The Art of the Wait: What Fishing Taught Me About Executive Recruiting

I have spent most of my life doing fresh water and saltwater fishing and I couldn't help but realize how much fishing mirrors the world of executive search. After 30 plus years in the recruiting industry, I see patterns everywhere—but the parallels here are striking.

If you want to land the "prize catch" in talent or on the water, the strategy is exactly the same:

1. You can’t just throw a bare hook into the water
In fishing, you need to know exactly what the fish are feeding on—the right bait, the right presentation, the right depth. In recruiting, a generic InMail blast is a bare hook. Top-tier passive candidates don't bite on generic pitches. You must understand what motivates them, study their "habitat," and tailor your approach specifically to what they care about (culture, autonomy, specific growth challenges).

2. Location is everything (Look in the eddies, not just the open water)
The biggest trout don't usually sit out in the open current where it's easy; they hang out in the pockets, behind rocks, and in the quiet eddies. Similarly, the best executive talent isn’t actively scanning job boards. They are embedded deep in their current roles, delivering results, and shielded from the noise. To find them, you must know how to navigate the quiet corners of the industry.

3. Patience is discipline, not just a virtue
You can stand in a stream for hours without a single strike. If you get frustrated and start splashing around, you’ll spook the fish and ruin the spot. Executive search requires that same disciplined patience. Building a pipeline of elite, niche talent takes time. It’s about cultivating long-term relationships so that when the right "rise" happens, you’re positioned perfectly to make the cast.

4. It’s all about the finesse of the "Set"

When a trout finally hits the fly, if you jerk the rod too hard, you’ll snap the line. If you’re too slow, they’re gone. The negotiation and closing stage of recruiting is the same. It requires incredible finesse, timing, and transparency to align the expectations of a candidate and a client. Pull too hard on the contract details, and the deal snaps.

Whether you’re wading in a stream or looking to land that next transformative leader for your organization, success doesn’t come from luck. It comes from preparation, niche expertise, and knowing exactly how to read the water.

Preparation is the key to success

Lance Incitti

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