Fly fishing can be so complicated, so frustrating. It can be intimidating along with a bit of lack of self confidence. That's how some people see it and that is not what fly fishing is. I see it as a way to let yourself be part of something that is more than fine rods, and large fish. A stream that is close to home as opposed to a river in a far away place. Fly fishing should be a visual thing. A time when you enter the stream and stop to look around. To see the suns rays highlight the riffles. To hear the sounds of birds going about their daily lives. To see a squirrel going to and fro as if he didn't know where he was going. It's a time when the importance of a priceless rod is secondary as is the thought of a large fish. Now try this the next time out and see if your outing is a better one.
The flies above are of simple materials. They are not complicated. They do not carry a pedigree and you know something else, the trout don't care.
A cream spider. The fly looks beautiful here....
Silk and a hen feather. It looks like royalty when placed with a creation of nature.
So folks go out and enjoy fly fishing and distance yourself from the back ground noise...."study to be quiet" Walton.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteWell said. So many times in our ziel to catch fish we miss the rest that is around us. We will do ourselves a great favor to just take a break and take in the whole picture. Remember, we see with our brains not our eyes.
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe, many times I'll come home and review my photos and I'll see something I missed. We look to the end zone before we get the ball.
Amen Alan. Amen!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will I'm with you buddy.
Alan, thank you so much for this insightful post, it rings true even more in these unsettled times.
ReplyDeleteResman549
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It sure does my friend.
Thanks for the observation Alan and you're right. Last time out a few weeks ago only one small fish but it didn't matter. Felt so good to be out in the mountains and on a stream. When they open up again I'll remember that.
ReplyDeletebillp
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Bill the act of fly fishing far outweighs the fish we catch. Hopefully you'll be open soon.
And while you're out there taking in the Flora & Fauna don't forget to look for all the other cool stuff left by others. I once had a window sill so full of "stuff" I found, I had to box it up to make room for the new "stuff".
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark most of what I find out there is mine...flies, fly boxes, nippers etc.
Nice ties! Is that SLF on the thorax?
ReplyDeleteUnknown
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Most times I use SLF, and that's what is on the purple one. The cream spider has dubbing I bought at Catskill FF Museum.
Alan, such a great outlook to have. I find that when I fish alone, I'm much more in-tune with nature's sounds, colors and smells. Not that I'm at all opposed to fishing with somebody. I just feel more immersed.
ReplyDeleteMatt Harding
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Matt when you are alone there is nothing to distract you from your surroundings. Being out there you can concentrate on what's necessary..
Alan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the always uplifting post.
Kevin
Anonymous
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Kevin there are times when we all could use some positive words in our lives. Hang in there buddy.
Alan
ReplyDeleteOutstanding photos and inspiring words for all of us who fly fish. Great read---thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill we all could use a little boost at this time.
Love this post, your words painting a picture that mirrors my own thoughts on life.
ReplyDeleteJohn The Gardener
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John there are quite a few of us out there that play the same fiddle.
great reflection of an American philosopher.."" Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it; but while I drink, I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains. ” "
ReplyDeleteHenry David Thoreau
Armando Milosevic
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Armando, Thoreau could be quoted in most every thought man can create. I hope you are well.
I absolutely agree Alan, you have achieved a perfect synthesis of what fly fishing means for many of us.
ReplyDeletePerfect also the flies that you show in those beautiful photos,
Great post my friend
Humberto
Anonymous
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Humberto we all have our own little place in the vast world of fly fishing. I'm happy as most our to in there own place. Those simple beautiful blossoms highlight the the elegance in those simple flies.
Beautiful photos which continue to lift spirits, Alan. Love seeing the smallmouth bass picture. They are a hard fighting game fish as you well know. First fish I caught on a fly rod was one at Quabbin which hit a popper on top. I was a very happy youngster fighting that fish, delighted that I could catch something on my Ted Williams fly rod from Sears I had saved up for.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam the smallmouth is a formidable creature especially on a fly rod. The one pictured was taken in Hogback res. It's a great place to fish for them and I hope to in a few more weeks.
Just wondering do you still have that Ted Williams fly rod?
I don't have that Ted Williams rod any longer, Alan. I sure wish I did!
ReplyDeleteSam that's to bad. I had a JC Higgins shotgun that I let slip away.
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