

Advocacy and activism

It's also important that we share our passion for the wild rivers and lakes that hold our hearts, and help protect them.

Are you making conservation efforts in your home range?

Is that something you want to change in the coming year? How?

Are you introducing others to the waterways you love?

How can sharing your passion and the beauty of these spaces with others help them see what's worth protecting?

That's it! Jot down your answers, tuck them away, and check back at the end of the year, see how you performed against your plans.