I consistently read fly fishers write that one of the major draws of fly fishing is the chance to relax, commune with nature and enjoy a slower pace. I’ve often told other people that is one reason why I fish and sometimes I’ve believed it but…recently I’ve come to a realization. If I go fishing 10 times, then 9 of those times I’ll be driving 15 MPH over the speed limit to get to the parking area, rushing so fast to change clothes/into waders and string up the rod once I’m there that I’m bound to forget something. Once I get whatever it was I forgot, I’ve lost even more time and it’s off to the races to get into the water and casting. Ever since I was a 12 year old kid I’ve practically (and sometimes literally) ran to the water’s edge in anticipation. I find that I’m constantly checking my watch to see how much time I have left before I leave and fishing has become one of the most fast paced things I do.
Anyone else out there experience this or is it really just a lolly gag walk down the water? You sit down, observe nature, smell the flowers and stretch once or twice before actually taking the fly off the keeper to make a few long, lazy casts to a likely spot? Do you fish until you get tired of fishing or the light says no more and then slowly trod back to the vehicle to head home? Or is it a constant battle; a race against the big hand and the little hand that you know you can never really win?
I expect I’ll get differening answers on this one and I’ll bet that perpsective and family situations play a pretty big determining factor in it too.
I sometimes am in a hurry to get there, but once I do I always take time to observe and relax before I start fishing. I look at the bugs, the water, try to locate rising fish or any fish feeding in the stream. Then once I’m ‘settled’ down I will tie one on and cast. It can get a little bit nerve racking at times–like during a major green drake spinner fall or something similar, but for the most part I’m pretty chill and put myself in a relaxed mindset once I’m on the stream.
No matter what the case though, once I’m done and on my way home, I’m always more relaxed.
Wild One…
Leave the watch home. Cell phone too. And whatever you forgot, forget it.
Keep your rod and vest or chestpack or whatever you ACTUALLY HAVE when you are ACTUALLY casting and fishing in your rig at all times.
Yes. and Yes. the Lollygag method is truly and exactly how I go fishing. Except for when I go for just an hour or so after work in the mornings. Then, I still lollygag as much as I can, and still no watch or stupid phone…And it’s usually more like an hour or so…
…heavy on the or so ;)…ModocDan
Like you, I rush to get there and into the river, but once I’m on the water time slows down and I’m into the Zen of fishing. All the hassels of work and society in general are forgotten and I’m concentrating on reading the river,watching for a hatch and trying to think like a fish. And yes I do stop to look around and soak in the beauty of nature. I always see interesting birds and animals, flowers and trees,amazing rock formations and cloud paterns. I’m not into organized religion, but whenI’m on the river I feel religious - closer to God than any other time. When It’s time to go,I feel fullfilled and warm inside like the afterglow from good sex. I head home and can’t wait until I can return to fish another day.
You certainly are not alone. I’m 59yrs. and I get just as excited the last day of the season for me as if it were the first day of season. I love to pause often and watch the passing river and listen to all the sounds of running water, the birds and oh yes the “oh ****” once in awhile from either me or my son. As I have said before I will pause just to watch my son work the water as he is poetry in motion. We always save the best for last as we will spend eight days on our favorite river with more than fifty miles of river every October and we will be alone to catch S/head, Trout, Bull Trout, White Fish, what is there not to get excited about. Once a kid always a kid.
The time spent fishing goes way too fast. I treasure every moment I’ve spent fishing. My goal wasn’t to hurry, it was to dedicate my focus on my fishing and feel my surroundings. I was patiently intense.
Doug
i am in a hurry to get to the water, but once there i relax and generally lose track of time. I am focused when i am fishing, but that focus can be broken by a bird, or animal or even a fish.
The walk back to the truck is always leisurely and relaxed.
I enjoy every minute that I can be on/in the water with my fly rod. It is the only chance I have to forget work and just be to myself. I always try to have all my yard work for my home and my Mom’s completed before the weekend gets here, so, that I can enjoy my time on/in the water. My neighbors are use to my flood lights on my home being on and hearing my mower running in the evenings after work. If I am fishing and know I need to be home working on something, it will ruin my time on/in the water. I do not like to fish if I have to keep an eye on my watch so I will not be late for something. When I do that, it makes me hurry with my fishing and that is not something I enjoy. I have heard the local fly shop owner tell people that they better not fish with me because I do not quit until “dark:30”! I just love being on/in the water with the fly rod enjoying whatever Mother Nature has to offer. I may be physically tired at the end of the day, but, mentally relaxed. I will not pass up a chance to fish…well, there was that one time when I awoke before daylight and very quietly got dressed, picked up my gear and left the house only to find a terrific storm and lots of rain to meet me at the door, so, I quietly came back into the house and put my gear away and slipped out of my clothes and crawled back into bed with my wife and said, “You won’t believe how badly it is raining out there” and my wife said, " Would you believe my husband is out fishing in it?" I have not figured out yet, to this day, if she was serious or kidding!! :-)
There are times when the only relaxing I can do is on the stream. I don’t have to hear the phone (either of them). I don’t have to worry about doctors, or children, or grandchildren, or cops being shot at, or what I have to fix for supper that night. I find myself in my own little world on the water. Tell time roughly by the sun, and my stomach growling. I can laugh, cry, stare off into space, belch, talk to the animals, whatever I want. It’s cheaper than a psychiatrist, and lots more fun. I love it!
There are times when I rush about getting everything together so I can get on the water and catch fish. There are other times when my get away is just that – getting away. On these particular days catching a fish is a bonus in my eyes and there are even times when my attempts at catching a fish is half-hearted. Usually this latter experience is sought when stress levels and work loads are very high. My wife discovered long ago fishing, for me, was a whole lot more than catching fish. Sometimes I daydream through the week of having a big 'Bow or Brown or Smallie on the end of my line and the thrill that ensues. There are also times when I yearn for the solitude of an empty stretch of river where I can get lost in the sound of the moving water and take in all that is around me. On days like this, being in a hurry is the last thing on my mind.
If you are checking with ‘outside sources’ you are doomed. The best fishing is when someone says, ‘Hey, it’s been 3.5 hours, let’s get some lunch’, or similar, and you think it has been about an hour and half.
I’m definately a lollygagger. I usually take my time getting the waders on, rod together and lined up, finish my cup of coffee. Wander to the water checking for spider webs to see what bugs are new, looking for terrestrials or newly hatched bugs. At the water I look for rising trout or trout actively feeding, even subsurafce. Then, and only then, do I open a fly box to select a fly.
If I have to rush through fishing I might as well stay home. I start fishing when I want and quit fishing when Vickie wants (usually much later than I want). A liesurly lunch and cup of coffe listening to the stream makes for a great meal.
I’m always in a world class hurry to get my fly in the water, but that’s fun stress. I’d much rather be trotting through the woods, giddy with anticipation than running to and from meetings and hitting deadlines.
You know more of my story than others do, so you can probably guess at what I am going to say.
The only time I rush any part of getting to the water, getting ready, getting a fly on, getting fishing, or getting back to the rig is when I see lightning or hear thunder when I am out on the water. Then you would be surprised at how much ground I can cover in a short time and how quickly I can get everything put away ( if it looks like the weather is going to hang around for a while ).
The only kind of fishing I still find relaxing is sitting on the bank in a chair drowning worms with a float or bottom fishing. Time truly stands still when I’m just sitting there waiting for something to happen instead of trying to make it happen.
Fly fishing is enjoyable, fun and challenging at times but when I end up with a birds nest in my leader at dusk as fingers fumble to get a fly in flight to some risers; I hardly find that relaxing.
I am like a kid the night before Christmas morning. But once I get to where it is I am going I slow way down. I generally spend the first half-hour or so just studying the water before tying up and making my first cast. The rest of the day is spent fishing at a leisurely pace pausing from time to time to reflect and enjoy my surroundings.
I personally start every day with a full Cuban Coffee straight at 5am…by 5:15am my teeth are shattering and I am off to the flats…I arrive right at 6am as they open the gate…I zoom to the waters edge and jump out and begin my routine of unloading…finally I have to park the car and I am off…usually takes 7 minutes…takes another 15 to get to fishy water…usually making cast by 6:30am and I am a controled mess…things really get dicey if permit show up before the sunrise…I run on total adrenaline for the next 12hrs and require only gatorade…I work off the caffine thru pushpoling multiple miles…I reach “normal” status around 11am…I leave it all on the water without excuse…in the morning I repeat
I just love being on/in the water with the fly rod enjoying whatever Mother Nature has to offer. I may be physically tired at the end of the day, but, mentally relaxed. I will not pass up a chance to fish…well, there was that one time when I awoke before daylight and very quietly got dressed, picked up my gear and left the house only to find a terrific storm and lots of rain to meet me at the door, so, I quietly came back into the house and put my gear away and slipped out of my clothes and crawled back into bed with my wife and said, “You won’t believe how badly it is raining out there” and my wife said, " Would you believe my husband is out fishing in it?" I have not figured out yet, to this day, if she was serious or kidding!! :-)