| Fly fishing is a spectacular hobby. Very few | | | | line above the water. The only successful |
| pastimes combine so many interesting | | | | anglers are those who have patience. |
| features. From physical dexterity to a | | | | |
| knowledge of biology to a mastery of area | | | | Knowledge is power. That's another old |
| entomology, fly fishers are able to explore | | | | cliche many of us disregard. We jump in |
| so many exciting topics in their quest for | | | | headfirst without knowing exactly what we are |
| those thrilling moments when a fish leaps and | | | | doing and without the information necessary |
| takes a fly in his mouth. | | | | to successfully confront a challenge. An |
| | | | angler, on the other hand, comes to the |
| As with so many worthwhile pursuits, however, | | | | stream with knowledge. He or she understands |
| it isn't always easy. In exchange for the | | | | the equipment, the stream, the weather, the |
| fun, fulfillment and excitement offered by | | | | fish likely to be swimming about and a host |
| the hobby, one must put forth a genuine | | | | of other factors. |
| effort. Fortunately, much of the work is | | | | |
| fun. Any angler would enjoy reading more | | | | Those who attempt to fly fish without that |
| about the hobby and the game he or she will | | | | kind of knowledge are far more likely to have |
| be pursuing. Anyone with the slightest | | | | their patience tested than the well-informed, |
| interest in fly fishing won't mind practicing | | | | who are able to maximize their chance of |
| his or her cast until the body's muscles have | | | | success. Those who fish with a box full of |
| memorized each element of the motion. | | | | tackle and a mind full of data are the ones |
| | | | most likely to leave happily at the end of |
| Successful anglers should be role models for | | | | the session. |
| all of us. They have combined three powerful | | | | |
| traits that can help anyone to live a better | | | | Does all of this mean that those who fly fish |
| and more successful life. Consider the two | | | | are somehow superior to those of us who |
| keys to fly fishing success. While you do, | | | | don't? I am sure a few fly fishing advocates |
| think about how those lessons might apply to | | | | might argue that is the case, but that really |
| anyone's life and how fly fishing just might | | | | isn't the point. The crucial thing to |
| be something of a microcosm of life. | | | | recognize is that fly fishing encourages both |
| | | | the development and use of a few mental |
| Patience is a virtue. That sentiment has | | | | habits from which we all could certainly |
| been expressed so many times that it has | | | | benefit. |
| almost lost its meaning. Clearly, the | | | | |
| message has been lost by many of us as we | | | | Fly fishing is an object lesson in the value |
| move through our hectic lives at warp speed, | | | | of patience and the power of knowledge. It |
| rarely even stopping to catch our breath. | | | | shows us that taking those two concepts to |
| Those who fly fish, however, have | | | | heart can be the difference between a |
| acknowledged the importance of patience and | | | | fulfilling experience and frustration. |
| have made it part of their lives. | | | | That's an important lesson no matter how it |
| | | | is taught. |
| A day of fly fishing may feature scores of | | | | |
| struggles with potential trophy fish. A day | | | | Imagine how peoples lives might be improved |
| fraught with that kind of excitement, | | | | if everyone committed themselves to being |
| however, is no more likely than a day spent | | | | knowledgeable and found it within themselves |
| with only a single nibble. No-catch days are | | | | to be a little more patient. It's hard to |
| common, yet the fly fishing master will still | | | | argue that the world wouldn't be a better |
| stand in that unmistakable posture, casting | | | | place. Will fly fishing make you a better |
| again and again, waiting patiently for his | | | | person? Not necessarily. Then again, it may |
| opportunity. | | | | remind you and those around you of the value |
| | | | of those two key attributes. Fly fishing is |
| Those who don't practice patience find | | | | patience and knowledge in action and the |
| themselves switching casts, flies and | | | | result is really quite amazing. |
| locations so often that they rarely have a | | | | |