Why I Love Fly Fishing

After a recent and successful trip to Sedalia to catch Rainbow Trout with the fly fishing club I sponsor, I found myself appreciative of all things fly fishing since I hadn't touched a fly rod since early November.  The things I love about fly fishing came to the forefront of my mind.  I liken it to seeing a really good friend that you haven't seen in months.  With other friends, it might be strange or awkward trying to get caught up, but with truly close friends, it takes no time at all.  That's what happened with me and I thought I would share what I appreciate about our fine sport.  I would love to hear from you in the comments section below.  Also, I think I have changed some settings and made it possible for anyone to comment and hopefully without signing in.  Anyway, these are some of my musings.

One thing I love about fly fishing is the...

...feel of a perfect cast...which rarely happens.

...site of an indicator vanishing from the surface of a lake or river.

...site of a dry fly being taken by a rainbow.

...sound of the line ripping off the surface of water that fly line makes when a hook is being set on a fish.

...strange feeling of water compressing waders tight to your body when you step into waist-deep water.  I also love the dry feeling that hopefully accommodates the compression feeling.

...feeling of catching a fish on a fly that you tied which started off as a bare hook but has been transformed into a fish catching machine.

...site of a perfectly tied nail not when I connect leader to fly line.

...feeling of a fish slipping out of my hand as I return it to the water as well as the site of watching said fish swim away.

...feeling like a little kid when I feel a fish pulling on the end of my line.

...feeling like I spent all day doing something that I love at the end of a long day of fishing, but also not feeling like I really accomplished anything important during my time

...sound of laughter coming from my friends when they land a small fish or when I do something stupid.  Falling and having my waders fill with water would be the exception.

...feeling of being able to talk to total strangers while on the water and knowing that we are linked because of a passion that we share.  I also love how most folks are easy to talk to on the water because they are enjoying a hobby that they love and thus, their defenses are down and more accessible.

...feeling of being able to look at clouds, trees, water, and everything else that isn't manufactured and is just the way God intended it to be.

...smell of my fly vest and the look all the tools and the sentimental stuff I keep in it (grandpa's old red handkerchief for example).

...feeling of working hard for a fish and NOT catching it.

...the feeling of catching so many fish in a day that I lost count.

...smile of a kid after catching his/her first fish on a fly rod or first fish ever for that matter.

...excitement and wonder when you first hook a fish and try to quickly figure out what you have caught and how big it is.