When I joined the club about 4 years ago my intention was to attend the monthly meetings and learn from our guest speakers. All I really wanted back then was to get out the house and learn more about fly fishing. After several meetings I got inspired to fish locally and to do so with other club members but I found it challenging to make those connections. Today I have a handful of friends I’m comfortable calling or texting who I fish with regularly. I consider this group my primary tribe. When I look back on how I became part of this network of fishing buddies, it comes down to two basic factors. Leveraging club resources and putting myself out there socially is how I made my connections.
Club Resources:
Google Groups: This email based form of communication reaches all club members that use this feature. This a good place to start up dialogue around anything fly fishing. It’s fairly common for people to post upcoming trip info to the O’Neill Forebay, Pyramid lake and other fishing destinations.
WhatsApp: A text based app you can put on your smart phone or device to message people within a particular interest group. Currently the club has one WhatsApp group and that is for local surf fishing. Folks ask questions, post invites to hit the beach and sometimes offer fishing reports when they’re finished fishing. If you seek information or fellowship fishing the beach, this a worthwhile app to put on your phone. If you would like to start a page for a different type of fishing, the opportunity is yours.
Club Meetings: A lot of members show up early for club meetings and are willing to engage with fellow anglers. You might have to introduce yourself and kick start the conversation but our members are always welcoming and happy to talk fishing.
Casting Practice: Work on your cast while building your social circle. Check the website for dates and times.
Fly Tying Classes: Every second Wednesday (the Weds after the General Meeting) the club offers free fly tying. After the initial instruction there is plenty of opportunity to strike up conversation and talk fishing while everyone is tying.
Instagram/Facebook: These social media accounts we support are a yet another way to see what’s happening in the club and put some faces to the names of our members. For both mediums just search SantaCruzFlyFishing.
Fish Outs: These club organized fishing trips are probably the most organic way to find your tribe. Not only are you fishing with like minded folks, there are usually post trip opportunities to socialize. Breakfast, campfire hangouts, meeting up for a beer, etc.
Putting yourself out there:
Go fish and let others know.
A great way to find your tribe is to simply plan your own trip and invite others to join. The advantage here is you choose the date, time, place, etc that works for you. A possible disadvantage is you might not get any takers but you will if you keep at it. I’ll add that when you consistently invite others to fish or simply update them with your results, they will often return the favor.
Know your fishing opportunities and improve them. If you’re fairly competent with the fundamentals you’re more likely to find people that will want to fish with you. Sure we have members who will help beginners but not everyone wants to spend their time teaching a novice how to cast or how to tie on a fly. If you can get yourself proficient in the fundamentals you’re more likely to find your tribe. While fishing the surf my first time, it was obvious my double haul needed work. The anglers getting the most hook ups could throw their flies 70-90’ consistently over the waves. I practiced my double haul at the local soccer field for several months until I was satisfied with my distance. When I rejoined the club for a few summer fish outs the fishing was more second nature allowing me to focus more on having fun with other members.
Volunteer!
The club is run entirely on volunteer service. There are lots of opportunities to support your club with your time. In addition to personal satisfaction, volunteering exposes you to a lot of engaged and very knowledgeable members and anglers. My time on the board, working a service project or leading a tying class has expedited my ability to meet members and be included on fishing outings. To learn about club opportunities check the website, newsletter or talk to board member. We’d love to have your help!
Joining an established club with 250 members can make finding your tribe challenging but if you leverage the club’s resources and push yourself socially you should find success. Next time you see me at a club event, say hi. Maybe we can go fishing sometime.
Posted on January 23rd, 2025