🎣 What Fishing Taught Me About Creative Flow and Sticking With It

Yesterday was supposed to be a work day.. but who can resist fishing with family? So, chill fishing day it is! And it was—but only after we got totally skunked.

If you’ve ever had one of those days, where the thing you set out to do with big hope in your heart turns out to be nothing but a bite-less mess... yeah, we had one of those.

But it turned around. Big time. And I realized on the drive home that this whole fishing trip felt like a perfect metaphor for our creative journeys—especially for those of us learning watercolor (or anything, really).

Let me tell you what happened, then I’ll pull out the lessons and what you can do with them.

🎣 The Day That Tried Us

We started off at a new spot. The kind of place that someone else said would be hot—“brown trout are hitting hard here,” they said.

So we went.

We fished. We waited. And nothing. Not even a nibble.... for over an hour.

After a while, we realized:

🎯 We might just be using the wrong gear in the wrong place trying to catch the wrong thing for us.

So we packed up and moved to the other side of the river where the smallmouth bass hang out. It’s rocky. A bit deeper. Kinda familiar. And even though the current was strong and the sun was high, it was a better chance at catching something than what we were currently doing.

Not long after we get there my Honey caught one. Then another. And then more. I had caught one. But he was up to five! My competitive side was like, “Oh, hell no.” 😂

And wouldn’t you know it—while fixing a tangled reel, I let my line drop to the bottom... and without even trying to fish, I caught a beautiful bass. Turns out, they were right below us the whole time. Hiding in the shadows. Just waiting.  Seriously.. I didn't even try and the fish was ready to be reeled in!

From that point on, I adjusted my cast. Dropped deep. Waited for the moment the line stopped sinking. And then reeled slowly. Just teasing the bait.

I hit my limit before my honey caught his sixth fish!

Then I turned around and coached our buddy John, who had been sitting at zero the whole time.
“Let it drop.”
“Wait until it stops sinking.”
“Then tease it.”

He got a fish too!! We all left smiling, sun-soaked, and feeling a little victorious. The day that started totally dead, ended up golden!

🧠 Key Takeaways from the River

1. Don’t force what isn’t biting.
   Just because someone else is catching fish in one way doesn’t mean that’s your way. Your creative flow is your own.

2. Tangles happen.
   Whether it’s a twisted fishing line or a messy painting—don’t freak out. Sometimes the magic strikes while you’re fixing your mess.

3. Go deeper.
   When things feel off, try depth. Whether in your brushstrokes, your business, or your personal journey—there’s treasure in the deeper water.

4. Adjust as you go.
   If what you’re doing isn’t working, tweak it. Don’t give up—get curious.

5. Once you’ve got it, teach it.
   Helping someone else find their flow is not just good for them—it seals the learning for you.

💪 Action Steps for Your Creative Practice

• Try Something Familiar Today: If you’ve been chasing a shiny new method or tool, go back to what you know works and find depth there.

• Fix Something Messy: Got a tangled pile of unfinished paintings? Take 15 minutes to “untangle” just one. See what shows up.

• Go Deeper with One Technique: Instead of skimming five ideas, sink into one—layering, glazing, color mixing—and explore it more intentionally.

• Teach What You Know: Whether in our community or with a friend, pass along something you’ve learned. You’ll grow more just by explaining it.

💡 The Moral (but like, low-key)

Sometimes the best fish—and the best moments—come after the tangle, after the dry spell, after you’ve switched up your plan and just let yourself be in the flow.

Whether you’re painting, building a business, or just figuring life out... if the first cast doesn’t land, it’s not failure—it’s feedback. Adjust. Keep going.

There are beautiful fish waiting below the surface.
Sometimes you catch them without even trying.

🎨 If you’d like more watercolor magic, mindset sparks, and creative encouragement, join the Watercolor Wizardry Workshop Waitlist. You'll get my close-to-daily updates where I share lessons from life, art, and all the weird and wonderful places they meet.

With fishing adventures and flower dreams,
Zarah
Your resident Watercolor Wizard (in training, like always) 🧙‍♀️🎨

🎧 If you'd like to hear this episode told in brain-dump-style podcast, listen here: The Watercolor Wizardry Journey - From Skunked to Slayin'!