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Elsewhere in this issue you will find comments about
having to learn the basics or going back to basics
when the method you use isn't working. That, of course,
works for other parts of your life too, not just fly
fishing. Unfortunately those articles tend to leave you
with the idea there is so much to be learned it just
isn't going to come together for a long time. Not true.
We are a country of very high expectations. We are used
to 'instant gratification.' The average American family
moves every three years. (No wonder real estate companies
do well). We change locations and life styles on a whim.
Don't like your vehicle? Out here it's zero down and
minimum payments and you're into a new one. If you don't
like a television program, find the remote and start
surfing. There are a huge number of programs available
(not enough John Wayne westerns for JC) and if that
doesn't suit you, grab a movie or a dvd. We've about
'entertained' ourselves into a morass. Which, by the
way, gets smuttier every day.
From where I sit, the instant gratification isn't working
very well, and even though some fly fishing industry people
are still hanging black crepe and moaning about gloom and
doom, I don't see a decline in interest in fly fishing at
all.
In fact, I see an increase in the very enthusiastic
newcomers visiting Fly Anglers OnLine (FAOL) every
day. My email re-enforces that as well. New people,
looking for and finding, the information they need
to get started in fly fishing.
See, I told you all the information highway worked
for fly fishing too!
Fly fishing success may not come instantly, and yes
there ARE basics to be learned, but just the act of
fly fishing itself can be instant gratification. Even
just thinking about fishing can do the trick!
We all have stresses in our daily lives. No matter
who you are or where you live, there are times when
we must deal with that stress. Handled so we maintain
our sanity and continue to be productive, reasonably
adjusted human beings.
For many people, fly fishing is a way to deal with
stress. Actually fly fishing encompasses so many
things one can get caught up in any one of them and
be happily distracted. It can be the various challenges
in learning or improving skills, creating flies or fly
rods, investigating insects and fish and how they
interact. . .enough to occupy ones mind for many years.
Certainly a way to 'unplug' from the worries of work
and home. We need to do that to have balance in our
lives.
And in the most simple form, fly fishing isn't about
catching fish, or counting numbers, it is just being
where the fish live.
It is an adult version of the little kid and their
tiny suitcase running away from home. ~ LadyFisher
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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