I recently took an introductory lesson on fly fishing at a lovely inn in the middle of Pennsylvania’s mountains and streams. I’m more of a carp fisher, and have read many a book and watched many carp dvds to learn how to fish carp, but for fly-fishing, I was going to learn by experience.
As a woman, I’d never wanted to just sit in a rowboat dangling a hook with bait on it, but the idea of wading into a stream, picking up a beautifully tied fly, and casting just right did appeal to me. It was appealing also to know that many fly fishers never kill the fish, but rather use the kind of hook that can easily be pulled from the fish who can swim away. It is a meditative experience to just be part of the stream for a time, then to cast the line. There’s a certain flick of the wrist and meditative focus that has to be present if the line is going to make its mark. The tug of the fish on the line begins a feeling of anticipation to see just what kind of fish you’re going to bring up. You get to examine its beautiful colorings and then see it swim away energetically. All of this makes fly fishing a great outdoor experience and helps you enjoy nature’s peaceful qualities.
