The Top Ten Things that I Love about Fly Fishing(that have nothing to do with catching fish)

I think most anyone who’s spent a decent amount of time on the water will agree that at some point we realize that fly fishing is about so much more than catching fish. This topic has been the focal point of countless literary works over many decades; what we find while we’re out looking for fish on the fly is the realization that we’ve stepped into a depth of experience that’s rarely matched by other sports. Many shy away from even referring to fly angling as a sport, and will more often liken it to an expression and experience of lived art. As we become increasingly engaged with our medium, what tends to grow is the desire to slow down, become a more keen observer, and absorb the details of our ecosystem more thoroughly. The joy and exhilaration of connecting with a fish on the fly is unique and fantastic in and of itself. And how lucky are we in knowing that there’s so much more to this practice than the fishing alone? Following is a short list of the top ten things that I love about fly fishing that have nothing to do with catching fish…

1-Bird Watching: The scavenging, hunting, calling, mating, and swooping down to swipe a fish right out of the water.⁣ Spending time returning to the same water throughout the seasons has allowed for me to witness the process of many species of birds nesting and nurturing their young. Bald eagles have always been a favorite. What a spectacular piece of nature to bear witness to. 

2-Foraging & Identifying Plants: I began foraging prior to my introduction to fly fishing, but needless to say the two effortlessly complement one another. Discovering and identifying edible/medicinal plants while out exploring fisheries is such a delight. Likewise, learning how to better identify more plants, trees, and wildflowers even without harvesting is an intricate layer to the experience of being outdoors. 

3-Walking & Moving in Nature: The amount of evidence that points to the positive physical and psychological effects that accompany simply being in the outdoors is enormous. I became so enthralled with the biomechanics of fly angling and exploring these wild places that I created an entire mindful movement method devoted to it. It’s a fascinating subject, and one where there’s always room for more exploration and evolution while we discover what it means to move well in the outdoors. 

4-Witnessing Bugs Hatch: I’m not sure that I ever noticed hatches taking place before I began fly fishing, and of course now they’re impossible not to see whether I’m out on a fishing excursion or not. What a neat and detailed process, to begin to understand the entire life-cycle of these insects as they relate to the seasons and varied ecosystems that we explore. 

5-Watching Wildlife at Work: I love witnessing the progress of beaver dams, nests, dens, beehives and abandoned beds. ⁣Sharing space with countless creatures and species that call these environments home always means that there’s so much taking place and to be seen within any stream, lake, forest, and field. 

6-Snack Breaks: And not just while on the water, but also within the ritual of carefully selecting and gathering the days tastes and treats, securely tucking them away in anticipation of a moment later to come.⁣ Whether alone or in the company of others, those times where we locate a good log to perch on while nibbling on a sandwich or pulling out our portable french press to make a fresh batch of coffee are always a special and integral part of the experience. 

7-Observing the Change in Light: From sun-up to sundown, whether it’s a blue bird day or one that’s overcast with diffused light. The golden hours are always tough to beat, but the entire days sequence of light as well as the warmth that it produces impacts how we feel and the paths that we choose to wander.

8-Watching Fish Rise: The slow emerger nips, the aggressive terrestrial nabs, and of course those vertical acrobatic caddis fly launches. While it can be challenging to not immediately cast to rising fish, the skillful angler and observer understand the value of pausing first. Over time I’ve found that sitting down and watching rises with a beverage in hand can be just as satisfying as the fishing itself.

9-The Wide World of Aromas: The fresh pine needles, wildflowers, sagebrush, grasses, soil, and manure all have their own unique scents to be experienced and enjoyed. As we know, our sense of smell has the strongest ability to trigger both emotion and memories. I also find that intentionally tapping into my sense of smell within any given environment tends to have a particularly grounding effect.

10-The Water: Its color, temperature, speed, depth, and structure. I love the huge amount of variance from one body of water to the next, along with studying the seasonal shifts that take place.⁣ Again, there’s something particularly engaging about returning to the same water features over the span of time. It offers all sorts of insight into how our climate is shifting, and how it is that we may be impacting the health of our fisheries.

I fell in love with fly fishing precisely because of its richness. It truly is a feast for the senses, a 10 course meal perfectly paired in some of the most beautiful venues the earth has to offer. Consequently, I’ve also found that the more time that I’ve spent shifting my gaze towards these many other elements, the stronger angler that I’ve become. ⁣Whether or not you have a tendency to be incredibly focused or catching fish every time you’re out on the water, or you feel fairly neutral about the catching itself, there’s always ample opportunity to enrich your experience in these ecosystems by simply seeing what’s there, and becoming actively and enthusiastically engaged with the gift that is exploring the great outdoors with a fly rod in hand. 

Enjoy.