I don?t spend lots of time on the FAOL bulletin board and I have not spent any time on other bulletin boards, fly fishing or otherwise. I scan the posts and occasionally make a comment when it seems appropriate, but generally I leave the posting to others that seem to care about such things.
Way to go Neil! You have described me and my ways almost to a Tee.
I share your sentiments almost 100%. Jax
I think when you get down to it, this is the way most of us feel. Great article.
Very well said 
In fishing, there is spin cast fishing, there is bait cast fishing, ice fishing, and saltwater fishing.
Then there is fly fishing!
In many ways fly fishing could be considered “High Church” in the fishing hierarchy of the different methods of catching fish! There are so many rooms in the “High Church of Fly Fishing”, there is room for everyone to follow their own paths, without stepping on the opinion’s of other fly anglers, on what fly fishing should and should not be!
Fly Fishing is a game of stealth, to be where the fish are, without them knowing of your presence. To fool the fish with a fly pattern to induce them into taking your offering as the real thing.
My fly fishing season is short in Minnesota! A short time span in which I can travel far and near to be where the fish are, and with lucky and some cooperative fish, for a few moments, revel in a conquest of “Man versus Fish”!
In many ways, what is more important than me catching fish, is to be were the fish are and “Seizing the Day”! This blessed very short interlude in my life, where I am at peace within myself and with the world
Separating the everyday grind of life, keeping it far away from this sanctuary, to keep the former separated from the latter. To return homeward bound from these spiritual visits to stream-side, refreshed and renewed.
I soak in those precious moments, for when again the Arctic Winds begin to blow, closing down the short fly fishing season, waiting until the next years fly fishing season. ~Parnelli
Thank you Neil,
Boy, I wish that I could write like you!!!
Nicely put. While I disagree with a couple of points, that disagreement is want makes FFing interesting. If you catch fish, then you are right, no matter what anyone else says. (and if you are not catching fish, but still having fun, you are right, too!!)
Very well said. I look forward to reading more of your writing because it is a very down to earth style that I enjoy.
Neil, you nailed it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Kelly.
Amen,brother!
You have passed on some great wisdom in your time Neil and I would say this is some of your best!
Neil, I think you tied the knot just right ! Would you consider putting together a short set
of picts. on the fine art of casting, even a short video for some of the interested fly fisher
people on FAOL? Somewhere I thought J.C. had a section on the subject, but I can’t seem
to find it anywhere.
Are you or any of the other “Travs” coming to the Fly fishing show in Celallem, WA. at the
end of April ?
Harry Warner (Crunchy)
But, but …LOL!
Best regards, Dave S.
I’m simply sticking with what the boss says about him being nuts.
Yup… That’s my story…
My boss is nutty too. To bad my boss isn’t Neil.
Neil,
That was simply put, easily understandable and dead on. I respect your right to be wrong and ask you do the same for me.
If I knew of an appropriate literary award I would nominate the article and the author for it.
Crunchy,
We “Travs” will be busy at our Montana home at the end of April. If any other “Travs” are attending I don’t know them.
The Chronicler
aka “Trav”
Ditto!
Well said,and I believe that you and I could be great friends because I believe that living is easier your way.
Neal,
Well said, there are many of us, I believe, that are in complete agreement with you. FAOL seems to do a good job of keeping things on the level, and it is much appreciated.
Still, I wonder if the prinicpals of civility seems to be violated more frequently now, than they were 40 years ago.
Regards,
Gandolf