The days of old are once again new in modern day and age of hustle and bustle without ever enough time. Has the world that we now live in changed that much. Have men forgotten what the day of angling and tying are all about. We’ve always been told about the days of old, but do we in today’s age fully understand what that means. If you may allow me to journey you through back in time in the days of G.E.M Skues, Halliford and in America Theodore Gordon. You see there was a time when angling was a passion and thirst for knowledge of fish behavior and the creation of flies that caught them. G.E.M Skues was burning the world of great anglers across the pond with his rebel like views on wet flies and nymphing techniques. Halliford was writing and developing many surface floating flies that worked on the slower gentle streams of Europe. In America it was Theodore Gordon from PA who later moved to NY to pursue and to further understand Trout. Gordon having numerous corresponding with Skues and Halliford and last flies sent to Gordon from Halliford lead to Theodore’s creation of the first original Catskill Dry fly. A style all in itself that was adapted to the rougher waters of American streams. Now we get a piece of the history of what it was like back then far as talk and creation, however these men listed above spent a lot of time observing Trout in their streams and enjoyed most of all the experience of the great outdoors. When they were not outside mainly due to winter or bad weather conditions, they were found at there fly tying tables. Note, vises back then were not really in use. Also when vises were in use, Theodore Gordon did not use one until his 35th or 36th year in life. It was this time that fly tying ruled the day with the hope of up coming fishing. This time also spun the search of great fly tying materials to be used in Gordon’s new dry fly creations. Now please keep in mind that Gordon is known to be the father of Dry Fly fishing in America. Gordon was a very skilled and experienced wet fly fisherman. Lastly in this brief journey back in time men studied the insect life and tried to tye flies that imitated them. Also these men kept personal logs and new when these inset hatched occurred meaning time of year, weather and stream conditions and so on. So when you truly think about this time in life angling, fishing or what ever you want to call it was a passion and might I dare say a second career. Now let’s get back to this modern day in which we live. Some of us forget about the simple things in life. We forget to observe the land around us and enjoy it beauty and tranquility that it gives us. We forget to pick up a rock and observe the insect/aquatic life that is found. We rush to streams with flies we either tied or bought in hopes of catching a fish. We never stopped to think what truly is hatching or what will work for any specific reason. If we do not catch a fish we go home rejected and get upset that we will not be able to get away from the family and fish again for two or three weeks. We have other things to do that consumes our time and the vises grow angry and depressed from lack of human interaction and lastly to this already dismal picture ones blood pressure rises due to all the hustle and bustle and lack of imagination and dreams that comes to sitting down at a vise and tying a fly. So how do we stop this path of destruction that some of are heading into and others are beyond hope. For one we as humans can get back to basics. Spending times with our families by taking them camping where fishing is part of, taking them on riverside picnics where fishing and hiking are a part of. Simply just take your sons or daughters or both out fishing and not forcing any rules upon them. Sitting down at your vise and teaching your wife and kids how to tye flies. Now keep in mind that not every person will enjoy this. It’s these differences that helps make the world go round. When was the last time that you looked up away from the stream and enjoyed the beauty of the land or seen some really fascinating animals. How about appreciating how the sunshine feels when it hits you body or to feel a pleasant misty rain. Now I am lucky to have a wife that enjoys the great outdoors as much as I do. I feel I am more blessed because she likes to fish and most of all understands that its fishing and interaction with nature that helps me to unwind and relax and forget about things for awhile. I write this because the start of the fishing season is here upon us. Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses. Experiment, learn, and enjoy the beauty of the land and all it has to offer. While tying flies at your vise, picture where the flies would be used for and think of the fish that you might catch. Most off all get your family together and go enjoy a day out in nature with you family. Don’t care if it’s not fishing related. It is these outing that will lead to a hunger for more things to do. Not to mention, you will notice a change for the better in your life and health. Lastly, the bonding of your family will be a good one. It will allow you to get to know your family and in return know you. Sorry for the rambling, but these were some thoughts that came out of my head today.