troutbum1021
Few things in life can replicate the pleasures of standing in the middle of a river waiving a stick. There is a zen like quality to the art of fly fishing. Out there is not like any other place else where one spends their life. Out there is a peaceful and serene world where the sounds of the water mingle with the breeze, carrying us to a place far from the madding crowd.
For those of us that love fly fishing there is a catch involved in singing its praises. While sharing the beauty and, grace of casting a fly to a rising fish is fufilling to an extent, it also carries an implicit invitation to come and join in. And, albeit that may sound like a good thing, there are days when it seems like every man, woman and, child on earth are all on the same river at the same time.
Like many recreational pursuits, fly fishing can become an obsession. It can consume time, money and, ultimately the individual themselves. Ask any guide that has been on a river for any length of time and, they will admit that fishing is both their living and their life. They all have stories of the swells [sic] that have ruined a perfectly good day on the river as well as those tales of the client having an almost religious experience. And, behind their knowing smiles are those well kept secrets that are shared sparingly with only a very few.
Fly fisher people are usually divided into two distinct camps. There are the uber competitive individuals that are all about the numbers, both quantity and size. They often keep detailed journals, recording the exact time and place they have made their catches. The other camp is made up of folks that find happiness in simply being able to perform the rites which are a part of a day on the river. To these folks, it isn't about the numbers. In fact, they can spend a day on the river without feeling that twitch of an other worldly life on the end of the line and, still have a perfectly wonderful day.
Whether one stays in a lodge or, a tent, those evening meals are a time to sit back and reflect on the day that was. The beauty in fly fishing is found in the broad range of people that find themselves wading into cool water in search of trout. They come from all races, all ages, religions and socioeconomic backgrounds. Drive up any stretch of a good trout stream and, one is bound to find a sampling of every type of fisher person. I'm just one fisher person with a passion and love of making that perfect cast to that rising fish.
